Transportation Engineering Manager

About the Role

Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. (HLR) is seeking a Transportation Engineering Manager to lead our Springfield, IL transportation practice. This is a high-impact leadership role overseeing strategic direction, client engagement, and the delivery of transportation and civil engineering projects throughout Central Illinois-including major work with IDOT District 6, the Central Bureau, counties, and municipalities. The ideal candidate is a big-picture thinker and hands-on leader who excels at building teams, developing client relationships, and driving operational performance. You'll shape the future of our Springfield office by leading growth initiatives, mentoring staff, and ensuring high-quality project delivery across a diverse portfolio.

About Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. (HLR)

Founded in 1965, Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. (HLR) is a 100% employee-owned civil engineering firm with five offices across Illinois. We're a leading provider of consulting engineering, environmental, and surveying services for public agencies and private-sector clients throughout the Midwest. At HLR, being employee-owned means we all have a stake in each other's success. Our WORK HARD | HAVE FUN | GIVE BACK® culture keeps us focused on doing meaningful work, supporting one another, and making a difference in the communities we serve, while having fun along the way. We're large enough to take on complex, high-impact projects, yet small enough for every employee to feel seen, supported, and valued. We're proud to be recognized as the #1 2025 AEC Employer of Choice® by PSMJ Resources, Inc. and one of the 2024 Best Places to Work by the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE) . When you feel valued and supported, you do your best work-and that's exactly what we're about.

What You'll Do:

• Implement the company vision of growing, expanding, and leading our well-established Springfield office.
• Supervise design team, engineering staff, and administrative staff.
• Serve as Project Manager on designated Transportation, Civil and Water projects.
• Coordinate project status, and progress with client and regulatory agencies.
• Mentor and motivate professional staff according to our company culture.
• Maintain project schedules, quality, budgets, and client satisfaction.
• Demonstrate creativity, foresight, and mature engineering judgement, and successfully manage multiple projects.
• Maintain and expand our client relationships with the help of managers throughout Illinois.
• Identify areas of growth and strategize the development of new business.
• Lead transportation, and business development efforts, participate in proposal presentation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Financial Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategic plan for the Springfield office transportation group, identifying new service areas and markets to drive regional growth in alignment with corporate goals.
• Assume full Profit & Loss (P&L) responsibility for the department, including developing annual revenue forecasts, managing operating budgets, and analyzing key financial metrics (utilization, multipliers) to ensure sustained profitability.
• Direct long-term resource planning and strategic staffing assignments to optimize project outcomes while aligning with the career development goals of employees.
• Oversee the fiscal management of departmental projects, ensuring rigorous oversight of budgets, resource allocation, and client invoicing.

Business Development & Client Relations

• Serve as the Principal-in-Charge and primary client service manager for key accounts in Central Illinois, cultivating deep, trust-based relationships with IDOT Bureau Chiefs, District Engineers, County Engineers, and Municipal officials.
• Lead the entire proposal lifecycle for the region's most significant pursuits, from making strategic "Go/No-Go" decisions to developing winning technical strategies and leading interview preparations.
• Actively represent the firm at a leadership level in key industry organizations (e.g., ACEC-IL, ISPE) to enhance brand visibility, influence policy, and cultivate new business opportunities.
• Proactively identify, track, and pursue new project opportunities, with a specific focus on expanding work with IDOT Central Office and regional municipalities.

Project & Operational Management

• Provide ultimate technical oversight for the successful delivery of transportation projects (Phase I and Phase II), ensuring compliance with scope, schedule, budget, and IDOT/Federal standards.
• Establish and enforce rigorous QA/QC procedures and engineering standards to ensure consistent, exceptional, and defensible project delivery.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex technical challenges or contractual disputes, protecting the firm's interests while ensuring ultimate client satisfaction.
• Handle all facets of contract administration, including scoping, negotiation, execution, change orders, and closeout.

Team Leadership & Staff Development

• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of engineers and administrative staff, fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performance culture that mirrors HLR's values.
• Oversee the recruitment and onboarding of new talent to grow the Springfield team, while conducting performance reviews and setting professional development goals for existing staff.
• Champion professional growth by creating mentorship opportunities and facilitating knowledge sharing regarding IDOT policies and engineering best practices.
• Manage workloads among department staff to ensure talents and time are adequately distributed to meet deadlines.

What You'll Bring:

Desired Skills and Experiences

• Deep familiarity with IDOT Phase I and Phase II procedures, the BDE Manual, and the specific nuances of working with IDOT Central Bureau and District 6.
• Strong financial literacy with a track record of managing departmental P&L, improving profitability, and driving sustainable revenue growth.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent the firm effectively in client interviews, contract negotiations, and public hearings.
• Proficiency with industry-standard software, including MicroStation, OpenRoads Designer, and project management tools (e.g., Deltek Vision/Vantagepoint).
• Understanding of state and federal funding sources (MFT, ITEP, Rebuild Illinois) applicable to Central Illinois municipalities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from an ABET-accredited university.
• Current registration as a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Illinois is required.
• A minimum of 12-15 years of progressive experience in transportation/civil engineering, with at least 5 years in a leadership role managing projects, teams, and financials.
• Driver's License: Valid Driver's license with a good driving record

Physical Abilities

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time while working in an office environment.
• Ability to occasionally visit active construction sites or project corridors, which may involve walking on uneven terrain and exposure to various weather conditions.
• Ability to travel to client offices, project sites, and industry events throughout Illinois.

Why HLR?

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual performance bonus opportunities.
• Comprehensive health coverage (PPO and HSA-PPO), vision, dental, and life insurance.
• Employer HSA contribution and supplemental coverage up to $2,500.
• Short-term/long-term disability, FSAs, and wellness programs
• 401(k) Profit-Sharing Plan with dollar-for-dollar match up to 6% and immediate vesting.
• Student loan assistance.
• Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA)

Work/Life & Culture

• Paid holidays and generous PTO.
• Flexible hours and hybrid work options.
• Collaborative environment with a casual dress code.
• Frequent social events and community involvement.
• Employee recognition, referral bonuses, and corporate perks.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Career Development

• HLR-led seminars and Lunch 'n' Learns.
• Structured mentoring and performance development programs.
• Continuing education support and reimbursement for licenses, memberships, and professional development

READY TO JOIN OUR TEAM? We understand your time is valuable and that is why we have a very quick and easy application process. If you feel that you would be right for this position, please fill out our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application . We look forward to meeting you!