In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next!

 

At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what’s possible.

 

Job Description:

We are seeking an experienced Program Director to lead our Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO), and traffic engineering practice.

The ideal candidate brings 15+ years of progressive experience across traffic engineering, transportation planning, and operations, with demonstrated expertise in traffic signal design and optimization, corridor and intersection capacity analysis (HCS, Synchro, VISSIM), traffic impact studies, and microsimulation/travel demand modeling.

This individual will direct a portfolio of ITS/TSMO and traffic engineering projects — including ATMS/ATDM deployments, signal system design, and multimodal corridor studies — while overseeing systems engineering documentation (ConOps, requirements traceability matrices), traffic operations analysis, and compliance with FHWA, MUTCD, and agency design standards.

The Program Director will manage staffing, budgets, and schedules across concurrent projects; lead proposal development and technical pursuits for public agency clients (state DOTs, MPOs, cities, and transit agencies); and serve as senior technical authority for traffic engineering design, signal timing/optimization, and TSMO strategy development.

Responsibilities include directing traffic studies and impact assessments, guiding peer review of technical deliverables, and ensuring quality across engineering design, analysis, and planning work products. The candidate should hold a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field (PE license preferred) and have a strong track record of client management, technical mentorship, and public agency coordination.

This role also requires strong communication and leadership skills to represent the firm before public stakeholders, agency review boards, and professional organizations (e.g., ITE, ITS America, TRB). The Program Director will lead public consultation presentations, stakeholder workshops, and agency coordination meetings; support grant funding strategy and eligibility reviews; and mentor staff to build organizational capacity in traffic engineering, ITS planning, and TSMO strategy.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
 

• Acts as the Company representative with the client and selected subcontractors during the program execution. Negotiates changes to the scope of work with the client and key subcontractors. Collaborates with Business Development to market and secure additional work with client. Responsible for following up on instructions and commitments associated with the project. Participates in negotiations with regulatory agencies and in public meetings in support of clients.
   
• Oversees establishment of Project Execution Plan, Health and Safety Plan, Quality Assurance/Quality Control Plan, and other documents as required.
• Establishes the program requirements for all areas of the project, and monitors the draft and final deliverables for adherence to these criteria. Responsible for the development and distribution of a one to two-page description of the project to all members of the project team for reference.
• Plans, directs, supervises, and controls the execution of all business, technical, fiscal, and administrative functions of the assigned project. Assigns responsibility for executing project plans to key subordinates after careful assessment of how to utilize their qualifications and strengths. Provides input to performance reviews and development plans for subordinates. Field responsibilities may include labor relations, local procurement and payroll operations, etc., if required.
• Mobilizes company resources, through liaison with support departments, other offices, or subsidiaries, to create project teams capable of completing effective, quality work. Discusses the qualifications required of the key project positions in specific detail with the profit center and department managers. Collaborates with the office facilities staff to address project space requirements.
• Works with other managers, project engineers, and discipline leads to develop budgets, schedules, and plans for the various elements of a project. Ensures that the project meets or exceeds goals established in these plans.
• Works with the key project individual to devise and execute actions plans to rectify potential cost overruns or delays, or to accommodate significant changes to the scope of work. Advises the client and company management of any such changes. The Project Manager is specifically responsible for maintaining current and timely change orders.
• Promotes technical and commercial excellence on the project through application of Quality Assurance processes. Monitors and reports to management on the progress of all project activity within the program, including significant milestones, and any conditions, which would affect project cost or schedule. Establishes weekly meeting to review project status and formulate action items.

 
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related technical/business field and typically 20+ years of related work experience is required. Incumbent should have a broad general technical and business background, as well as previous project management experience on similar or related large-scope project types. Professional registration may also be required.
 

Security Clearance Requirement:

None

This position is part of our Critical Infrastructure team.

For more than 80 years, our experts have designed and delivered the critical infrastructure that connects and protects communities around the world. We work in collaborative teams, both within the company and with our partners and customers, to plan, design, build, and modernize infrastructure. We take special pride in projects and solutions that improve communities as well as people’s quality of life by promoting economic growth, enhancing mobility, and increasing sustainability and resiliency. Powered by our people, we provide the imagination necessary to support our customers’ visions—and to help them see what's next!

Salary Range: $176,900.00 - $332,400.00

We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!

This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will continue to be posted for an average of 30 days until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.

Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

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