Principal Project Manager / Construction & Technical Advisor (LRT Civil and Structures)

Mott MacDonald; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 162,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Personal and group performance bonuses

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking an experienced Principal Project Manager / Construction & Technical Advisor to join the Clients LRT Construction Program in a full-time role in North America. You will act as an independent advisor on civil infrastructure delivery for LRT projects, guiding and challenging the Delivery Partner and stakeholders throughout project delivery.

The role emphasizes site oversight, risk management, and governance participation, with strong leadership in technical reviews and

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years post-graduate experience delivering major transit infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience through construction administration phases of light rail transit projects.
• Strong understanding of multidisciplinary station integration (LRT guideways, elevated structures, bridges, retaining walls, earthworks, utilities, drainage, corridor infrastructure).
• Thorough understanding of construction risk management, contract administration, quality management, and project controls.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) or Registered Architect designation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Client’s trusted advisor for all civil and structural infrastructure delivery across the Projects LRT Construction program.
• Monitor and review station design development, construction, testing and completion of major civil works and structures.
• Provide independent assessment of construction methodologies, sequencing, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Review and advise on contractor and Delivery Partner submissions, technical queries, change requests, non-conformances, and claims related to civil works.
• Identify, assess, and communicate construction risks, opportunities, and emerging issues that may impact cost, schedule, quality, safety, operability, or maintainability.
• Provide technical leadership and informed challenge during project reviews, workshops, and governance meetings.
• Coordinate with specialists across station, architectural, systems, rail, utilities, urban realm, operations, and maintenance disciplines.
• Support the Client in ensuring that civil/structural designs and construction outcomes align with project requirements and long‑term operational objectives.
• Participate in site inspections, progress reviews, testing and commissioning contractor meetings, and readiness assessments.
• Prepare concise technical reports, recommendations, and briefing materials for Client leadership as required.

Skills

15+ years experience

Transit infrastructure delivery

Independent advisory oversight

Education

Architectural degree

Civil Engineering degree

Structural Engineering degree

Transportation Engineering degree

P.Eng. or Registered Architect (preferred)

Job description

At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our sectors in North America, including, Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water.

We believe in empowering our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining work. Join us and be part of a collaborative environment where your ambitions are united with ours, and you can truly shape your story.

If you share that vision, even if you don’t meet every requirement listed, we’d still love to hear from you. We value potential and diverse perspectives as much as experience. Let’s explore how we can support your growth and help you take the next step in your career, while contributing to an exciting new chapter for Mott MacDonald in North America.

We are seeking an experienced Principal Project Manager / Construction & Technical Advisor to join the Clients LRT Construction Program in a full-time project assignment anticipated to extend for approximately five years.

The successful candidate will act as an extension of the Client’s project team, providing independent technical and construction advisory services focused on the delivery of civil infrastructure and structures associated with the LRT Construction Program. This includes guideways, bridges, retaining walls, earthworks, roads, utility relocations, drainage systems, and corridor infrastructure. This position is not a design role and does not carry Engineer of Record responsibilities. Instead, the advisor will safeguard the Client’s interests by providing oversight, challenge, and inform recommendations regarding the work of the Delivery Partner, Engineer of Record, contractors, and key stakeholders throughout project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the Client’s trusted advisor for all civil and structural infrastructure delivery across the Projects LRT Construction program.
• Monitor and review station design development, construction, testing and completion of major civil works and structures.
• Provide independent assessment of construction methodologies, sequencing, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Review and advise on contractor and Delivery Partner submissions, technical queries, change requests, non-conformances, and claims related to civil works.
• Identify, assess, and communicate construction risks, opportunities, and emerging issues that may impact cost, schedule, quality, safety, operability, or maintainability.
• Provide technical leadership and informed challenge during project reviews, workshops, and governance meetings.
• Coordinate with specialists across station, architectural, systems, rail, utilities, urban realm, operations, and maintenance disciplines.
• Support the Client in ensuring that civil/structural designs and construction outcomes align with project requirements and long‑term operational objectives.
• Participate in site inspections, progress reviews, testing and commissioning contractor meetings, and readiness assessments.
• Prepare concise technical reports, recommendations, and briefing materials for Client leadership as required.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of post‑graduate experience delivering major transit infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience through the construction administration phases of light rail transit projects.
• Strong understanding of multidisciplinary station integration including:
• LRT guideways
• Elevated structures
• Bridges
• Retaining walls
• Earthworks and geotechnical interfaces
• Utilities and protection works
• Roadworks and traffic staging
• Drainage and stormwater systems
• Corridor infrastructure
• Thorough understanding of construction risk management, contract administration, quality management, and project controls.
• Experience working on behalf of owners, delivery authorities, owner's engineers, or independent advisory teams is highly desirable.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) or Registered Architect designation preferred.

Desired Experience

• Experience on major rail or metro projects
• Experience working within Design‑Build, Progressive Design‑Build, Alliance, P3, or similar collaborative delivery models.
• Familiarity with governance and oversight structures involving delivery partners, contractors, and designers of record.
• Experience supporting public sector transit owners and municipalities.

At Mott MacDonald, our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, providing them with a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.

Multiple factors such as qualifications, overall experience and position responsibilities will be used to determine the successful candidate's actual salary within the expected range.

The expected salary range for this position is from $162,000 - $200,000.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Collaboration at Our Core

At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we're together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in‑office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face‑to‑face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet client, team, and personal commitments.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.