Principal Program Manager

In the role of a Principal Program Manager, we’ll count on you to:

Program Leadership and Interstate Governance

• Provide executive leadership for a multibilliondollar infrastructure effort involving complex governance across states
• Work in partnership with state DOTs to guide a program governance framework, aligning decision authority, accountability, and escalation across state DOTs, FHWA, FTA, USCG, and other regulatory bodies
• Lead and integrate large, multidisciplinary teams across agencies, consultants, and contractors, aligning approaches in a highvisibility, politically complex environment

• Serve as a senior advisor to agency executives, elected officials, partner agencies, and consultants, helping navigate interjurisdictional priorities and maintaining program momentum.

Strategic Advisory, Risk, and Regulatory Leadership

• Provide expert guidance on federal permitting, NEPA processes, ESA compliance, Section 404/401, navigation requirements, and environmental stewardship for a major infrastructure project
• Anticipate and manage risks unique to mega projects such as bridge delivery over sensitive waterways, including constructability, marine navigation, seismic resilience, supply chain volatility, and climate impacts
• Lead integrated risk management and decisionmaking processes across agencies, driving timely, defensible actions in a highly scrutinized environment.
• Apply global best practices from major bridge and corridor programs to optimize delivery, minimize disruption, and enhance longterm system performance.
• Contribute to the advancement of HDR’s leadership in nationally significant bridge and corridor programs, mentoring staff and strengthening technical excellence.

Program Planning, Systems, and Delivery Integration

• Develop and operationalize a comprehensive Program Management Plan tailored to a multiagency structure, establishing industryleading processes, controls, and governance tools
• Stand up and lead integrated program functions including environmental planning and permitting; bridge and corridor design management; marine and inwater construction coordination; cost, schedule, and risk analytics; QA/QC and technical oversight; rightofway and community impact mitigation; and other core program functions
• Implement advanced PMIS, digital engineering, and datadriven decision frameworks to deliver transparency and accountability at program scale.

Execution of a Landmark Bridge and Corridor Program

• Direct all phases of delivery, smoothly transitioning from planning and environmental clearance into design, procurement, and construction of a major interstate bridge crossing and associated major corridor improvement projects
• Lead alternative delivery strategies, including progressive designbuild, designbuild, and other innovative procurement models, suitable for mega programs
• Coordinate complex marine construction staging, navigation impacts, and river system considerations, minimizing disruption to commerce and ecosystems

• Deliver seamless integration of multimodal elements, including highway, transit, active transportation, and intelligent transportation system.

Quality, Financial Stewardship, and Accountability

• Manage a rigorous programwide QA/QC framework delivering technical excellence and regulatory compliance across all disciplines
• Oversee financial performance for a multibilliondollar capital program, including funding alignment across federal and state sources
• Track and drive performance across cost, schedule, safety, quality, environmental compliance, and community outcomes

• Oversee full compliance with federal oversight requirements and grant conditions.

Stakeholder, Public, and Multijurisdictional Engagement

• Serve as a lead representative for the program in engagements with federal agencies, state leadership, tribal nations, local governments, port authorities, and the public
• Shape and execute engagement strategies that address the unique sensitivities of a bistate river crossing with significant community, environmental, and economic impacts

• Communicate complex technical and regulatory issues clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, building trust and maintaining public confidence.

Funding Strategy and Program Advancement

• Advise on and advance federal funding strategies, including discretionary grants and multiagency funding coordination

• Support longterm financial planning and innovative funding approaches necessary for large interstate infrastructure programs

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering, Construction Management, Planning, Business Administration, or related field
• DBIA certification or equivalent in alternative delivery leadership
• Demonstrated leadership of megaprograms ($1B+) involving major bridge or water crossings
• Extensive experience navigating federal permitting and environmental approvals for large infrastructure over waterways
• Proven success leading multijurisdictional infrastructure programs of national or regional significance
• Deep expertise in innovative delivery models (PDB, DB, P3, DBFOM, EPC) for complex transportation systems
• Current Professional Engineering Licenses (or ability to obtain in applicable jurisdictions within six months)
• Willingness to travel regularly, and if needed, commute to a client’s site

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Sciences, Planning, Business Administration or a closely related field
• At least one of the following licenses/certifications recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered: Professional Engineering License (PE or P.Eng), PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, PMI Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification, AICP Certification, or CMAA Certified Construction Manager (CCM) Certification
• Program management experience consistent with the following requirements: A minimum of ten (10) years of program management experience, with at least four (4) years as a Senior Program Manager, and Experience leading as a Senior Program Manager or serving in a similar role on delivery of three or more programs, each with a capital value of $500 million or more, and. Experience delivering concurrent programs with a total value of $500 million or more qualifies as one of the required programs
• Strong leadership skills with experience building a cohesive team culture and managing team members located in various locations
• Excellent communication skills. Comfortable presenting to client executives and in front of a large audience in a public setting
• Management experience with the implementation of projects or programs using alternative and collaborative delivery methods, including design-build (DB), progressive design-build (PDB), and/or construction management at-risk (CMAR)
• Familiar with the various types of tools used to manage large programs – PMIS, CMIS, scheduling, cost control, document management, risk management, asset management, dashboard analytics, etc.
• Experience working in an integrated fashion within a Program Management Office (PMO) comprised of both consultant and client staff