Associate Director, Project & Program Management

Network Rail Consulting; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare insurance premiums (100% PA

Generous vacation leave entitlement (T

401K with employer matching

LifeMart Employee Discount Program

Flexible work / hybrid options

Job summary

Network Rail Consulting (NRC) seeks an Associate Director, Project & Program Management in Washington DC to lead client engagements across all phases of delivery, manage project teams, and cultivate strong customer relationships.

You will shape project plans, budgets, schedules, and risk processes, mentor staff, support business development, and uphold NRC’s safety and governance standards while delivering high-profile transportation and infrastructure programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field.
• Extensive project management experience in transportation, rail, transit, infrastructure, or related industries.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary projects and teams.
• Experience managing client relationships and project controls.

Responsibilities

• Lead client projects and programs with overall delivery responsibility.
• Direct multidisciplinary teams and coordinate specialists to achieve objectives.
• Develop execution strategies, schedules, budgets, and risk plans.
• Ensure delivery against scope, schedule, budget, quality, and stakeholder expectations.
• Mentor and develop team members across locations.
• Support business development and client engagement strategies.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Budgeting & forecasting

Risk management

Communication

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Transportation, Business, Program Management, or related discipline

Tools

Primavera P6

Microsoft Project

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Network Rail Consulting (NRC) is the international consultancy arm of Network Rail – the owner and operator of Britain’s mainline rail system. We have been active in the North American, Australian and the Middle East markets since 2013 and have successfully delivered more than 150 consultancy contracts for government, public and privately owned organizations.

Through our consulting services in the United States (US), we are assisting both public agencies and private clients in the transportation sector to accelerate transformation efforts, make step-changes in major program delivery, and achieve leaps forward in areas such as asset management & maintenance, major projects, railway operations, strategic planning and advisory.

Our work is driven forward by our values: agile, always safe, care about people, collaborative, impartial and passionate.

The opportunity with NRC

We are seeking an experienced transportation and infrastructure professional to join our growing team as an Associate Director, Project & Program Management based out of our Washington DC location.

In this role, you will serve as the assignment lead for client engagements, providing leadership across all phases of project and program delivery. You will be responsible for managing project teams, developing strong client relationships, and ensuring successful delivery of project objectives related to scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk.

Working closely with clients, NRC leadership, and technical subject matter experts, you will lead multidisciplinary teams in the planning, development, and delivery of complex transportation and infrastructure projects. You will act as a trusted advisor to clients while ensuring NRC delivers exceptional outcomes and continues to build long-term strategic relationships.

This role provides an exciting opportunity to take ownership of high-profile assignments, contribute to the growth of NRC's consulting practice, and help shape the delivery of transformational transportation programs across the United States.

Key Accountabilities:

Project and Program Leadership

• Serve as the assignment lead for client projects and programs, with overall responsibility for successful delivery.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and coordinate technical specialists to achieve project objectives.
• Develop and maintain project execution strategies, delivery plans, schedules, budgets, and risk management processes.
• Manage project performance against agreed scope, schedule, budget, quality, and stakeholder expectations.
• Provide leadership in identifying, mitigating, and managing project risks, issues, dependencies, and opportunities.
• Ensure projects are delivered in accordance with contractual requirements, NRC procedures, and industry best practices.
• Establish effective governance, reporting, and performance management processes for client assignments.

Client Relationship Management

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with clients and key stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Act as the primary point of contact for assigned projects and programs.
• Lead client meetings, workshops, presentations, and progress reviews.
• Provide strategic advice and project leadership to help clients achieve their business and operational objectives.
• Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships and support future business growth.
• Lead, mentor, and support project team members across multiple disciplines and locations.
• Allocate and manage resources to ensure efficient project delivery and utilization.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture focused on quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Support the professional development of team members through coaching and knowledge sharing.

Commercial and Business Management

• Manage project finances, including forecasting, budgeting, revenue tracking, resource planning, and cost control.
• Monitor project performance and report on financial, commercial, and delivery metrics.
• Manage subconsultants, contractors, DBE/SBE partners, and other project delivery partners where applicable.
• Support contract administration and ensure compliance with commercial and contractual obligations.

Business Development

• Support business development activities, client engagement strategies, and market growth initiatives.
• Contribute to proposal development, statements of qualifications (SOQs), requests for proposals (RFPs), and interview presentations.
• Collaborate with NRC leadership and technical teams to develop innovative solutions for clients.
• Promote NRC's capabilities and strengthen our reputation across the transportation industry.

Safety and Governance

• Champion a strong safety culture across all project activities.
• Ensure compliance with NRC policies, client requirements, and applicable industry regulations.
• Contribute to lessons learned, continuous improvement initiatives, and knowledge sharing across the organization.

Job Skills, Experience & Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Transportation, Business, Program Management, or a related discipline; or an equivalent combination of education, professional qualifications, and relevant experience.
• Extensive project management experience within transportation, rail, transit, infrastructure, or related industries.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary projects and teams.
• Proven ability to manage client relationships and serve as a trusted advisor.
• Experience managing project schedules, budgets, resources, risks, and project controls.
• Strong understanding of the full project lifecycle, from planning and development through delivery and close-out.
• Experience managing consultants, contractors, and stakeholder interfaces.
• Strong commercial acumen and financial management skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, presentation, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively across multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office and project management tools.

Preferred

• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent project management certification.
• Experience working with public-sector transportation agencies.
• Knowledge of FRA, FTA, or other transportation industry regulations.
• Experience with Primavera P6 or similar project scheduling software.
• Proposal development and business development experience within a consulting environment.

For the right person, this role presents a fantastic opportunity to develop their career, joining an established and passionate team, with ambitious plans to grow.

We offer benefits such as:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Healthcare insurance premiums (100% paid for by us)
• Generous vacation leave entitlement (25 days)
• 401K with employer matching contributions
• Access to Employee Discount Program via LifeMart

NRC supports flexible working practices, and we understand that life balance is an important part of our employees' lives. We offer a wide range of flexible work/life balance options such as hybrid (home/office) working, flexible working hours where appropriate.

NRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or veteran status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.