Principal Program Manager

About the role

This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to lead progress, drive meaningful impact, and leave a legacy of smarter, more connected transportation networks. We are all employee-owners at HDR, which is the foundation of our collaborative culture that connects employees around the world.

Responsibilities

• Assume leadership for multi-disciplinary infrastructure programs characterized by significant technical complexity and non-technical intricacies (policy, funding, community, and interagency coordination)
• Guide and support program governance, clarifying roles, decision rights, escalation paths, and reporting cadence; ensure transparent, defensible decisions
• Develop and implement Program Management Plans, startup plans, work plans, and business processes and toolsets that drive efficiency, accountability, and transparency
• Shape and inform public and agency engagement strategies in collaboration with client leadership, aligning messaging, timing, and outcomes
• Communicate effectively with federal, state, and local officials, regional partners, advocacy groups, and the public; translate technical content into clear, actionable narratives
• Lead the consultant or owner program management team of at least one transportation infrastructure program(s) with a capital value of $1 billion
• Manage financial performance against pre-established metrics; manage earnings and profitability, control losses, and ensure contract compliance
• Establish and oversee a robust QA/QC program to ensure technical excellence and maintain client confidence
• Work in an integrated fashion within a Program Management Office (PMO) comprised of both consultant and client staff

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Sciences, Planning, Business Administration or closely related field
• DBIA certification
• Experience leading the consultant or owner program management team of at least one transportation infrastructure program(s) with a capital value of $1 billion
• Experience leading as a Senior Program Manager or serving in a similar role on delivery of three or more programs, each with a capital value of $500 million or more
• Experience delivering concurrent programs with a total value of $500 million or more qualifies as one of the required programs
• Strong leadership skills with experience building a cohesive team culture and managing team members located in various locations
• Excellent communication skills. Comfortable presenting to client executives and in front of a large audience in a public setting
• Management experience with the implementation of projects or programs using alternative and collaborative delivery methods, including design-build (DB), progressive design-build (PDB), and/or construction management at-risk (CMAR)
• Familiar with the various types of tools used to manage large programs - PMIS, CMIS, scheduling, cost control, document management, risk management, asset management, dashboard analytics, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineering License (PE or P.Eng), PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, PMI Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification, AICP Certification, or CMAA Certified Construction Manager (CCM) Certification
• Experience leading as a Senior Program Manager or serving in a similar role on delivery of three or more programs, each with a capital value of $500 million or more
• Experience delivering concurrent programs with a total value of $500 million or more qualifies as one of the required programs
• Experience working in an integrated fashion within a Program Management Office (PMO) comprised of both consultant and client staff