Principal Project Manager - NJ Transit and Amtrak

Mott MacDonald; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 174,000 - 223,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid holidays

PTO

Parental leave

Life insurance

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Principal Project Manager for the Rail Infrastructure team in the New Jersey and New York City area to lead complex, multi-disciplinary projects for NJ Transit and related agencies.

The role requires extensive experience in construction management, project delivery, and client engagement, with a focus on rail systems, design, and scheduling. A hybrid in-office arrangement is expected, with strong collaboration across offices.

Qualifications

• 15+ years' relevant experience in the infrastructure and/or transit industry managing rail or transit projects
• 10+ years' experience managing multi-disciplinary project teams and engineering proposals
• CM/Resident Engineering with NJ Transit or equivalent public agency experience
• Familiarity with NJ Transit project delivery processes
• Experience with public involvement and transportation planning processes
• Strong technical writing for proposals, reports and specifications
• Experience managing and growing client relationships
• Established relationships with 3–5 current NJ Transit project managers
• Experience in planning, design, and CM for Rail Infrastructure projects
• Current NJ/NY Professional Engineer licenses preferred or ability to obtain

Responsibilities

• Lead the pursuit and execution of CD, PE, FD & Construction Management phases of Rail Infrastructure projects.
• Develop plans, evaluate criteria, weigh alternatives, and select cost-effective solutions meeting client needs.
• Identify opportunities, lead proposal development, and support transportation business development in NJ/NY.
• Mentor Northeast Transportation staff and foster high-performance teams.
• Coordinate with disciplines to ensure project execution within time, budget, and scope.

Skills

Rail/transit experience

Team leadership

Construction Mgmt

NJ Transit knowledge

Public involvement

Emotional intelligence

Technical writing

Client relationship mgmt

NJ Transit relationships

Rail design/construction

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Urban Planning

NJ PE license and NY PE license preferred

NJ PP license or AICP Certification

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.

Mott MacDonald is looking for professionals to join our ever-expanding Transportation team here in the New Jersey and New York City Metro Area. We are currently looking for a Principal Project Manager with experience in the New Jersey and New York City Metro Area for the Rail Infrastructure Industry (NJ Transit) . The successful candidate is required to have a strong understanding of the design and construction industry in the New Jersey and New York City Metro Area and experience working on public agency projects.

The candidate will apply a comprehensive knowledge of various disciplines to be used during construction, as well as the methods and techniques to be utilized.The candidate must become thoroughly familiar withthe requiredcontractual obligations and technical aspects ofprospectiveprojects. In addition to construction supervision, the candidate is also responsible for field administration,field engineering,budgeting,change management,and project scheduling.

The candidate mustpossessa working understanding of the railroad industry,railroad operations, andrailroadforce account work.The candidate will work withsenior agency staff, representatives from other railroads,permittingagencies, public utilities, andpermittingagencies.The candidate will bewell writtenand produceletters and monthly reports. The candidate will bewell versed in project safety best practices.

Responsibilities of the position will include, but may not be limited to:

• Lead the pursuit and execution of CD,PE,FD& Construction ManagementPhasesofRailInfrastructureprojects, developing and evaluating plans and criteria, weighingalternativesand selecting the most cost-effective solution meeting thestakeholdersand client's needs.
• Identifyand evaluate future opportunitiesthroughengagementwith the client, lead proposal development through the procurement process and support transportation business development efforts to build Mott MacDonald's reputation in New Jersey/New York.
• Provide vision, support, andchallengeto encourage collaborative,high performanceteam environments that promote analytical and resourceful problem solving, driving innovative approaches and alternative solutions.
• Be invested in the development ofNortheastTransportation staff through technical mentoring, leading effective communication, and supporting career advancement.

In this role, you will be expected to:

• Serve asseniorproject manager or discipline task lead on large and complex projects with multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Serve asproject principal, supervising project managers on smaller, less complex projects.
• Research the feasibility of alternative design approaches, site conditions, and regulatory agency specifications.
• Build on current client relationships and grow, nurture, and strengthen new external client relationships; build and maintain strong networks with key clients (NJ Transit& Amtrak), business partners and competitors, using these networks to influence, identify opportunities and impact the growth and direction of the transportation business.
• Identifyand manage opportunities through the entire procurement process, including upselling to existing clients.
• Lead the development of high-performance team environments by providing vision and guidance to design teams, offering both support andchallengeto encourage independent, creative thinking and collaboration.
• Exemplify Mott MacDonald values and culture, where results are driven by a total team effort and junior professionals feel supported through mentorship.
• Independently plan and review production of engineering drawings, specifications, engineeringinvestigationsand concept development work.
• Coordinate with all staff, including other disciplines, tomaintainproject execution and control to achieve continuity of purpose within scope, budget, and time schedules frominitialstart-up through final design on transportation projects.
• Supervise and/orparticipatein quality control checks, maintainingquality standards in all work produced, and/or reviewing designs and drawings performed by others.
• Serve as client account leader / liaison, including client account management,developmentand maintenance of client engagement plans,monitoringclientsatisfaction on current projects, overseeing client communication, and overseeing efficient resolution of client issues as they arise.

We invite applications from candidates with the following qualifications:

• A minimum of 15+ years'relevant experience in the infrastructure and/or transit industry managing rail or transit projects
• 10+ years' experience in managing multi-disciplinary project teams and managing engineering proposals.
• Previous Construction Management and/or Resident Engineering experience working with NJ Transit or equivalent public agencies
• Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of and experience with the NJ Transit project delivery processes.
• Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of and experience with public involvement and the transportation planning process.
• Excellent emotional intelligence and personal resilience,demonstratingawareness and regard of self, the situation, and others to effectively communicate with teams to produce results.
• Well-developed technical writing skills, including writing proposals, technicalreportsand construction specifications.
• Experience in managing and growing client relationships.
• Established relationships with at least 3-5 current NJ Transit project managers.
• Experience in planning,designand construction management forRailInfrastructureprojects.
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Urban Planning
• Current NJ PE licenseand Current NY PE license preferred or ability to obtain within a reasonable amount of time.
• Current NJ PP license or AICP Certification

Benefits & Reward

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. We provide a comprehensive benefit package that includes 401k, medical, dental and vision insurance, short-term/long-term disability, paid holidays, PTO, parental leave, and company paid life insurance.

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

The expected salary for this position is

NJ: $174,000 - $213,000

NY: $180,000 - $223,000

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.

Equal opportunity is the law.

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.

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.