Project Director- Transportation
GHD · Oakland, CA · 6 days ago
Consulting$172k–$253k/yrFull-time
About the role
GHD’s municipal business in Water and Transportation is in a period of accelerated growth. Over the past few years, we have doubled our municipal portfolio, driven by strong client relationships, technical excellence, and a deep commitment to the communities we serve. Building on this momentum, we have launched a bold growth initiative to double our Transportation practice over the next four years. Achieving this next phase of growth requires more than business development alone – it also requires leaders who can win work, deliver it successfully, and turn execution into enduring client confidence.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a trusted advisor to existing clients through direct project leadership and consistent delivery performance
- Maintain deep understanding of client priorities, funding realities, and community outcomes
- Represent client and community voices internally, shaping solutions and pursuits based on real delivery insight
- Build long-term client partnerships rooted in credibility, responsiveness, and results
- Lead or play a senior role in the delivery of key projects, ensuring outcomes align with client expectations and commitments made during pursuits
- Convert successful delivery into repeat work, expanded scope, and follow-on opportunities
- Identify growth opportunities emerging from active projects and ongoing client engagements
- Use delivery experience to inform strategy, pricing, risk assessment, and positioning
- Shape and lead pursuits where delivery experience, technical judgment, and client trust are critical differentiators
- Partner with Relationship Managers, Market Leads, and technical teams to pursue targeted opportunities
- Contribute to proposal strategy, messaging, and interviews with a focus on credibility and execution confidence
- Participate in contract negotiations with a clear understanding of delivery risk, resourcing, and outcomes
- Oversee and be accountable for project performance, including scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client satisfaction
- Track and manage key performance indicators such as backlog, margin, and client health for assigned accounts
- Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, procurement requirements, and internal governance
- Provide clear communication and reporting to internal leadership on client performance and growth outlook
Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, or similar
- Professional Engineer license preferred
- Minimum 10 years of experience in municipal or public sector project delivery and client relationship management
- Strong Seller/Doer experience with strong business development, proposal preparation and marketing skills
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence at senior levels
- Proficiency in CRM tools (Salesforce in particular) and Microsoft Office Suite
- Strategic thinker with a client-centric mindset
- Strong understanding of municipal operations, governance, and procurement
- Experience in client engagement and business development, with a track record of building relationships across government, industry, and community stakeholders
Key Performance Indicators
- Client portfolio performance (bookings)
- Project portfolio performance (NLM)
- Client satisfaction scores