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Job Description:

Parsons Corporation – USA Western Region

Sr. Program Director- Rail and Transit

Opportunity :  

Are you accomplished in turnkey delivery of rail projects and programs in the transportation area?  Have you delivered these programs?  If so, Parsons is seeking a Sr. Program Director – Rail and Transit to join our team. 

The selected person will be responsible for project and program management and technical leadership of rail projects in the Northwest Region including Washington and Oregon. Experience with rail transit systems is preferred. Your time will also be spent developing key relationships, developing proposal strategies and managing project staff.  Our portfolio includes some of the most notable projects and clients in the US and our continued success in delivering their vision depends greatly on this important position.  This position is preferred to be based in Seattle, Washington. Candidates with demonstrated depth of experience with large urban rail and transit systems from outside of Washington and other states are encouraged to apply as well!

Responsibilities:

Program Leadership & Execution

• Plans, directs, supervises, and controls all business, technical, fiscal, and administrative functions of assigned projects or programs.
• Establishes project and program goals and deliverable standards; oversees compliance with contract terms, technical criteria, and client expectations.
• Develops and enforces the Project Execution Plan (PEP), Health and Safety Plan (HASP), QA/QC Plan, Risk Management Plan, and change control protocols.

Design Management & Technical Integration

• Leads all phases of design, from preliminary engineering to final design across civil, track, structural, station, and systems disciplines.
• Ensures design integration, consistency, and constructability across project packages and technical disciplines.
• Serves as the primary technical point of contact, resolving escalated design issues and ensuring adherence to safety, regulatory, and quality standards.
• Promotes design excellence, innovation, and value engineering to drive lifecycle performance and cost optimization.

• Acts as the client interface, representing the company in negotiations with owners, regulatory agencies, and public forums.
• Works closely with client representatives, contractors, consultants, and third parties to manage complex interfaces.
• Provides ongoing follow-up on client instructions, commitments, and scope modifications.

• Assembles, mobilizes, and manages multi-office/multi-disciplinary project teams by liaising with technical organization managers and support units.

• Develops, monitors, and adjusts budgets, schedules, and deliverables across program elements; reports to executive management on cost and schedule status.
• Proactively identifies risks and initiates corrective actions to mitigate schedule slips or cost overruns.
• Maintains current change orders and supports financial forecasting and earned value reporting processes.

• Partners with marketing and pursuit teams to identify, position, and secure new business opportunities.
• Engages in client capture planning and pre-positioning efforts to support key pursuits, particularly in the rail & transit sector.

Skills & Competencies

• Advanced leadership and decision-making abilities across multidisciplinary, matrixed teams.
• Demonstrated success delivering complex rail/transit programs under traditional and alternative delivery methods (e.g., DB, GCCM).
• Strong command of QA/QC principles, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and earned value management.
• Deep knowledge of industry standards, regulations, and local/state permitting frameworks.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field is required. Master’s Degree is highly desirable. 

• 20 years or more of experience in a design or management role on rail/transit projects.  

• Washington PE is highly preferred  

• Experience in project management and/or design and engineering management focused on state of good repair, track alignment, passenger rail stations, storage and maintenance rail yards, and other rail and transit infrastructure. 

• Considerable experience in client management. 

 

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: $167,400.00 - $314,500.00

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!

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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