Bridge Manager

Job Description

Bridge Manager

Wall Township, NJ

French & Parrello Associates (FPA) is seeking an experienced and motivated Bridge Department Manager to lead our growing Bridge Department at our headquarters in Wall Township, NJ. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned transportation and bridge engineering professional who is ready to take on a leadership role overseeing complex infrastructure projects, developing and mentoring a talented team, strengthening client relationships, and helping shape the continued growth of FPA’s bridge practice.

Recognized year after year as one of NJBIZ’s Best Places to Work in New Jersey, FPA is committed to creating a culture where talented professionals are empowered to grow, collaborate, and lead. In 2026, FPA was ranked #49 on Zweig’s Hot Firm List, recognizing the firm among the 100 fastest-growing AEC firms in the United States and Canada. Our growth is driven by our investment in our people, technical excellence, and our commitment to delivering innovative solutions for the communities we serve.

The successful candidate will provide leadership for FPA’s Bridge Department while serving as a Senior Project Manager on major transportation and bridge assignments throughout New Jersey and the Northeast. This individual will oversee project delivery, develop and mentor staff, cultivate relationships with NJDOT, transportation authorities, counties, municipalities, and other public-sector clients, and play a key role in expanding the department’s project portfolio and market presence.

This role offers the opportunity to combine department leadership, technical expertise, project management, client engagement, staff development, and business development. Unlike larger organizations where individual contributions can become diluted, FPA provides experienced professionals with the opportunity to directly influence the direction of a growing practice, build a high-performing team, develop lasting client relationships, and contribute to the firm’s continued success.

Bridge Engineering Expertise & Project Experience

FPA’s Bridge Department has a strong reputation for delivering innovative and technically challenging transportation infrastructure projects throughout New Jersey and the Northeast. Our team has successfully completed bridge design, rehabilitation, inspection, and construction support assignments for NJDOT, DRJTBC, NJ Turnpike Authority, Garden State Parkway, PennDOT, counties, municipalities, and other transportation agencies.

The Bridge Department Manager will provide leadership across a diverse portfolio of bridge and transportation projects, including bridge replacements, deck replacements, structural rehabilitations, bridge widenings, load ratings, inspections, staged construction projects, and complex infrastructure improvements involving steel plate girders, rolled steel beams, prestressed concrete structures, culverts, pedestrian bridges, and specialty structures.

In addition to overseeing project delivery, the Department Manager will help establish priorities, allocate resources, support staff development, and identify opportunities to expand FPA’s bridge capabilities and client base. The position will work closely with other FPA departments, including Highway, Traffic, Geotechnical, Environmental, Water Resources, and Construction Services, to deliver multidisciplinary solutions for complex transportation projects.

Responsibilities

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• Lead and oversee the Bridge Department, including project delivery, staffing, resource allocation, technical quality, and overall department performance.
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• Serve as Senior Project Manager and/or Project Manager on complex bridge, transportation, and infrastructure projects from planning and concept development through final design, permitting, bidding, and construction support.
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• Provide technical leadership on bridge design, rehabilitation, replacement, inspection, load rating, and transportation infrastructure projects.
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• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and coordinate the efforts of bridge, roadway, traffic, geotechnical, environmental, water resources, and other technical professionals.
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• Develop, mentor, and manage bridge engineering staff, providing technical guidance, career development, performance feedback, and opportunities for professional growth.
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• Assist with recruiting and building the Bridge Department to support FPA’s continued growth.
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• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, staffing, quality control, risk, and client expectations to ensure successful project delivery.
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• Serve as a senior point of contact for key clients, including NJDOT, transportation authorities, counties, municipalities, and other public-sector agencies.
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• Build and maintain strong, long-term client relationships and identify opportunities for additional work.
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• Oversee the preparation and review of engineering plans, specifications, cost estimates, technical reports, calculations, and other project documentation.
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• Provide technical direction and guidance on engineering solutions, design approaches, project delivery strategies, and complex technical issues.
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• Ensure projects comply with applicable AASHTO, NJDOT, MUTCD, local agency, and other applicable standards, codes, and requirements.
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• Participate in project pursuits, proposal development, scope and fee preparation, interviews, presentations, and other business development activities.
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• Identify new opportunities and support the continued expansion of FPA’s Bridge practice across state, county, municipal, and transportation authority markets.
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• Represent FPA at industry events, professional organizations, client meetings, and other business development opportunities.
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• Support department forecasting, workload planning, project staffing, and financial performance.
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• Collaborate with FPA leadership to establish and execute strategic goals for the Bridge Department.
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• Conduct site visits, field investigations, inspections, and structural assessments as needed.
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• Promote FPA’s culture of collaboration, accountability, technical excellence, and employee development.
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Qualifications

