Transportation Group Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

HSA

FSA

401k retirement plans

Paid time off

Job summary

French & Parrello Associates (FPA) seeks an experienced Group Manager – Transportation to lead and grow our Highway/Traffic and Bridge practices from our Wall Township, NJ headquarters. This senior leader will shape strategic direction, oversee project delivery, mentor staff, and expand transportation services across New Jersey and the Northeast.

Ideal candidate brings 15+ years in transportation engineering, PE license, and proven leadership in business development and complex project

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the Transportation Group (Highway/Traffic and Bridge).
• Lead, manage, and develop a multidisciplinary team of engineers, project managers, and technical staff.
• Establish group goals aligned with firm strategy and business development.
• Oversee project delivery to meet scope, schedule, budget, and quality.
• Serve as senior technical and project management resource for complex highway, traffic, bridge projects.
• Maintain relationships with NJDOT, counties, municipalities, and transportation authorities.
• Lead client meetings, presentations, and project pursuits.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities and expand client base.
• Guide proposal development, scope/fee prep, negotiations, and interview teams.
• Develop backlog and support financial performance and utilization.
• Monitor staffing, workload, and resource alignment with demand.
• Recruit, retain, and mentor engineers and project managers.
• Plan career development and succession for Transportation Group members.
• Foster collaboration with other groups (Civil/Site, Geotechnical, Environmental, etc.).
• Provide technical oversight and QA for transportation projects and deliverables.
• Support engineering standards, procedures, and best practices within the group.
• Ensure compliance with NJDOT, AASHTO, MUTCD, FHWA, and local standards.
• Resolve complex technical, contractual, staffing, and client issues.
• Participate in strategic planning and market insights.
• Represent FPA at industry events and client functions.
• Promote FPA’s culture of collaboration, excellence, accountability, and development.

Job description

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.

The 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.

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.

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.

Additional Information

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

Relocation assistance is available for this position.

Don't meet every qualification? At FPA, we recognize that great candidates bring diverse experiences and perspectives. If you are excited about this opportunity but do not meet every listed requirement, we encourage you to apply. Your experience may be exactly what we need for this role or another opportunity within our growing team.

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.

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.