Transportation Group Manager

French & Parrello Associates; Wall Township (NJ); On-site; USD 175,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

French & Parrello Associates (FPA) seeks a Group Manager – Transportation to lead and grow our Highway/Traffic and Bridge practices from our Wall Township headquarters. This senior role combines technical leadership with strategic growth and people development in New Jersey and the Northeast.

The position requires a strong track record in transportation engineering, project management, and business development, with a commitment to mentoring staff and expanding client relationships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering is required.
• PE license required; NJ PE preferred or ability to obtain via reciprocity.
• Minimum 15 years of transportation engineering and related leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for the Transportation Group (Highway/Traffic and Bridge).
• Lead, manage, and develop multidisciplinary teams of engineers and project managers.
• Oversee project delivery, client relationship management, and growth initiatives.
• Develop staff, promote collaboration across disciplines, and pursue new business opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Business development

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

NJDOT standards knowledge

AASHTO guidance

MUTCD familiarity

Job description

Wall Township, NJ
French & Parrello Associates (FPA) is seeking an experienced and motivated

Wall Township, NJ
French & Parrello Associates (FPA) is seeking an experienced and motivated Group Manager – Transportation to lead and grow our combined Highway/Traffic and Bridge practices at our headquarters in Wall Township, NJ. This is a senior leadership opportunity for a transportation professional with a strong technical background, proven project management experience, and a passion for developing people, strengthening client relationships, and expanding business opportunities.

This successful candidate will provide leadership across FPA’s Highway/Traffic and Bridge teams, helping establish strategic direction, oversee project delivery, develop staff, and expand the firm's transportation capabilities throughout New Jersey and the Northeast. This individual will work closely with FPA’s executive leadership and other Group Managers to support the continued growth and success of the Transportation Group.

Recognized year after year as one of NJBIZ’s Best Places to Work in New Jersey, FPA is committed to creating a culture where talented professionals are empowered to grow, collaborate, and lead. In 2026, FPA was ranked #49 on Zweig’s Hot Firm List, recognizing the firm among the 100 fastest-growing AEC firms in the United States and Canada. Our growth is driven by our investment in our people, technical excellence, and our commitment to delivering innovative solutions for the communities we serve.

This position offers the opportunity to combine technical leadership, operational management, client development, project oversight, and strategic growth. Unlike larger organizations where individual contributions can become diluted, FPA provides experienced leaders with the opportunity to directly influence the direction of the practice, mentor future leaders, develop key client relationships, and contribute to the continued growth of the firm.

Transportation Group Leadership

FPA’s Transportation Group brings together experienced professionals in Highway/Traffic and Bridge Engineering to deliver comprehensive transportation infrastructure solutions throughout New Jersey and the Northeast. The Group Manager will oversee and support a diverse portfolio of transportation projects for NJDOT, transportation authorities, counties, municipalities, and other public- and private-sector clients.

The Highway/Traffic practice provides roadway and transportation engineering services including highway improvements, roadway reconstruction, traffic engineering, intersection improvements, traffic signal design, transportation planning, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, access management, and other transportation infrastructure assignments.

FPA’s Bridge Department provides bridge design, rehabilitation, inspection, load rating, construction support, and structural engineering services for a wide range of transportation infrastructure. The team has experience with bridge replacements, deck replacements, structural rehabilitations, bridge widenings, staged construction, steel and prestressed concrete structures, culverts, pedestrian bridges, and other complex transportation structures.

The Group Manager will be responsible for integrating and strengthening these capabilities, identifying opportunities for collaboration between Highway/Traffic and Bridge teams, and positioning FPA to pursue and deliver increasingly complex transportation projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for FPA’s Transportation Group, including the Highway/Traffic and Bridge practices.


• Lead, manage, and develop a multidisciplinary team of engineers, project managers, and technical staff.


• Establish group goals and objectives consistent with FPA’s overall strategic and business development plans.


• Oversee project delivery to ensure projects meet established scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client expectations.


• Serve as a senior technical and project management resource for complex highway, traffic, bridge, and transportation infrastructure projects.


• Maintain and strengthen relationships with NJDOT, counties, municipalities, transportation authorities, and other public-sector clients.


• Serve as a senior client contact and participate in key client meetings, presentations, interviews, and project pursuits.


• Identify new business opportunities and develop strategies to expand FPA’s transportation client base and market presence.


• Lead and support proposal development, scope and fee preparation, contract negotiations, presentations, and interview teams.


• Develop and maintain a strong project backlog and support the financial performance and utilization of the Transportation Group.


• Monitor group staffing needs, workload, utilization, and project assignments to ensure resources are aligned with project demands.


