Senior Transportation Program Manager

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 we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

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Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

HDR is looking for a Senior Program Manager to join our Transportation Business Group in North Carolina.

The Senior Transportation Program Manager will be responsible for overseeing, coordinating, and directing the work of a multi-disciplinary team assigned to support the delivery of one or multiple complex transportation infrastructure program(s). In this role, the Senior Program Manager will act as the team’s primary point of contact with the client, be responsible for the team’s compliance with contract requirements, and for meeting client expectations. Furthermore, they will serve as a trusted advisor to the client’s leadership team, providing thought leadership, counseling the client on delivery strategies/processes/tools, and offering recommendations on the program governance and the management of the program team. They will lead by focusing on the best interests of our clients and by embracing HDR’s purpose – we do things right to make great things possible. They may act as a Deputy Program Manager on larger programs under the direction of a Principal Program Manager. On a day-to-day basis, they will also be expected to:

• Assume leadership responsibilities for managing multidisciplinary infrastructure programs with a high degree of technical complexity and non-technical intricacies.
• Advise clients on the technical, regulatory, financial, and community facets of infrastructure programs, which are all 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; this may involve overseeing a broad range of disciplines including, but not limited to:
• 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, and assist the client with problem-solving, issues resolution, risk mitigation, and timely decision-making.
• Provide strategic advice and thought leadership.
• Deploy the required resources to address various program challenges and unanticipated events.
• Develop and implement various plans (program management, startup plans, and work plans), business processes, and tools to drive efficiencies, emphasize accountability, bring team alignment, and promote transparency.
• Direct the services provided by multiple program teams or a single large program team comprised of HDR and subconsultants staff.
• Promote alignment within the team through effective and regular communications.
• Secure the resources required to deliver services specified in the contract scope with a focus on contract compliance.
• Monitor team performance and establish a robust QA/QC program to meet client expectations.
• Monitor the program’s financial performance against pre-established financial metrics and make adjustments as necessary to meet earnings and profitability targets, and control losses.
• Contribute to the growth of HDR’s program management services by (1) building a long-term trusted advisory relationship with clients (2) looking for opportunities to expand our services to address the needs of existing clients (3) supporting the pursuit of new program contract opportunities (4) mentoring and training staff working on programs, and (5) supporting practice-wide initiatives.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Specific experience with Highways and Bridges
• Knowledgeable of other 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
• Demonstrated business development and strategic planning skills
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant in our employee-owned culture is a must
• Local candidates are preferred

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Planning, Sciences, Business Administration or a closely related field
• At least one of the following licenses/certifications:
• 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 requirements:
• A minimum of six (6) years of program management experience, with at least four (4) years as a Program Manager or similar role with equivalent responsibilities and;
• Experience leading as a Program Manager or serving in a similar role on the delivery of two or more programs, each with a capital value of $350 million or more. Experience delivering concurrent programs with a total value of $350 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.
• Experience working in an integrated fashion within a Program Management Office (PMO) comprised of both consultant and client staff

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location:

United States-North Carolina-Asheville

Other Locations:

United States-North Carolina-Winston-Salem, United States-North Carolina-Charlotte, United States-North Carolina-Raleigh, United States-North Carolina-Wilmington

Industry:

Highway + Road

Schedule:

Full-time

Employee Status:

Regular

BusinessClass:

Highways

Job Posting:

Jun 12, 2025

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer ( We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.