KY/TN Traffic-Transportation Planning Practice Lead

HDR; Lexington (KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking a KY-TN Traffic and Planning Services Practice Lead in Kentucky. This leadership role involves integrating market development with practice excellence and driving growth within the Traffic and Planning Business Classes.

The ideal candidate will have over 15 years of experience, professional registration, and excellent communication skills. You will manage critical projects, mentor staff, and advance technical excellence in a collaborative, employee-owned culture.

Qualifications

• 15 years’ experience in a professional, architecture, engineering or closely related field.
• Professional registration such as AICP, PE, PTOE, PTP, PMP preferred.
• Knowledge of the local market and ability to work cooperatively.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Project Manager for key projects.
• Lead strategic planning and execution for market growth.
• Mentor and develop staff, fostering a culture of technical excellence.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Professional, Architecture, Engineering or related field

Job description

Overview

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story: https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

We believe transportation is more than movement; it’s the foundation of connected, thriving communities. As part of HDR’s Transportation Business Group, you’ll help shape the systems that move people and goods safely, efficiently, and sustainably. From designing resilient highways and iconic bridges to advancing transit, passenger and freight rail, aviation, federal transportation ports and marine infrastructure, your work will directly support economic vitality, public safety, sustainable and resilient communities and quality of life. We bring together planners, engineers, architects, construction management staff, environmental, strategic communications, economists, management consultants and specialists across disciplines to solve complex mobility challenges with innovation, technical excellence, and a deep understanding of community needs. Whether you\u2019re modernizing aging infrastructure or pioneering next-generation transportation solutions, your contributions will help define the future of mobility. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to lead progress, drive meaningful impact, and leave a legacy of smarter, more connected transportation networks. We are all employee-owners at HDR, which is the foundation of our collaborative culture that connects employees around the world.

Role

KY-TN Traffic and Planning Services Practice Lead

The Traffic and Planning Services Practice Lead is a strategic and technical leadership role that integrates market development with practice excellence across the Area. This position is responsible for driving growth, ensuring high-quality project delivery, and developing talent within both the Traffic and Planning Business Classes. Reporting to the Professional Services Leader, this position collaborates with regional, area, business class, and business group leadership to align business strategy with technical execution, positioning HDR as a premier service provider in their field, and championing technical excellence of the team.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Project Manager or Technical Project Lead for key/critical projects or programs.
• Provide Area leadership of technical capabilities within both the Traffic and Planning Business Classes.
• Coordinate with State Mobility Section Managers to plan workload and staffing, as well as technical training of the team.
• Lead strategic planning and execution for market growth within the assigned practice area.
• Plan, direct and monitor all aspects of multi-disciplinary transportation planning projects including but not limited to long-range visioning, strategic and tactical planning, policy and systems planning, data analytics and modeling, multimodal and intermodal planning, and project development. Project types may include but are not limited to program management contracts, long-range transportation plans, master plans, corridor studies, transit projects, freight plans, rail plans, intermodal/multimodal studies, traffic operational studies, managed lane studies, interchange justifications, and emerging mobility plans.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, with a deep understanding of client needs, funding mechanisms, and regulatory environments.
• Partner with Area Business Development Lead and others to identify and pursue new business opportunities.
• Oversee quality assurance processes, including critical project reviews.
• Advance best practices, tools, and standards across the practice.
• Serve as liaison to national Business Classes, as appropriate.
• Collaborate with national and regional technical leaders to maintain a cutting-edge, competitive practice and manage workshare.
• Mentor and develop staff, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement.
• Monitor utilization and coordinate staffing strategies, including hiring and workshare.
• Support succession planning and career development initiatives.
• Participate in monthly coordination calls with business class, regional, and client leadership.
• Troubleshoot project delivery issues and support resolution planning.
• Participate in annual reviews of staff, when appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• 15 years’ experience in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering or closely related field.
• Professional registration such as AICP, PE, PTOE, PTP, PMP preferred.
• Excellent communication, leadership and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of the local market.
• Ability to work cooperatively with area manager, area business group managers, area business development lead, and area professional services lead.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor\u2019s degree in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering or closely related field
• 10 years of experience
• Committed to quality, improvement and HDR values
• Maintains a professional or engineering registration and has related technical experience
• Experienced in development and management of diverse teams
• Works cooperatively with other area business class leaders, operations managers, technical directors and marketing managers on business class efforts
• 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\u2019s 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-Kentucky-Elizabethtown Other Locations: United States-Kentucky-Louisville, United States-Tennessee-Brentwood, United States-Kentucky-Paducah, United States-Tennessee-Memphis, United States-Tennessee-Chattanooga, United States-Kentucky-Lexington, United States-Tennessee-Nashville

Industry: Highway + Road Schedule: Full-time Employee Status: Regular BusinessClass: Transportation Planning Job Posting: Jul 1, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.