Principal Ports and Maritime Planner

AtkinsRéalis•Houston, TX

1d•Remote

About The Position

We are seeking a Principal Ports and Maritime Planner to join our team in Houston, TX. AtkinsRéalis, one of the ENR top ranked firms for Ports and Marine Facilities, has a longstanding history in Florida, Texas and the rest of the nation with a portfolio of high-profile ports and marine projects. The Principal Ports and Maritime Planner will serve as a senior technical and strategic leader responsible for advancing port and maritime planning services across key markets, including Florida, Texas, and broader U.S. growth regions. This role will lead planning studies, master plans, and feasibility analyses while supporting business development and client engagement efforts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Maritime/ Urban/Transportation Planning, Economics or closely related field.
Minimum 10+ years of experience in ports, maritime, or intermodal planning.
Demonstrated experience in: Port master planning and terminal layout development.
Capacity and operational analysis.
Capital planning and program development.
Experience working with public port authorities and/or terminal operators.
Strong understanding of port operations, infrastructure, and logistics systems.
Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex projects.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in planning, engineering, or related discipline.
AICP, ENV SP, and/ or similar certification.
Experience with planning tools/models (e.g., terminal simulation, capacity modeling) and applying data-driven approaches to master planning and feasibility studies.
Seller-doer experience.

Responsibilities

Lead development of master plans for ports and intermodal facilities, terminal layout and planning studies, market analysis and economic assessment, and capacity/operational analyses for bulk and containerized cargo terminals, cruise and multi-purpose ports.
Oversee feasibility studies, alternative analyses, and implementation strategies.
Integrate planning with engineering, environmental, and infrastructure constraints.
Develop phasing plans, cost estimates, and capital improvement programs.
Lead application of digital tools and data-driven methodologies to enhance port and terminal planning.
Serve as Project Manager or Technical Lead for complex planning assignments.
Ensure quality delivery of planning reports, models, and decision-support tools.
Coordinate with multi-disciplinary teams (civil, structural, environmental, transportation).
Support RFQs/SOQs and capture strategies, particularly for port planning and master plan updates.
Act as client-facing subject matter expert for port authorities and terminal operators.
Identify and develop new planning-led opportunities and strategic partnerships.
Help grow the firm’s port planning capability and service offerings.
Contribute to market positioning and thought leadership.
Responsible for development of internal planning tools and best practices.