Area Transit Market Sector Leader

HDR; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking an Area Transit Market Sector Leader in Irvine, CA. You will guide HDR’s transit practice in Southern California, uniting client development, pursuit leadership, project delivery, talent strategy, and operations across planning, environmental, engineering, and advisory services.

This seller-doer role demands strategic vision and hands-on execution. You will build executive-level client relationships, recruit and mentor staff, and coordinate resources across HDR to sustain growth

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in engineering, planning or a related field.
• At least 10 years of industry experience.
• Experience developing and managing strategic marketing programs for planning/engineering services.
• Proven ability to manage broad client relationships and pursuits.
• Leadership in staff development and recruitment and succession planning.

Responsibilities

• Assess market opportunities and develop growth strategies.
• Lead business development with marketing and client teams.
• Direct sector strategy and annual planning for Southern California Transit.
• Serve as client manager, pursuit champion, and project lead for strategic clients.
• Develop relationships with transit agencies and partners.
• Mentor leaders and build a collaborative, inclusive culture.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Strategic planning

Client management

Market knowledge

Team mentoring

Stakeholder relations

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Related Field

Job description

Area Transit Market Sector Leader - ( 196707 )

About Us

At HDR, we specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists. That’s why we believe diversity is our greatest strength. HDR is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer.

Watch our 'About Us' video

We believe that the way we work can add meaning and value to the world. That ideas inspire positive change. That coloring outside the lines can illuminate fresh perspectives. And that small details yield important realizations. Above all, we believe that collaboration is the best way forward.

HDR has an outstanding opportunity for an accomplished transit leader to guide the continued growth and performance of our Southern California Transit Market Sector. The successful candidate will be the visible face of HDR’s transit practice in the market and will bring together client development, pursuit leadership, project delivery, talent strategy, and operational coordination. This is a seller-doer leadership role that requires strategic vision and hands‑on execution across planning, environmental, engineering, program management, construction management, rail and transit systems, operations and maintenance facilities, and related advisory services.

The individual will lead a highly successful and high performing team and is expected to develop, recruit and assist with management of staff involved in the planning and design of transit infrastructure and services for bus, light rail, regional and passenger rail, streetcar and other transit initiatives.

The leader will partner closely with Area Transportation leadership, the Business Development Leader, Marketing, Regional and National Transit leadership, business class and cross-sector leaders, client managers, and project teams. The role will set and implement the SoCal transit growth agenda, build durable executive-level client relationships, mobilize the best resources across HDR, and develop the next generation of market, client, project, and technical leaders.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assess the market, identify viable opportunities, and establish focused client, capture, teaming, staffing, and investment strategies that translate into sustainable growth.
• Maintain a top-line focus on business development in close partnership with the Business Development Leader, Marketing Services Manager, client managers, and client development teams. Partner with the marketing team led by the BDL and/or Marketing Services Manager (MSM) related to developing strategies, capture plans and initiating/building relationships with key clients utilizing novel approaches to building and maintaining strong working relationships
• Lead the Southern California Transit Market Sector strategy and annual planning process, aligning Area priorities with regional and national transit goals.
• Serve, as appropriate, as client manager, pursuit champion, executive sponsor, project principal, project director, or project manager for strategic clients, pursuits, and assignments.
• Develop trusted relationships with senior leaders at transit agencies, partner firms, contractors, industry organizations, and other key market participants.
• Lead pre-positioning, capture planning, teaming, proposal, and interview strategies for priority pursuits, applying disciplined and proven capture techniques.
• Promote the full range of HDR services to transit clients and create integrated solutions across market sectors, business classes, cross sectors, geographies, and business groups.
• Coordinate with project delivery leadership to assemble qualified teams, resolve resource constraints, strengthen commercial and risk management, and support consistent delivery quality.
• Identify leadership and technical capability gaps, establish workforce and succession plans, and lead or support recruitment of strategic hires.
• Mentor and develop client managers, pursuit leaders, project managers, and emerging market leaders; create visible pathways for staff growth and expanded responsibility.
• Build a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable culture across a geographically dispersed practice, connecting staff to the strategy and recognizing contributions.
• Represent HDR at industry associations, conferences, client events, and community or professional organizations, strengthening the firm’s visibility and reputation.
• Identify investments in people, partnerships, and practice development that can sustain or advance HDR’s leadership position.
• Capture and share lessons learned, market intelligence, and best practices to improve win rates, delivery performance, and the scalability of the practice.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in transit planning, environmental, design, program management, construction management, operations, or related professional services.
• Established executive-level relationships with transit agencies and industry partners in Southern California, such as LA Metro, Metrolink, OCTA, LOSSAN, SBCTA, RCTC, SANDAG, MTS and/or NCTD.
• Demonstrated success leading major transit pursuits and delivering large, multidisciplinary rail, bus, BRT, commuter rail, light rail, streetcar, zero-emission fleet, facilities, or related infrastructure programs.
• Experience with alternative delivery, program management, construction management, commercial management, advisory services, or major capital-program implementation.
• Working knowledge of FTA requirements, federal and state funding and environmental processes, and the governance and procurement environment of public transit agencies.
• Professional registration or certification such as PE, AICP, PMP, DBIA, CCM, or an equivalent credential, as applicable to the candidate’s discipline.
• Active participation and leadership in transit or transportation industry organizations.
• Experience operating as a seller-doer and balancing market leadership with meaningful project or program responsibilities.
• Knowledge of and experience with transit studies, planning, CEQA/NEPA and/or design of multi-discipline projects and projects with high degree of technical complexity, typically in excess of $5 million
• Experience in preparing transportation plans, corridor plans, transit studies and similar plans/reports; preferably for state/local governments or agencies.
• Experience with NEPA and Capital Investment Grant (CIG)/Small Starts requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in an engineering, planning or a related field
• A minimum of 10 years of industry experience
• Experienced in development and management of strategic marketing programs for planning and/or engineering services
• Experienced in development and management of a wide range of client relationships and specific program and/or project pursuits
• Experienced in overall staff development to include recruiting, career path and professional growth
• Experienced with industry associations and maintains a visible profile in the market sector
• Ability to work cooperatively with Regional Market Sector Directors, Market Sector Directors, Business Class Directors, Regional Business Group Directors, Area Business Group Managers, Area Marketing Managers and Area Managers
• Demonstrated commitment to HDR values. An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must

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-California-Irvine

Other Locations

—

Industry

Highway + Road

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

Job Posting

Oct 1, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity.

We are an affirmative action and Equal Opportunity Employe r.

We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.