Deputy Program Manager - Transportation

CDM Smith • Chicago, IL

3d • Onsite

About The Position

CDM Smith is seeking a highly qualified Deputy Program Manager with a strong transportation and infrastructure background to support its growing Midwestern operations. The ideal candidate will have experience managing complex transportation projects and multidisciplinary efforts, with the ability to utilize their management experience to coordinate teams, manage project delivery, and work effectively with state and local agencies. A background in civil or structural engineering is preferred. A Registered Professional Engineer (PE) license in Illinois, or eligibility for licensure through reciprocity, is preferred but not required. This position is based in the greater Chicago, Illinois area, and candidates must be willing to relocate to the region if they are not currently local. The Deputy Program Manager provides leadership and oversight for complex transportation and infrastructure programs from planning through design, construction, and project closeout. This position is responsible for managing and coordinating multidisciplinary efforts, ensuring that project teams, technical disciplines, and stakeholders are aligned with overall program goals. The successful candidate will utilize their management experience to lead large-scale transportation efforts involving highways, bridges, rail, transit, and other public infrastructure. Responsibilities include managing project schedules, budgets, resource allocation, risk management, quality assurance, and overall project delivery while ensuring projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements. The Deputy Program Manager serves as a key point of contact for clients, project teams, municipalities, state transportation agencies, regulatory agencies, contractors, and other stakeholders. The role will facilitate communication across disciplines, resolve technical and programmatic issues, monitor project progress, and ensure effective coordination throughout the program. The role includes providing management and technical leadership across transportation projects, supporting construction management activities, and identifying opportunities to improve program processes and project delivery. The Deputy Program Manager will prepare and review technical reports, presentations, proposals, contracts, and other project documentation while ensuring adherence to firm standards, industry best practices, and applicable regulations. This position will also support business development activities, including identifying new opportunities, developing technical proposals, responding to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and participating in client presentations and interviews. The Deputy Program Manager may meet with current and prospective clients to understand their needs and develop long-term strategic relationships. The successful candidate will provide leadership, mentoring, and guidance to project staff while fostering collaboration across multidisciplinary teams. The position requires strong communication, organization, and decision-making skills, as well as the ability to manage competing priorities and effectively lead transportation program efforts. Participation in Communities of Practice (CoPs), professional organizations, industry conferences, and technical committees is encouraged to support technical excellence, innovation, and continued growth within the transportation practice. Performs other duties as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• 7 years of related experience.
• Strong knowledge of corporate governance practices, organization design principles, accounting principles, finance, supply chain management, and organization management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to understand highly complex technical, professional and business materials.
• Candidates must be willing to relocate to the greater Chicago, Illinois area if they are not currently local.

Nice To Haves

• Background in civil or structural engineering is preferred.
• A Registered Professional Engineer (PE) license in Illinois, or eligibility for licensure through reciprocity, is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate multidisciplinary efforts, ensuring that project teams, technical disciplines, and stakeholders are aligned with overall program goals.
• Lead large-scale transportation efforts involving highways, bridges, rail, transit, and other public infrastructure.
• Manage project schedules, budgets, resource allocation, risk management, quality assurance, and overall project delivery.
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Serve as a key point of contact for clients, project teams, municipalities, state transportation agencies, regulatory agencies, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate communication across disciplines, resolve technical and programmatic issues, monitor project progress, and ensure effective coordination throughout the program.
• Provide management and technical leadership across transportation projects.
• Support construction management activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve program processes and project delivery.
• Prepare and review technical reports, presentations, proposals, contracts, and other project documentation.
• Ensure adherence to firm standards, industry best practices, and applicable regulations.
• Support business development activities, including identifying new opportunities, developing technical proposals, responding to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and participating in client presentations and interviews.
• Meet with current and prospective clients to understand their needs and develop long-term strategic relationships.
• Provide leadership, mentoring, and guidance to project staff.
• Foster collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
• Perform other duties as required.

Benefits

• CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.
• All bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.

What This Job Offers

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