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Updated 2026-06-20 09:00 UTC·© 2025–2026 RoleSuite
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Program Director - Aviation & Rail (Transportation)

Parsons · US - CA, Sacramento

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next!

 

At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what’s possible.

 

Job Description:

Program Director – Transportation  Infrastructure – Bay Area, and Sacramento, California. Position will be physically located in Sacramento, California.  

Opportunity:

Parsons is seeking a highly experienced and senior Program Director to lead and direct major large scale program and projects in transportation ($100M +) managing entire life-cycle involving conventional and alternate contract delivery methods (e.g., design-bid-build, design-build, progressive design-build, projects  for transportation, aviation/airports, rail, road & highway, servicing the Northern  California region, and other primary clients in the region. This role involves extensive vertical construction interface with clients; airport executive and senior management, Metros, Caltrans, and other state DOT offices as well, and a strong demonstrated working relationship history with respective clients is essential in the state of California

The core competency required is ability to apply education, experience, knowledge, and skills to successfully manage and deliver large scale and complex vertical construction projects. Another fundamental requirement is a history of working with clients in a professional and proactive manner throughout the project life cycle from inception to completion overcoming challenges. Strong leadership, communication, ability to influence and financial management capabilities are essential.

The Program Director will also service and work with transportation and infrastructure authorities, clients and  municipalities throughout the area on high-profile capital improvements accountable for end-to-end delivery of programs and projects involving vertical construction.

  • Our transportation and infrastructure solutions get our customers over, under, around, or through the toughest challenges. With technical and construction capabilities, as well as financial strength, Parsons delivers the infrastructure that incorporates sustainability and resiliency to serve the needs of communities for years to come. Stretching more than 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) on six continents, our road and highway projects circle the globe. Far from just moving people from place to place, we provide smart corridors to move people into the future. No matter the delivery method, our expertise ranges from complex interchanges to tolling and integrated corridor management.
  • We are actively looking for a Strong Program Director to help manage transportation and infrastructure programs and projects, which include delivery of planning, preliminary and final design, development and construction, Traffic analysis/studies, environmental impact assessments, asset management, construction execution or oversight, inspections, labor compliance support, conceptual modeling, and Intelligent Transportation Systems. If you are looking for that next step in your career to managing a team of subject matter experts, oversee large projects, and want to be in a more client-facing role, this may be the role for your career expansion.

Responsibilities:

