Principal Program Manager

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Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

HDR is seeking an exceptional Principal Program Manager to serve as a trusted, executive-level advisor to public agency clients. The role is expected to provide strategic leadership to state DOTs and regional partners on a once - in - a - generation, multi - billion - dollar investment replacing a critical interstate infrastructure. This leader should be prepared to direct one of the most visible and complex infrastructure programs in North America, requiring seamless coordination across states, multiple federal agencies, tribal governments, and regional stakeholders, while delivering a resilient, multimodal crossing over a sensitive and highly regulated waterbody.

This role demands a globally recognized leader in mega - program delivery who brings demonstrated success overseeing large - scale bridge, interstate, and corridor programs of national significance, integrating engineering excellence with environmental stewardship, political acumen, and innovative delivery strategies. The successful candidate will operate at the highest levels of technical, strategic, and executive leadership - shaping outcomes that will define regional mobility and economic vitality for decades.

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

• Provide executive leadership for a multi - billion - dollar 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 high - visibility, 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.

• 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 decision - making 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 long - term system performance.
• Contribute to the advancement of HDR’s leadership in nationally significant bridge and corridor programs, mentoring staff and strengthening technical excellence.

• Develop and operationalize a comprehensive Program Management Plan tailored to a multi - agency structure, establishing industry - leading processes, controls, and governance tools
• Stand up and lead integrated program functions including environmental planning and permitting; bridge and corridor design management; marine and in - water construction coordination; cost, schedule, and risk analytics; QA/QC and technical oversight; right
  -of - way and community impact mitigation; and other core program functions
• Implement advanced PMIS, digital engineering, and data - driven decision frameworks to deliver transparency and accountability at program scale.

• 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…