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• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering required; Master’s degree in Structural Engineering or a related discipline preferred.
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• Professional Engineer (PE) license required; New Jersey PE license preferred or ability to obtain through reciprocity.
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• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in bridge, structural, transportation, or related infrastructure engineering.
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• Demonstrated experience managing complex bridge and transportation projects from design through construction.
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• Experience leading and mentoring engineering teams and/or managing a technical department preferred.
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• Strong technical background in bridge design, rehabilitation, replacement, inspection, load rating, and/or transportation infrastructure.
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• Experience working with NJDOT, transportation authorities, counties, municipalities, and other public-sector clients strongly preferred.
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• Proficiency with structural and transportation design software; experience with LEAP Bridge, LARSA, MIDAS, CSiBridge, STAAD, or similar platforms preferred.
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• Strong understanding of project management principles, including scope, schedule, budget, staffing, quality control, and risk management.
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• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain client relationships and contribute to business development.
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• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with clients, agencies, staff, and multidisciplinary project teams.
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• Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to provide technical direction, mentor staff, and build high-performing teams.
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• Strong organizational and decision-making skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities while maintaining quality and client satisfaction.
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• Experience with proposal development, client presentations, interviews, and business development initiatives.
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Nice to Have Skills & Experience

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• Strong knowledge of NJDOT design standards, AASHTO requirements, and applicable transportation and structural engineering standards.
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• Established relationships with NJDOT, NJ Turnpike Authority, DRJTBC, Garden State Parkway, PennDOT, counties, municipalities, or other transportation agencies.
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• Experience growing a bridge or transportation engineering practice.
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• Experience with strategic planning, department budgeting, workload forecasting, and resource management.
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• Proven ability to recruit, retain, mentor, and develop engineering professionals.
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• Active involvement in professional engineering organizations and industry associations.
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• Experience with alternative delivery methods, including Design-Build and other progressive project delivery approaches.
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Additional Information

• Sponsorship for U.S. employment authorization is available for this position.

• Relocation assistance is available for this position.

Don't meet every qualification? At FPA, we recognize that great candidates bring diverse experiences and perspectives. If you are excited about this opportunity but do not meet every listed requirement, we encourage you to apply. Your experience may be exactly what we need for this role or another opportunity within our growing team.

The FPA Difference

Large firms offer scale. FPA offers opportunity.

For more than 50 years, French & Parrello Associates (FPA) has been delivering innovative engineering solutions that shape communities, improve infrastructure, and support regional growth. As an employee-owned, mid-sized engineering and consulting firm, FPA combines the technical capabilities and expertise of a larger organization with the collaboration, accessibility, and personal investment of a close-knit team.

At FPA, experienced professionals are empowered to take ownership of their work, lead teams, collaborate across disciplines, and have a direct influence on the future of the organization. As a Bridge Department Manager, you will have the opportunity to shape a growing practice, mentor the next generation of engineers, strengthen client relationships, and help define the direction of FPA’s transportation and bridge capabilities.

Our multidisciplinary approach allows team members to see the bigger picture, contribute to meaningful projects, and make an impact from concept through completion. We invest in our people through mentorship, professional development, and opportunities for growth because we believe the success of our employees drives the continued success of our firm.

At FPA, you are not just managing projects. You are building teams, developing clients, growing a practice, and helping shape the future of a company.

Benefits

Benefit packages for this role will start on the 1st day of employment and include medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as HSA, FSA, and DCFSA account options, and 401k retirement plans. Employees in this role are also entitled to paid sick leave and/or other paid time off as provided by applicable law.

Compensation

The projected compensation range for this position is $165,000 to $200,000. Actual compensation will depend on factors including experience, education, qualifications, and skill set. FPA recognizes and rewards performance through an annual bonus program and offers a signing bonus for this particular position for qualified candidates.