Senior Program Manager

HDR, Inc.; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 129,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Employee ownership

Retirement plan with employer match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

HDR, Inc. is seeking a Senior Transportation Program Manager to oversee complex infrastructure programs nationwide, with the Ohio focus. You will lead a multi-disciplinary team, ensure contract compliance, and provide thought leadership to clients and HDR leadership.

The role emphasizes strategic delivery, governance, and risk management across transportation projects while collaborating with HDR leadership and client stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher preferred in a related field.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required for consideration.
• 5+ years of project management experience and 10 years related experience desired.
• Familiar with estimating and scheduling software; strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary infrastructure programs with high technical complexity.
• Advise clients on technical, regulatory, financial, and community aspects of programs.
• Plan, direct, and monitor all aspects of program execution including multiple disciplines.
• Identify risks and address program challenges with strategic guidance and timely decisions.
• Develop plans and tools to drive efficiencies, ensure accountability, and promote transparency.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Communication

Team coordination

Microsoft Office

Estimating

Scheduling software

Client advisory

Education

Master's degree in Engineering/Construction/Sciences/Planning/Business Administration

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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.

The Senior Transportation Program Manager is responsible for overseeing, coordinating, and directing the work of a multi-disciplinary team assigned to support the delivery of one or multiple complex transportation infrastructure program(s). In that role, the Senior Program Manager is the team's primary point of contact with the client, responsible for the team's compliance with contract requirements and for meeting client expectations. Furthermore, the Senior Program Manager serves as a trusted advisor to the client's leadership team, providing thought leadership, counseling the client on delivery strategies, processes and tools, and offering recommendations on the program governance and the management of the program team. The Senior Program Manager leads by focusing on the best interests of our clients and by embracing HDR's purpose – we do things right to make great things possible. A Senior Program Manager may act as a Deputy Program Manager on larger programs under the direction of a Principal Program Manager.

This position will support program management activities nationally, with a focus on clients located in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia & Delaware.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assume leadership responsibilities for managing multidisciplinary infrastructure programs with a high degree of technical complexity and non-technical intricacies.
• Advise clients on the technical, regulatory, financial, and community facets of infrastructure programs, which are all critical to program success. Leverage lessons learned from other programs and industry best management practices to address each client's specific needs. the specific needs of each client.
• Plan, direct and monitor all aspects of program execution. This may involve overseeing a broad range of disciplines including, but not limited to:
  • capital planning, change management, commissioning/asset onboarding, communications,
  • construction management, cost control/estimating, document management, environmental planning/compliance,
  • engineering, equity, financial support, organizational strengthening, permitting, planning/design management, program governance, procurement, project management, quality management, real estate, regulatory support, risk management, scheduling, strategic planning, sustainability, and resiliency.
• Anticipate and identify potential issues and risks that may impact program implementation, and assist the client with problem-solving, issues resolution, risk mitigation, and timely decision-making. Provide strategic advice and thought leadership. Deploy the required resources to address various program challenges and unanticipated events.
• Develop and implement various plans (program management, startup plans, and work plans), business processes, and tools to drive efficiencies, emphasize accountability, bring team alignment, and promote transparency.
• Direct the services provided by multiple program teams or a single large program team comprised of HDR and subconsultants staff. Promote alignment within the team through effective and regular communications. Secure the resources required to deliver services specified in the contract scope with a focus on contract compliance. Monitor team performance and establish a robust QA/QC program to meet client expectations.
• Monitor the program's financial performance against pre-established financial metrics and make adjustments as necessary to meet earnings and profitability targets, and control losses.
• Contribute to the growth of HDR's program management services by (1) building a long-term trusted advisory relationship with clients; (2) looking for opportunities to expand our services to address the needs of existing clients; (3) supporting the pursuit of new program contract opportunities; (4) mentoring and training staff working on programs; and (5) supporting practice-wide initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Sciences, Planning, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Experience leading the consultant or owner program management team of at least one transportation infrastructure program(s) with a capital value of $500 million.
• Knowledgeable of other alternative delivery/contract models, such as public-private partnership (P3), design-build-finance-operate-maintain (DBFOM), and engineering procurement construction (EPC).
• Willingness to travel as needed to support program management assignments.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and related professional experience
• 10 years related experience
• A minimum of 5 years of project management experience
• Familiar with Microsoft Office, estimating and scheduling software, project management software
• Must have the ability to interact with various design teams, have excellent organizational, project management and communication (both written and verbal) skills
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owners 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.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) Pay Transparency Columbus: $129,220 - 184,600.

Primary Location: United States-Ohio-Columbus

Industry: Highway + Road

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

BusinessClass: Program Management

Job Posting: Sep 14, 2026