Project Management & Commercial Leader - Transportation Practice

Job Description

Are you a proven Senior Project Manager ready to take the next big step in your career? The Transportation Project Management & Commercial Leader (PMCL) role within our Transportation North Group (TNG) offers the opportunity to move beyond project management and become a key player in the overall success of our transportation practice.

In this role, you will:

• Lead and mentor a high-performing team of project managers, building capability and setting the standard for excellence.
• Drive successful project outcomes for clients across complex, large-scale transportation and transit projects.
• Strengthen client relationships by serving as a trusted advisor and ensuring top-tier service delivery.
• Influence business performance, playing a direct role in maximizing long-term profitability and growth.

This is more than project management-it's your chance to step into strategic leadership, with visibility across the practice and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on CDM Smith's success within TNG.

If you're seeking a challenge that combines greater responsibility, career advancement, and the ability to shape the future of transportation delivery, the PMCL role is the platform to elevate your career.

We are open to filling this position with a candidate being tied to our Chicago IL or Indianapolis IN offices.

Primary responsibilities for this role include:

• Supervising a team of Senior Project Managers in the day-to-day operation of transportation projects including: project delivery performance, pricing strategies, risk management, forecasting and budgeting, and performance reporting. This PMCL's portfolio of projects would include work across various states, including potential work with various DOTs, municipal agencies, toll agencies and transit organizations.
• Providing interpretation of monthly performance figures to support the overall business unit management and to the project managers to resolve project issues and improve project performance.
• Directing and supervising project management staff to provide coaching on timely, effective, and efficient performance of project managers' responsibilities.
• Driving consistent project management practices and procedures in alignment with CDM Smith PM requirements and those of the group.
• Managing transportation design projects to potentially include DOT, turnpike, large municipality, county, and transit agency clients.
• Supporting, inspiring, elevating and rewarding team members.

Employment Type

Regular

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Transportation, or Structural Engineering or related discipline.
• Professional engineering (PE) license.
• 12 years of related experience.
• Domestic and/or international travel may be required. The frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties, responsibilities, and the essential functions of the position, which may vary depending on workload and project demands.
• Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• Recent experience managing transportation road, highway, bridge and/or transit design projects, ideally for various clients within the northeast/northcentral regions.
• Strong Project Management experience including: the development of scope, schedule, and budget, and the subsequent monitoring of cost and schedule.
• Previous experience managing a team of Project Managers.
• Business development skills and experience such as client service and proposal preparation.
• Leadership skills to drive a culture that emphasizes profitability, quality deliverables, and legendary client service.
• Current PM certification (either PMP, CCM or DBIA), or the ability to acquire said certification within 12 months of hire.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.