Senior Program Manager - Rail & Transit

Compensation Data

Salary range: $240,000 - $280,000 commensurate with education and experience

Mission

The Senior Program Manager, Rail & Transit will oversee the strategic planning, execution, and coordination of complex, multi-year infrastructure initiatives for our rail and transit clients, including state departments of transportation and transit and rail agencies.  The Senior Program Manager acts as a client’s agent, directing complex, multi-disciplined capital infrastructure programs (e.g., transportation, rail) from strategy through construction. The Senior Program Manager leads large teams, manages project controls, mitigates risks, and ensures on-time, on-budget, quality project delivery while building client relationships. The successful candidate will have experience in overseeing transportation programs with total project values exceeding $500 Million and involving multi-disciplinary teams of engineers, planners, project managers, and project controls professionals.

Key Accountabilities

• Strategic Advisory: Partner with executive leadership to define the long-term vision and technical roadmap for growth, ensuring staffing and resources are aligned with business priorities.  Act as the client’s lead representative, advising on funding, procurement, and risk management for large-scale, complex programs.
• Program Governance: Design and implement operational frameworks  for planning, execution, and communication across multiple technical teams.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Define staffing needs, oversee Project Managers and subcontractors, and mentor staff.  Act as the "glue" between diverse teams—including engineering, finance, planning, and operations—to dismantle roadblocks and manage interdependencies.
• Risk Assessment & Management: Proactively identify technical, financial, schedule, quality and safety risks,  developing mitigation strategies and pathways to success for the client
• Financial & Resource Oversight: Manage multi-million-dollar budgets, oversee capital forecasting, and optimize resource allocation across competing project workstreams.
• Stakeholder Communication: Serve as the primary technical liaison for executive audiences, translating complex technical concepts into clear status reports and strategic recommendations.
• Client Management: Serve as the primary point of contact with high-level government or public officials, driving client satisfaction and repeat business.
• Business Development: Support Client Service Leaders in pursuing new opportunities and developing proposals. 
  Management of Project Team: Directly manages individual employees assigned to multi-year projects in the Rail & Transit sector.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing large-scale, multi-disciplinary infrastructure projects.
• A minimum of 20 years of professional experience, including at least 10 years in a leadership role overseeing complex, large-scale transportation programs.  This experience should include working in or working with state departments of transportation, transit or passenger rail agencies, or Class 1 railroads..
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, diverse teams.
• Strong understanding of project management tools, contract management, and risk mitigation.
• Strong interpersonal skills for client interfacing and stakeholder management
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.

 
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. 

Competencies