Director of Transportation, Civil Engineering

DESCRIPTION

Michael Baker International, a nationally recognized leader in transportation services and ranked in the Top 20 by Engineering News-Record, is seeking a dynamic and visionary Director of Transportation to lead and grow our practice across Southern California. This highly visible executive role is based in Santa Ana and offers a unique opportunity to influence the development of critical infrastructure in one of the most vibrant and complex transportation markets in the country.

As the Director of Transportation, you will oversee and integrate our Highways, Municipal, Traffic/ITS, and Transportation Planning disciplines. You will be responsible for driving strategic growth, leading high-impact projects, and fostering strong relationships with key clients and stakeholders across Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura, and Kern Counties.

• Strategic Leadership:
  Define and execute a growth strategy for transportation services in collaboration with regional leadership.
• Client Engagement:
  Cultivate and expand relationships with regional transportation agencies (e.g., OCTA, TCA, LA Metro, SBCTA, RCTC, VCTC) and local municipalities.
• Business Development:
  Lead pursuits for major transportation projects, including design-build and public-private partnerships. Oversee proposal development, interviews, fee negotiations, and project delivery strategies.
• Project Oversight:
  Provide executive-level oversight on complex transportation projects, ensuring quality, budget, and schedule adherence.
• Cross-Disciplinary
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Partner with other practice areas (e.g., Environmental, Planning, Structures, Water Resources, GIS, Surveying) to deliver integrated solutions and expand service offerings.
• Team Building & Mentorship:
  Recruit top talent, mentor staff, and foster a collaborative, high-performance culture. Support career development and staff engagement.
• Industry Leadership:
  Represent Michael Baker in professional organizations such as WTS, APWA, ASCE, and ACEC. Pursue leadership roles to enhance visibility and influence.
• Innovation & Vision:
  Champion innovation in transportation planning and design, including smart mobility, ITS, and sustainable infrastructure.
• Internal
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Work closely with the Southern California Transportation Leadership Team to align staff assignments, mentorship, and quality of deliverables.
• Community & Political Engagement:
  Cultivate strategic connections with elected officials, industry leaders, and partner firms to support business development.

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or related field (Master’s preferred).
• California Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• 20+ years of progressive experience in transportation/public works, including design-build and design-bid-build delivery.
• Proven success managing large-scale transportation projects and teams.
• Deep knowledge of California transportation agencies, policies, and funding mechanisms.
• Strong leadership, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for growth and innovation.

The approximate compensation range for this position is $155,521-$269,422 per year. This compensation range is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation is dependent upon factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and physical work location.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability
• Professional and personal development
• Generous paid time off
• Commuter and wellness benefits