Transportation Principal Project Manager

About the role

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As part of HDR’s Transportation Business Group, you’ll help shape the systems that move people and goods safely, efficiently, and sustainably—from designing resilient highways and iconic bridges to advancing transit, passenger and freight rail, aviation, federal transportation ports, and marine infrastructure. Your work will directly support economic vitality, public safety, sustainable and resilient communities, and quality of life.

Principal Project Manager roles at HDR are the top echelon of Project Managers in our business group, delivering the largest and most complex programs facing our clients. You’ll also be part of our Transportation Leadership team, contributing to discussions on improving program delivery at the highest level. Past examples of iconic programs delivered by HDR include the Ontario Line Program, SR 520 Floating Bridge, South Mountain Freeway in Arizona, and the Oregon Bridge Delivery Partners Program. Join us to work on the next generation of legendary transportation projects.

Responsibilities

• Assume leadership responsibilities for the management of multidisciplinary infrastructure programs with high technical complexity and non-technical intricacies.
• Advise clients on the technical, regulatory, financial, and community facets of infrastructure programs critical to program success.
• Leverage lessons learned from other programs and industry best management practices to address the specific needs of each client.
• Plan, direct, and monitor all aspects of program execution, overseeing disciplines such as capital planning, change management, commissioning/asset onboarding, communications, construction management, cost control/estimating, document management, environmental planning/compliance, engineering, equity, financial support, organizational strengthening, permitting, planning/design management, program governance, procurement, project management, quality management, real estate, regulatory support, risk management, scheduling, strategic planning, sustainability, and resiliency.
• Anticipate and identify potential issues and risks that may impact program implementation, assisting clients with problem-solving, risk mitigation, and timely decision-making.
• Provide strategic advice and thought leadership, deploying resources to address program challenges and unanticipated events.
• Develop and implement program management plans, startup plans, work plans, business processes, and tools to drive efficiencies, emphasize accountability, bring team alignment, and promote transparency.
• Direct the services provided by multiple large program teams or provide day-to-day leadership on a single mega-project, promoting alignment through effective and regular communications.
• Secure resources required to deliver services specified in the contract scope, focusing on contract compliance.
• Monitor team performance and establish a robust QA/QC program to meet client expectations.
• Monitor the financial performance of the program against pre-established metrics, adjusting as necessary to meet earnings and profitability targets while controlling losses.
• Contribute to the growth of HDR’s program management services by:
  • Building long-term trusted advisory relationships with clients.
  • Identifying opportunities to expand services for existing clients.
  • Supporting the pursuit of new program contract opportunities.
  • Mentoring and training staff working on programs.
  • Supporting practice-wide initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Sciences, Planning, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• At least one of the following licenses/certifications recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered:
  • Professional Engineering License (PE or P.Eng).
  • PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
  • PMI Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification.
  • AICP Certification.
  • CMAA Certified Construction Manager (CCM) Certification.
• Program management experience consistent with the following:
  • A minimum of ten (10) years of program management experience, with at least four (4) years as a Senior Program Manager.
  • 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 large audiences in public settings.
• 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).
• Familiarity with tools used to manage large programs, such as PMIS, CMIS, scheduling, cost control, document management, risk management, asset management, and dashboard analytics.
• Experience working in an integrated fashion within a Program Management Office (PMO) comprised of both consultant and client staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Sciences, Planning, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• DBIA certification.
• Experience leading the consultant or owner program management team of at least one transportation/water/resources infrastructure program with a capital value of $1 billion.
• Knowledge of alternative delivery/contract models, such as public-private partnership (P3), design-build-finance-operate-maintain (DBFOM), and engineering procurement construction (EPC).
• Willingness to travel regularly and, if needed, commute to a client’s site temporarily.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package promoting employee ownership, health, performance, and success, including:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Short- and long-term disability and life insurance.
  • Employee assistance program.
  • Paid time away, parental leave, and holidays.
  • Retirement savings plan with employer match.
  • Employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement.
• Eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) to foster inclusion and belonging.

Pay

Expected compensation range for this position depends on skills, experience, education, and geographical location: $165,538–$333,125 (U.S.).

Schedule

Full-time.

Locations

United States (multiple locations, including but not limited to): Austin, TX; Cincinnati, OH; Round Rock, TX; Charlotte, NC; Doral, FL; Bellevue, WA; Kansas City, MO; Saint Louis Park, MN; Mobile, AL; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Wilmington, NC; Nashville, TN; Newark, NJ; Baltimore, MD; Fort Worth, TX; Washington, DC; White Plains, NY; Houston, TX; Irvine, CA; Charleston, SC; Roanoke, VA; Albany, NY; Columbia, SC; Vienna, VA; Portland, OR; Orlando, FL; Bedford, NH; Minneapolis, MN; Seattle, WA; Indianapolis, IN; Pittsburgh, PA; Syracuse, NY; Dallas, TX; San Diego, CA; Arlington, VA; Philadelphia, PA; Glen Allen, VA; Metairie, LA; Virginia Beach, VA; Newport News, VA; Boston, MA; Omaha, NE; Denver, CO; Pennington, NJ; Sacramento, CA; Rocky Hill, CT; New York, NY; Salt Lake City, UT; Winston-Salem, NC; Lafayette, LA; Fulton, MD; Phoenix, AZ; Louisville, KY; Atlanta, GA; Greenville, SC; Portland, ME; Rosemont, IL; Plymouth Meeting, PA; Walnut Creek, CA; Baton Rouge, LA; Woodcliff Lake, NJ; Chicago, IL; Providence, RI; Los Angeles, CA; Raleigh, NC; Brentwood, TN; Cleveland, OH; Tampa, FL; San Antonio, TX; Charleston, WV; Columbus, OH; Lexington, KY.