Senior Transportation Project Manager

GFT; Nashville (TN); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Wellness program

Parental leave

Pet insurance

401(k)

PTO

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Incentive pay

Job summary

GFT is seeking a Tennessee Client Service Leader and Senior Project Manager, Transportation in Nashville to manage transportation infrastructure projects and lead a multidisciplinary team. The role emphasizes delivering design through execution, maintaining technical quality, and driving client relationships across TDOT and regional teams.

The position requires a Tennessee-licensed PE with 15+ years of experience, and offers a hybrid work model with competitive compensation and professional

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related technical field.
• At least 15 years of progressive design and project management experience on transportation infrastructure.
• Professional Engineering License in Tennessee or ability to obtain within 3 months.
• Experience managing transportation projects and meeting operational goals.
• Experience with client relationship development, capture planning, and win strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of transportation projects from concept through design.
• Oversee engineering and design on conventional and design-build road/bridge projects.
• Serve as Project Manager or Principal for a range of engineering projects.
• Mentor project staff and participate in hiring.
• Develop and maintain TDOT opportunity pipeline and teaming relationships.
• Act as main client contact for TDOT and coordinate across regions.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Mentoring

Time management

Organization skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Job description

What You Will Do

As GFT continues to grow and expand, we are seeking a Tennessee Client Service Leader to support our Transportation Group in Metro Nashville, TN. This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring a minimum of 3 days of onsite office attendance. Working on the transportation team at GFT offers the opportunity to engage in transformative projects that enhance transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Whether working on highways and bridges or traffic engineering, our team excels in resilient, sustainable design and construction, delivering innovative solutions that address the complexities of modern, multimodal roadway systems and ensure safe, efficient, and reliable travel for all .

What You’ll Be Challenged To Do

As a Senior Project Manager, Transportation, you will be responsible for State, municipal, and private clients in transportation infrastructure while also providing effective and efficient management of day-to-day operations within the transportation team.

In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

• Lead the delivery of transportation projects from concept through preliminary and final design.
• Oversee and manage the overall engineering and design and delivery on both conventional and design-build projects for roads and bridges.
• Serve as the Project Manager or Principal for a variety of engineering projects in design.
• Maintain a high level of technical quality on projects.
• Serve as a functional manager for an engineering team, responsible for career development and performance reviews.
• Mentor project staff and participate in the hiring process.
• Track and maintain TDOT opportunity pipeline, on-call contract utilization, and firm prequalifications.
• Develop and maintain relationships with potential teaming partners.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for TDOT, coordinating activities seamlessly across regions and service lines.
• Provide excellent client service through technical expertise, quality management and production, and responsiveness.
• Maintain a close working relationship with all business, market sector, practice, and service line leads, other project managers, project controls staff, and construction personnel.
• Take an active role in business development through client outreach, identifying new opportunities, participating in the capture planning and proposal process, and remain involved in technical and client oversight throughout the life of a project.
• Attend strategically significant conferences; maintain visibility through active participation in professional, civic, and business organizations across Tennessee.
• Identify new opportunities by leveraging professional networks in the region and assist in growing the business.

Education | Experience

What You Will Bring To Our Firm

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related technical field.
• At least 15 years of progressive design and project management and delivery experience on transportation infrastructure projects.
• Professional Engineering License in the State of Tennessee required, or ability to obtain registration within 3 months.
• Experience managing transportation projects.
• Experience meeting operational business goals.
• Experience with client relationship development and management, capture planning, and win strategies.
• Strong leadership, team management, mentoring, time management, and organizational skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.

What We Prefer You Bring

• Proven track record of successful delivery for transportation projects according to Tennessee DOT standards – conventional and design/build project execution.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $170,000 - $210,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.

Featured Benefits

• Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

Company Overview

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.

GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.

GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.

Location

Nashville, TN

Core Business Hours

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Employment Status

Full-Time

Applicants in the County of Los Angeles- Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Applicants in the City of San Francisco- Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Applicants in the State of California-Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.