  • Oversight of and manage interdisciplinary teams of professionals. Mobilizes company resources, through liaison with support departments, other offices, or subsidiaries, to create project teams capable of completing effective, quality work on a full-time, onsite role (5 days per week).
  • Ability to assess organizational strengths and opportunities for improvement internally and externally and facilitates needed improvements in a timely and professional manner.
  • Establishes and maintains an environment of continual improvement at all levels of program and project delivery.
  • Recognize and develop governance and guidance documents, processes and procedures, as needed, to optimize project deliveries
  • Ability to integrate competing and/or conflicting elements into the planning and execution processes factoring in multiple stakeholders with competing priorities to optimize project delivery conscious of schedule, budget, safety and quality.
  • Acts as the Company representative with the client and selected subconsultant partners during the program execution. Develops, forecasts and negotiates changes to the scope of work with the client and key subconsultant partners. Markets and secures additional work with the client. 
  • May participate in negotiations with regulatory agencies and in public meetings in support of client’s objectives.
  • Leads and/or oversees critical coordination and collaborative meetings to ensure services and projects are delivered successfully.
  • Maintains stakeholders and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) engagement, ensures and requests are documented, vetted, and go through approval workflows maintaining project schedule and budget.
  • Oversees establishment, implementation and maintenance of Project Execution Plan, Health and Safety Plan, Quality Assurance/Quality Control Plan, and other documents as required.
  • Establishes additional program and project requirements for all areas of the project and monitors the deliverables for adherence to these criteria. 
  • Oversees contractor and consultant performance to ensure compliance with contractual requirements and obligations related to scope, cost, schedule, quality safety and operational readiness.
  • Monitors performance of others where it may have adverse or consequential impacts to program and projects and facilitates identification and recommended mitigations in a timely manner.
  • Interfaces with design professionals and contractors through constant collaboration and prioritization of program and project priorities.
  • Oversight of inspections and related documentation including but not limited to daily, weekly and ad-hoc reports
  • Oversight, management and reporting of Labor Monitoring support to clients and agencies as it pertains to established Prevailing Wage and Davis-Bacon requirements and defined participation goals on projects.
  • Recommends, facilitates and implements timely needed changes in processes and procedures as needed to successfully deliver projects.
  • Supports review of changes and claims offering essential insights and recommendations to client and other program participants to influence a successful outcome.
  • Ensures timely preparation and issuance of weekly and monthly performance reporting and maintains accurate performance dashboards within internal and external Project Management Information Systems (PMIS).
  • Works with other managers, project engineers, and discipline leads to developing budgets, schedules, and plans for the various elements of a project both current and future. Ensure that project goals are well defined and meet or exceed goals established. 
  • Responsible for establishing and overseeing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) performance to ensure program and projects are performing to established metrics (safety, budget, schedule, and quality).
  • Manages Program and Project Risks utilizing a Risk Register keeping client and stakeholders advise regularly and facilitate informed decision making in a timely manner.
  • Works with the key project individuals to devise and execute action plans to rectify potential cost overruns or delays, or to accommodate significant changes to the scope of work. 
  • Promotes technical and commercial excellence on the project through the application of Quality Assurance processes. 
  • Develops junior staff through meaningful coaching, mentoring and management. Includes establishing required training, quarterly progress check-ins, semi-annual and annual staff reviews.
  • Works with company’s operations, business development, and proposal services teams to develop strategies to win projects, develop statements of qualification and proposals, including fee estimates.


Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor's degree in Project Management or Civil Engineering related technical/business field
  • Demonstrated experience with project and program management of large-scale design build projects is essential
    20+ years of related engineering management experience on Road/Highway and related infrastructure programs.
  • Former Director or Project Executive level experience working directly with clients for engineering, construction firms with fiduciary responsibility for successful program and project deliveries.
  • Fundamental understanding of Federal, State and Local regulatory bodies, requirements, funding, and building codes. Desirable to have expertise in FAA/regulatory compliance, safety procedures and airfield standards during delivery of construction projects.
  • The Incumbent should have a broad general technical and business background. 
    Professional Engineering registration (PE) in California, PMP, DBIA, CM, LEED certifications and accreditations are desirable but not required provided there is a proven history of successfully delivering large scale and complex vertical construction Capital Improvement Programs & Projects.
  • Must operate as a "seller/doer" and ability to manage projects, interface with clients, identify new work and enjoy being hands-on technically in the project.

Security Clearance Requirement:

None

This position is part of our Critical Infrastructure team.

For more than 80 years, our experts have designed and delivered the critical infrastructure that connects and protects communities around the world. We work in collaborative teams, both within the company and with our partners and customers, to plan, design, build, and modernize infrastructure. We take special pride in projects and solutions that improve communities as well as people’s quality of life by promoting economic growth, enhancing mobility, and increasing sustainability and resiliency. Powered by our people, we provide the imagination necessary to support our customers’ visions—and to help them see what's next!

Salary Range: $157,500.00 - $283,500.00

We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!

Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

Parsons is aware of fraudulent recruitment practices. To learn more about recruitment fraud and how to report it, please refer to https://www.parsons.com/fraudulent-recruitment/.

Operations pay context

Based on 4,291 disclosed Operations salaries on RoleSuite, the role pays a median of $111K/year, with most offers between $83K and $145K (10th–90th percentile: $64K–$185K).

This posting lists $158K–$284K, above the $111K market median.

See the full Operations salary breakdown →
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