Senior Rail and Freight Manager

About the role

Join WSP USA’s Freight & Logistics team within Advisory Services and help public-sector clients strengthen the freight networks and supply chains that keep communities and economies moving. You’ll contribute to a nationwide, industry-leading, and growing practice that pairs practical planning experience with clear, compelling communication to support client goals and solve real-world challenges. Our work spans state and regional rail plans, statewide freight plans, and multimodal freight initiatives, from research and analysis through plan development, documentation, and implementation support. We combine freight and rail expertise, economic and policy insight, and strong storytelling to translate complex technical inputs into plans, briefings, and materials that drive decision-making. If you enjoy connecting data to narrative, collaborating with experts across disciplines, and developing practical, real-world solutions, you’ll feel at home here.

About the position

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Freight and Logistics Senior Manager to support our growing Advisory Services practice. This position may be based in any of our U.S. offices. The role focuses on supporting state and regional rail and freight planning efforts, with a strong emphasis on plan development and documentation, through research, analysis, and storytelling. We are seeking a highly motivated consultant with experience supporting state and regional rail and freight plans, as well as multimodal freight planning initiatives. The successful candidate will play a central role in authoring, editing, and synthesizing complex technical material into clear, compelling planning documents for public-sector clients.

Responsibilities

• Support state DOTs, rail agencies, MPOs, and other public-sector clients in developing state rail plans, statewide freight plans, and related policy documents
• Serve as a lead technical writer and content integrator, ensuring consistency, clarity, and alignment across multi-author planning documents
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research on statewide supply chains, freight systems, and industry sectors (e.g., manufacturing, logistics, ports, warehousing, agriculture, retail)
• Compile and analyze data from public sources, industry reports, economic databases, and government agencies
• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative inputs into clear narratives
• Analyze and communicate freight system and supply chain trends
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to shape plan structure, messaging, and implementation frameworks
• Prepare presentations, executive briefings, and public-facing materials
• Support marketing and business development efforts

Requirements

• 10+ years of relevant professional experience (includes relevant graduate research experience)
• Degree in urban/regional planning, public policy, economics, geography, or related field
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds and resources, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s policies
• Experience contributing to state rail plans, statewide freight plans, or multimodal freight plans
• Strong understanding of freight and rail systems and supply chain trends
• Knowledge of rail markets and operations
• Exceptional technical writing and editing skills
• Ability to synthesize complex technical material for public-sector audiences
• Experience coordinating inputs from multiple technical disciplines
• Experience using GIS to support planning, analysis, and visual communication (ESRI, QGIS)
• Familiarity with freight datasets and analytical outputs
• Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook)

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher
• Experience working with public transportation agencies (MPOs, DOTs, etc.)
• Experience contributing to published plans or formal technical reports
• Experience with, or interest in, how AI and LLM tools can be leveraged in plan development and documentation

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance coverage
• Retirement savings plan
• Paid sick leave
• Paid vacation (or other personal time)
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off for bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings
• Flexible and agile workplace model

Pay

Expected Salary (all locations): $127,600 – $227,500

Expected Salary (Colorado only): $127,600 – $189,500

WSP USA provides the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.