• Recruit, retain, mentor, and develop engineers and project managers across the Highway/Traffic and Bridge practices.


• Establish career development opportunities and succession plans for key members of the Transportation Group.


• Promote collaboration between Highway/Traffic, Bridge, and FPA’s other multidisciplinary groups, including Civil/Site, Geotechnical, Environmental, Water Resources, and Construction Engineering.


• Provide technical oversight and quality assurance for transportation projects and deliverables.


• Support the development and implementation of engineering standards, procedures, and best practices within the Transportation Group.


• Ensure projects and technical services comply with applicable NJDOT, AASHTO, MUTCD, FHWA, local agency, and other applicable standards and requirements.


• Assist with resolving complex technical, contractual, staffing, and client issues.


• Participate in strategic planning and provide leadership with insight into market conditions, client needs, staffing requirements, and growth opportunities.


• Represent FPA at industry events, professional organizations, conferences, and client functions.


• Promote FPA’s culture of collaboration, technical excellence, accountability, and professional development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering required; Master’s degree in Civil, Transportation, Structural Engineering, or a related discipline preferred.


• Professional Engineer (PE) license required; New Jersey PE preferred or ability to obtain through reciprocity.


• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in transportation engineering, highway/traffic engineering, bridge engineering, structural engineering, or related infrastructure consulting.


• Demonstrated experience managing complex transportation projects from planning and preliminary engineering through final design, permitting, bidding, and construction.


• Strong background in Highway/Traffic, Bridge, or both, with an understanding of the broader transportation project lifecycle.


• Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams and managing multiple Project Managers and technical professionals.


• Proven ability to develop and maintain relationships with NJDOT, counties, municipalities, transportation authorities, and other public-sector clients.


• Strong understanding of project management principles, including scope, schedule, budget, staffing, quality control, risk management, and financial performance.


• Demonstrated success in business development, proposal development, client presentations, and strategic account management.


• Strong leadership and mentoring skills with the ability to recruit, retain, develop, and motivate technical professionals.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with clients, staff, executive leadership, and multidisciplinary project teams.


• Strong organizational and strategic planning skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing demands.


• Demonstrated understanding of transportation industry trends, public-sector procurement, and the New Jersey transportation market.

Nice To Have Skills & Experience

• Experience managing or leading a Highway/Traffic and Bridge group, department, or practice.


• Established relationships with NJDOT, NJ Turnpike Authority, Garden State Parkway, DRJTBC, counties, municipalities, or other transportation agencies.


• Strong knowledge of NJDOT design standards, AASHTO requirements, MUTCD, FHWA requirements, and applicable transportation and structural engineering standards.


• Experience with major transportation infrastructure programs and alternative project delivery methods.


• Experience developing and executing strategic growth plans for a transportation practice.


• Existing book of business or demonstrated ability to develop and maintain a strong transportation project backlog.


• Experience recruiting, developing, and retaining senior-level engineering professionals.


• Active involvement in professional organizations and industry associations.

Additional Information

• Sponsorship for U.S. employment authorization is available for this position.


• Relocation assistance is available for this position.

The FPA Difference

Large firms offer scale. FPA offers opportunity.

For more than 50 years, French & Parrello Associates (FPA) has been delivering innovative engineering solutions that shape communities, improve infrastructure, and support regional growth. As an employee‑owned, mid‑sized engineering and consulting firm, FPA combines the technical capabilities and expertise of a larger organization with the collaboration, accessibility, and personal investment of a close‑knit team.

At FPA, engineers are empowered to take ownership of their work, collaborate across disciplines, and experience the full project lifecycle. Your career is not defined by one task or limited to one area of expertise. Instead, you will have the opportunity to broaden your technical skills, work alongside industry leaders, develop client relationships, and gain the diverse experience needed to become a well‑rounded engineering professional.

Our multidisciplinary approach allows team members to see the bigger picture, contribute to meaningful projects, and make an impact from concept through completion. We invest in our people through mentorship, professional development, and opportunities for growth because we believe the success of our employees drives the continued success of our firm.

At FPA, you are not just working on projects, you are helping build a growing organization while contributing to the communities we serve.

Benefits

Benefit packages for this role will start on the 1st day of employment and include medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as HSA, FSA, and DCFSA account options, and 401k retirement plans. Employees in this role are also entitled to paid sick leave and/or other paid time off as provided by applicable law.

Compensation

The projected compensation range for this position is $175,000 to $225,000. Actual compensation will depend on factors including experience, education, qualifications, and skill set. FPA recognizes and rewards performance through an annual bonus program and offers a signing bonus for this particular position for qualified candidates.