Department Lead, Active Transportation

Michael Baker International, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 252,000 - 308,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401k Retirement Plan

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Michael Baker International, Inc. seeks a Department Lead, Active Transportation to provide strategic leadership in multimodal projects across Los Angeles. This role requires leadership in urban mobility, active transportation, and a minimum of 15 years in transportation engineering.

You will drive business development, enhance client relationships, and oversee high-visibility projects, focusing on mobility and safety. Strong collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in transportation engineering, focusing on active transportation.
• California Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Strong understanding of local, regional, and state transportation policies.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow a multidisciplinary team focused on active transportation.
• Expand active transportation portfolio by pursuing strategic opportunities.
• Serve as Project Manager or Technical Lead on high-visibility projects.

Skills

Leadership

Urban mobility

Active transportation design

Multimodal planning

Business development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Job description

Transportation Practice

Consistently ranked by Engineering News-Record as a Top 20 transportation firm, Michael Baker International offers clients an integrated team of professionals versed in all aspects of transportation planning, design, permitting, and construction management and inspection. In addition, Michael Baker International is a recognized leader in the practical aspects of operating and maintaining a safe and efficient transportation infrastructure.

What We're Looking For

This is a rare opportunity to step into a leadership role with a well-established, highly respected team delivering impactful active transportation and multimodal projects across the Los Angeles region. Our LA office has built strong client relationships and a robust project portfolio—now we’re looking for a dynamic leader to help drive the next phase of growth.

As Department Lead, Active Transportation, you will provide strategic and technical leadership for our growing multimodal practice, focused on active transportation, complete streets, and context-sensitive mobility solutions. You’ll lead and expand a high-performing team, delivering projects that enhance mobility, safety, and accessibility for all users.

In this role, you will drive business development, win work with local agencies and regional partners, and strengthen long-standing client relationships throughout Southern California.

The ideal candidate brings expertise in urban mobility, active transportation design, and multimodal planning, along with strong leadership and a collaborative mindset to elevate an already successful team.

What You'll Do

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and grow a multidisciplinary team focused on active transportation and multimodal project delivery
• Build on an already strong team culture—fostering collaboration, inclusion, and high performance
• Support recruitment, staff development, and succession planning to sustain long-term growth

Business Development & Client Engagement

• Expand our active transportation portfolio by identifying and pursuing strategic opportunities
• Successfully pursue and win work with municipalities, counties, MPOs, and transit agencies throughout Los Angeles County and Southern California
• Strengthen and deepen relationships with existing clients while cultivating new partnerships
• Position the firm as a trusted leader in safe, equitable, and sustainable mobility solutions
• Lead proposal strategies, interviews, and key pursuits

Project Delivery & Technical Excellence

• Serve as Project Manager, Technical Lead, or Principal-in-Charge on high-visibility active transportation and multimodal projects
• Oversee delivery to ensure projects meet schedule, budget, and quality expectations
• Provide technical leadership in areas such as:
  • Complete streets design and implementation
  • Active Transportation Plans (ATP), bicycle and pedestrian plans
  • Safe Routes to School programs
  • Corridor studies and road diets
  • Transit integration and first/last mile solutions
• Champion innovative, data-driven, and context-sensitive design approaches that respond to community needs

Operational Management

• Guide department operations, including resource planning, utilization, and financial performance
• Monitor project pipelines and proactively align staffing with growth
• Partner with office and regional leadership to shape and execute strategic growth initiatives

Collaboration & Integration

• Work closely with traffic, planning, environmental, structures, and other disciplines to deliver integrated multimodal solutions
• Promote cross-office collaboration and knowledge sharing
• Contribute to firmwide initiatives advancing sustainability, innovation, and mobility

What You Need to Succeed

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering
• 15+ years of progressive experience in transportation engineering, with a focus on active transportation and multimodal projects
• California Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Demonstrated success in business development, including winning work and managing client relationships
• Strong understanding of local, regional, and state transportation policies and funding programs (e.g., ATP, CMAQ, SB1)
• Experience working with public agencies in Los Angeles County

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Expertise in complete streets design, Vision Zero strategies, and multimodal corridor planning
• Familiarity with LA Metro and Caltrans guidelines as they relate to active transportation (beyond highway-centric delivery)
• Experience with community engagement, equity-focused planning, and stakeholder coordination
• Strong leadership presence, communication skills, and sound decision-making ability
• A genuine passion for creating safer, more accessible, and more sustainable transportation systems

Compensation

The approximate compensation range for this position is up to $280,000 per year. This compensation range is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation is dependent upon factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and physical work location.

Why Choose Us

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability
• Professional and personal development
• Generous paid time off
• Commuter and wellness benefits