Transportation/Traffic Section Leader

HNTB; New York (NY); On-site; USD 159,000 - 248,000; Full time

Job summary

HNTB is seeking a seasoned planning professional to lead our Transportation Planning Practice in New York. You will supervise a team of planners and engineers, oversee bicycling, pedestrian, transit, rail, freight, and multimodal projects, and provide technical leadership for NYC clients.

You will manage budgets, schedules and quality, mentor staff, and contribute to business development efforts. The role requires strong analytical skills, professional judgment, and collaboration across offices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in planning or related field.
• 8 years of relevant experience including 2 years of project leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of planning and engineering assignments while managing scope, schedule and budget.
• Coach and mentor staff; ensure technical excellence and efficient utilization of resources.
• Support business development, client discovery, proposals and win-to-work activities.
• Manage section budget and staff development; coordinate section priorities and staffing.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Planning or related field

8 years relevant experience including 2 years project leadership

Job description

What We're Looking For

At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners.

HNTB is seeking a highly motivated and experienced professional to join our growing Transportation Planning Practice within the New York Planning & Environment Group. This role offers the opportunity to lead a team of transportation planners and engineers while overseeing a diverse portfolio of projects spanning bicycle, pedestrian, transit, rail, freight, and multimodal mobility improvements. The successful candidate will leverage strong technical expertise, advanced analytical capabilities, and sound professional judgment to develop innovative solutions for New York City clients. They will provide technical leadership, mentor and develop staff, support business development efforts, and contribute to the continued growth of the transportation planning practice.

This opportunity entails leading the delivery of planning and engineering assignments while managing project scope, schedule, budget, and quality. The position coordinates project priorities, staffing plans, and resource allocation to ensure clients receive high-quality service and project teams are appropriately supported. The Section Leader is responsible for coaching and mentoring staff, fostering technical excellence, and promoting the efficient and productive utilization of team resources.

What You’ll Do

• Responsible for the development, monitoring, and management of the section's operating budget in support of the group or office operating budget and forecast updates.
• Responsible for the management, growth, and professional development of discipline-specific planning section. Coordinates section activities, establishes priorities, and staff to jobs. Ensures staff development, mentoring, and training needs are being met. Collaborates with other Sections and Departments within the office on work-sharing needs and opportunities.
• Supports the implementation of the firm's strategic plan and SSA process on project pursuits in the Section and office, including development of Section‑level strategic planning strategies.
• Supports the implementation of the firm's contracting (SCA) process through project delivery and contracting activities including scope, work plan and fee reviews for all contracting activities impacting the Section.
• Supports the implementation of the firm's project delivery (SDA) process including Work Planning, Monthly Project Reviews and other project performance methods to ensure quality work, on time, on schedule, to the client's satisfaction.
• Assists in marketing responsibilities, including client discovery, proposal generation, interviews, and win‑to‑work activities.
• Maintains client contacts to ensure client satisfaction.
• Responsible for the recruitment, hiring, development, and retention of section staff, including development of plan for staff reporting, performance and compensation reviews, and succession.
• Project Delivery - Actively manages assigned project management activities (project scope, schedule, budget and quality management) and performs technical discipline tasks including research, reports, design, specifications and plan preparation.
• Leads a team including the direct and indirect supervision of at least 5 but typically 7 - 10 or more employees.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor's degree in Planning, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Engineering, Geology, Biology, Environmental Science, Anthropology, Archaeology, or related field and 8 years relevant experience including 2 years of project leadership experience

What We Prefer

• Master’s or Bachelor's Degree in Traffic Engineering, Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, or related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE), American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP), Professional Transportation Planner (PTP) and/or, Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE)
• 10 years of relevant experience
• 2 years supervisory experience

Additional Information

Locations:
New York, NY, White Plains, NY (Westchester Hudson Valley)

The approximate pay range for New York is $158,688.55 - $248,205.18. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state.

Job Type: Regular

Full/Part Time: Full time

Job Category: Planning Group

ReqID: R-31923