Associate Project Director - Mass Transit, in North America

Overview

Associate Project Director - Mass Transit

Locations:
San Diego, Los Angeles, Oakland

Regular, Full-Time
• Hybrid

Do you want the opportunity to co-create with our experts on some of the most prestigious infrastructure programs in North America? Can you navigate a complex market environment by adjusting strategies as needed, identifying new opportunities, and managing risk? And are you committed to accelerating growth, promoting innovation, and delivering tangible results?

Then this is the place to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow.

Create Solutions that will enable a better tomorrow

We are seeking a highly motivated Associate Project Director - Mass Transit to join our growing North American team. In this leadership role, you will manage the design and delivery of complex transit infrastructure projects across California, including projects within heavy civil, underground/elevated stations, tunnels, and associated civil structures. Our projects are delivered through a mix of conventional and Alternative Project Delivery methods.

You will be responsible for assisting with management of multidisciplinary teams as well as managing the delivery of your own tasks in terms of budget, quality, and timelines. Advanced project management and technical skills required.

• Oversee and coordinate complex transit and rail infrastructure projects for agencies such as LA Metro, OCTA, Metrolink, Caltrain, and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.
• Oversee all phases of transit project delivery, including conceptual design, preliminary engineering, final design, and construction support for rail, underground tunnels, elevated/underground structures, and stations.
• Direct the development of civil, structural, and systems integration components of transit projects, including alignment, utility relocations, grading and drainage, ventilation, and platform configurations.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with public agency clients (LA Metro, OCTA, Caltrans Districts, municipalities) and key stakeholders, including Design & Build Contractors, third-party utility agencies and community groups.
• Consistently support business development pursuits in collaboration with Transit Market Director, including strategy, positioning, proposal development, interviews, and client engagement for major transit programs across California.
• Provide leadership within a multidisciplinary team environment that includes civil, structural, geotechnical and architectural disciplines.
• Manage project teams of 5-25+ staff and subcontractors, ensuring adherence to project scope, schedule, budget, and quality standards on infrastructure programs exceeding $100M in construction value.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for client project managers, responsible for contract management, fee negotiations, schedule performance, and risk mitigation.
• Collaborate with internal global centers of excellence to leverage specialized expertise and ensure high-quality project delivery while managing local compliance and permitting requirements.
• Ensure strict compliance with internal quality management systems, overseeing project controls, financial reporting, resource allocation, and stakeholder communication.
• Mentor and guide junior project managers and technical staff, supporting professional growth and promoting high standards in transit delivery.

The first step to success in this role is that you are eager to collaborate with the people around you, whether they are colleagues, partners or customers. Developing ties with others is something you do by acting respectfully and delivering on your promises. And you never get set in your ways, but keep exploring new insights and ways to improve.

On top of that, you will have:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering (Master's Preferred)
• Hold Professional Engineer status in CA. Licenses in other US states considered an asset.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in transit or rail infrastructure projects, with at least 5 years in a senior project management role.
• Experience working with LA Metro, OCTA, Metrolink, Caltrain.
• Experience in coordinating and managing multi-disciplinary design teams.
• Experience delivering projects through Alternate Project Delivery methods such as Design build, Progressive Design build or CMGC.
• Comprehensive written and oral communication skills.
• Ability in preparing proposals and review agreement terms.
• Self-motivated, skilled in navigating change, and able to handle multiple tasks in an evolving workplace.
• High organizational and time management skills.
• Effective team building skills, solid leadership skills and able to manage multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to work with staff located remotely.
• Ability and willingness to travel, predominantly in North America.

At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and livable world. We do it by applying our…