Senior Transportation Project Manager

Senior Transportation Project Manager

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Jacobs is seeking a creative, highly motivated Senior Transportation Project Manager to support, direct and grow our Illinois transportation business. We are searching to hire a Senior Project Manager with a proven track record of procuring and delivering projects for Illinois transportation top clients. The ideal candidate must be able to lead the delivery of transportation projects within Illinois and to serve in a leadership role to support Jacobs' East-Central leadership team in the strategic growth of the transportation sector in Illinois.

When you join us as a Senior Project Manager, you will have the opportunity to provide senior transportation engineering expertise. You'll be responsible for the quality of project work performed, client service, utilization of staff, scope and fee development, negotiate hours, contract management, billing collection, and project profitability for transportation and infrastructure projects.

When you join Jacobs as a key member of the team, we'll look to you to maintain a positive relationship with current clients and assist in business development and execution of local marketing. You will also be responsible for researching and tracking future project opportunities with the Client Account Manager. Additionally, you'll initiate and review proposals and participate in interviews and presentations.

Our successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

• Selling the services of Jacobs as a Senior Project/Program Manager or Senior Project Executive. Ideal candidate should have client and consultant relationships and experience / expertise in Illinois and be able to sell primarily Phase 1 and Phase 2 services based on recent experience.
• Providing strategic business development leadership, working closely with Jacobs Client Account Managers, Client Service Leaders, and Sales Operations teams in pursuit of major transportation opportunities in the area. This is accomplished by advancing long-term existing relationships with transportation clients at the state, city and county levels, leading the development of execution strategies, supporting proposal and presentation preparation activities and, developing and applying lessons learned during contract execution. This also includes supporting the development and periodic update of client account plans for work in this arena.
• Have overall responsibility for the successful initiation, planning, design, execution, monitoring, controlling and closure of a project. Lead the planning, staffing, scheduling, budget management, quality control, safety, and organization of internal technical and support staff, and subcontractors for the project.
• Providing expertise in developing concepts for programs and design approaches for major phases of large highway infrastructure projects, including Design-Build and Public-Private Partnerships. Extensive participation in internal team meetings/workshops and client workshops is anticipated.
• Coordination with all complimentary disciplines (roadway, drainage, structural, traffic, public involvement and environmental), technical preparation and supervision of roadway and planning design tasks, perform plan quality reviews, participate in value engineering studies.
• Represents Jacobs at meetings, presentations, and public hearings relative to assigned projects. Actively participating in transportation and other professional associations and transportation industry events such as ACEC, WTS, ASCE, TRB, AASHTO, etc. to establish, improve, and maintain a business network beneficial for personal development, to advance client knowledge and relationships, and to help identify future prospects.

Here's what you'll need:

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from an accredited University with an emphasis in infrastructure.
• License as a Professional Engineer in Illinois
• Substantial years of experience associated with the transportation market sector and with large transportation infrastructure projects and programs is required.
• Proven track record of procuring and delivering projects for Illinois transportation top clients such as the Illinois DOT, Illinois Tollway and local county and city governments.
• Must have prior or current experience managing Illinois DOT and Illinois Tollway projects/ and major programs.
• Have prior experience working as a Design Corridor Manager or as a Project Manager managing delivery of complex transportation corridor investments including program management services, developing concept design plans, and directing and facilitating all design phase work.
• High level existing contacts and strong relationships with Illinois DOT, Illinois Tollway and other State & Local government clients, special districts, and private clients. Experience in stakeholder relationship development and management is required.
• Must have Knowledge and experience of Illinois DOT and Illinois Tollway design and contract standards is required.
• Sales knowledge on how to identify contracts well in advance, respond to RFPs/solicitations, interview and win new work.
• Must be willing to travel to interface with clients and Jacobs offices, primarily within Illinois.
• Established local client relationships and has experience on DOT and Tollway projects in Illinois, along with an understanding of policies and procedures of these agencies.
• Demonstrated strong written and oral communication skill
• Promote Jacobs quality control practices through all phases of design and plans production.
• Integrates public safety requirements in Jacobs designs.
• Upholds the strongest ethical business practices in conjunction with Jacobs Corporate policies.

Posted Salary Range: Minimum $150,000.00. Posted Salary Range: Upper $240,000.00

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $150,000.00 to $240,000.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on January 05, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

At Jacobs, we're partnering across the globe to create the best project outcomes by maximizing the design, digital technology, and support capabilities of our Global Integrated Delivery (GID) teammates. By joining Jacobs, you'll commit to supporting and engaging with these teams, as we work to build a company like no other.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we're keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.

Locations

Chicago - Illinois - United States