Sr. Program Director - Highway

Hill International is seeking a Sr. Program Director - Highway in Los Angeles, California The Sr. Program Director is responsible for growing Hill International’s highway practice while leading the delivery of complex highway and bridge infrastructure programs. This senior seller-doer role combines client relationship management, business development, capture planning, proposal and task order pursuits, and direct accountability for program and project delivery. The successful candidate will maintain and expand relationships with Caltrans, highway authorities, cities, counties, and other public agencies while leading program management and construction management (PM/CM) assignments from planning through design, procurement, construction, turnover, and closeout. The role oversees multidisciplinary teams delivering highway widening, interchanges, bridges, roadway rehabilitation, drainage, utilities, traffic systems, and related transportation improvements using traditional and alternative delivery methods.

• Business development and capture: Identify and qualify highway and bridge opportunities; develop capture strategies, teaming arrangements, proposals, and interview presentations; and lead contract and task order pursuits.
• Client leadership: Serve as a senior client contact and trusted advisor, understand capital program needs, maintain account plans, and translate client priorities into executable scopes of work.
• Program and project delivery: Provide senior oversight and hands-on leadership for programmatic and project-specific PM/CM assignments, with accountability for scope, budget, schedule, quality, and contractual commitments.
• Program controls: Establish governance, reporting procedures, cost and schedule baselines, forecasts, change controls, and executive dashboards to support timely decisions and transparent reporting.
• Risk and commercial management: Lead risk assessments, capital and maintenance cost evaluations, mitigation planning, and development of contractual requirements and recommendations; coordinate with financial, legal, procurement, and technical specialists.
• Procurement and alternative delivery: Guide procurement strategies and contract administration for design-bid-build, design-build, progressive design-build, construction manager at-risk, and construction manager/general contractor assignments, as applicable to each program.
• Technical and construction oversight: Coordinate design reviews, constructability, value engineering, construction phasing, traffic management, utility interfaces, right-of-way coordination, and turnover and closeout activities.
• Agency and stakeholder coordination: Coordinate with Caltrans, local agencies, funding partners, utilities, designers, contractors, and community stakeholders; support public meetings and executive presentations.
• Quality and compliance: Oversee implementation of quality management processes, applicable agency requirements, federal funding obligations, and project safety expectations within the assigned scope.
• Procedures and guidance: Direct development of administrative manuals, checklists, reporting tools, and guidance for transportation programs and alternative delivery contracts.
• Team leadership: Lead multidisciplinary professional, technical, and administrative teams across locations; recruit and mentor staff, plan resources, and build technical expertise and delivery capacity.
• Business management: Manage staffing, utilization, budgets, subconsultant coordination, invoicing, and contract performance for assigned engagements while balancing pursuit commitments with delivery responsibilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, planning, sciences, or a related field.
• California Professional Engineer (PE) required.
• Minimum 15 years of overall experience on major highway and bridge design and construction projects for state departments of transportation, including federally funded projects.
• Minimum five years of experience managing and administering transportation projects, including procurement, financial controls, contractual requirements, technical coordination, construction management and administration, construction warranties, and long-term operations and maintenance considerations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to client executives and large audiences in public settings.
• Working knowledge of Caltrans policies, procedures, standards, and project delivery practices.
• Experience overseeing traditional and alternative delivery methods, including design-build (DB), design-bid-build (DBB), progressive design-build (PDB), construction manager at-risk (CMAR), and/or construction manager/general contractor (CMGC).
• Demonstrated ability to develop client relationships, identify opportunities, lead pursuits, and contribute to successful proposals and contract awards while maintaining delivery commitments.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams, consultants, budgets, schedules, risks, and stakeholder interfaces on complex transportation assignments.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills, including the ability to build a cohesive team culture and manage staff across multiple locations.
• Established relationships with Southern California transportation agencies and familiarity with the region’s highway capital improvement programs.
• The position is based in Southern California, and involves work in office, client, and active construction-site environments.
• Travel to project sites, agency offices, and business development meetings is required as assignments warrant. Site visits require adherence to applicable safety procedures and use of required personal protective equipment.
• Occasional evening meetings or work outside normal business hours may be necessary to support public meetings, pursuits, and critical project activities.
• Essential functions may be performed with reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least one of the following licenses or certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP), or Certified Construction Manager (CCM).
• Experience leading owner-side PM/CM services for large, multi-project highway programs and on-call or task order contracts.
• Experience supporting alternative delivery procurements, commercial negotiations, change management, and claims avoidance or resolution.
• Proficiency with project controls, scheduling, cost management, and executive reporting tools.
• Advanced degree in engineering, construction management, business administration, or a related field.

The salary range for this position is $200,000 - $260,000. The offered salary will be based on the applicants qualifications, education, experience and work location. Depending upon your employment status, Hill’s comprehensive benefits may include, Medical, Dental, Vision, Employer Paid Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurances, Business Travel Accident Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Commuter Benefits, Legal Assistance, Identity Theft Protection, Pet Insurance, Auto & Home Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Voluntary Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance. Paid Time Off (PTO), Holidays, 401(K) Retirement Savings Plan, Employee Referral Program, Professional Certification Incentive Program, Hill University Learning and Development, Tuition Reimbursement, EAP, Years of Service Awards Program.

Hill International, with more than 4,400+ professionals in over 100 offices worldwide, provides program management, project management, construction management, project management oversight, advisory, facilities management, and other consulting services to clients in a variety of market sectors. Engineering News-Record magazine recently ranked Hill as one of the largest program management firms in the world. For more information on Hill, please visit our website at www.hillintl.com.

Hill is exclusively a program, project, and construction management provider, meaning we have one focus as a company: protecting client interests. Free of any potential conflicts, our entire business is geared towards helping clients achieve their desired outcomes. We are dedicated to exceeding expectations throughout the entire construction project lifecycle and adapt to the needs of each assignment to develop tailored approaches and solutions to meet those needs.

Hill is a GISI Consulting Group company, part of the Global Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. (GISI) family of companies. Learn more about GISI Consulting Group at www.gisiconsulting.com.

Hill International is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Veteran/Disabled

Note: This job description is intended to provide an indication of the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions to be carried out as part of fulfilling the role mentioned in the job title. Various other duties as required.

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