Mid-West Area Manager, Transportation

GFT • Kansas City, MO

6d • $196,000 - $320,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

GFT is seeking a Transportation Area Manager for the Mid-West Region. Reporting to the Regional Leader, the Area Manager has strategy, growth, operational, and P&L responsibility for a defined geographic area within the Transportation Business Group. The role sets direction, drives growth, leads people, and ensures profitable, high-quality project delivery in alignment with regional, business group, and enterprise priorities.

The Area Manager develops and executes the area's business plan and growth strategy; leads the pipeline, sales forecasting, and pursuit process; builds client and industry relationships; and works across the company to identify and pursue opportunities. The role owns area financial and operating results, budgets, resource planning, project health, and corrective actions. It also leads area managers and staff, oversees workforce planning and hiring, coaches and develops employees, and fosters a culture of safety, quality, inclusion, learning, innovation, and continuous improvement. The Area Manager may serve as a Project Principal or Project Manager on strategic assignments when appropriate.

The position is based in any Mid-West Region office in a hybrid, in-person and remote work environment. Core business hours are 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Employment status is full-time. The advertised salary range is $196,000–$320,000, dependent on experience and geographic location.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, planning, architecture, or a related field.
• Professional licensure, registration, or relevant certification, and the ability to obtain credentials in applicable jurisdictions where required.
• At least 15 years of progressive transportation consulting, design planning, program management, or related experience.
• At least 5 years of experience leading staff and managers.
• Demonstrated success managing P&L, building client relationships, developing business, leading strategic pursuits, and delivering complex infrastructure projects profitably.
• Strong financial acumen and business judgment.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, collaboration, and presentation skills.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the area's business plan and growth strategy, including market, client, practice sales, investment, and hiring priorities.
• Own the area pipeline and sales forecast; identify, position, prioritize, and advance opportunities from lead through pursuit, win, booking, and project start.
• Lead or approve go/no-go recommendations, teaming, capture plans, pursuit investments, pricing inputs, proposal reviews, and interview preparation within delegated authority.
• Build relationships with priority clients, industry partners, and community stakeholders; serve in client service leader, capture manager/pursuit leader, or executive sponsor roles for selected accounts and opportunities.
• Monitor client capital programs, funding, market trends, and competitors, and turn insights into focused growth actions and measurable sales results.
• Collaborate across Regions, Business Lines, Practices, and the Growth Office to cross-sell services, share resources, and pursue opportunities for GFT.
• Own area financial and operating results, including revenue, sales, wins, bookings, backlog, profitability/EBITDA, utilization, net labor multiplier, project variance, WIP, accounts receivable, overhead/indirect costs, and cash performance.
• Build and manage annual area budgets, review performance through a disciplined operating cadence, and take timely corrective action.
• Lead workload, capacity, and resource planning; deploy and share staff across workgroups, Areas, Regions, and Practices to support utilization, staff development, and project delivery.
• Hold Org Leaders, Project Principals, and Project Managers accountable for project scope, schedule, budget, quality, risk, client satisfaction, invoicing, collections/cash, and profitable delivery.
• Review overall project health and high-risk projects, escalate issues, and lead recovery actions that protect clients, staff, and area profitability.
• Ensure compliance with the Quality Management System, safety requirements, contracts, company policies, professional standards, and applicable regulations.
• Lead Org Managers, Group Leaders, and other area-level staff with clear goals, accountability, communication, sound judgment, and a GFT-first approach.
• Own workforce planning and hiring; identify critical capabilities, set staffing priorities within delegated authority, and partner with Talent Acquisition and Org Leaders to recruit and onboard staff.
• Coach and develop employees; manage performance, engagement, retention, succession, promotions, and leadership readiness for key roles.
• Build a collaborative culture of safety, quality, inclusion, learning, innovation, and continuous improvement while modeling GFT values and leadership expectations.
• Serve as a Project Principal or Project Manager on strategic project assignments when appropriate.

Benefits

• Hybrid work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including wellness programs, parental leave, pet insurance, medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Paid-time-off accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Access to internal and external training programs and support for participation in professional organizations.
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior