Mid-West Area Manager, Transportation

GFT.•St. Louis, MO

2d•$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, this role has strategy, growth, operational, and P&L responsibility for a defined geographic area within the Transportation Business Group. The Area Manager sets direction, drives growth, leads people, and ensures profitable, high-quality project delivery in alignment with regional, business group, and enterprise priorities. The position develops and executes the area's business plan and growth strategy; owns the pipeline, sales forecast, financial results, budgets, workload, capacity, and resource planning; and leads client relationships and strategic pursuits. It oversees project performance and risk, ensures compliance with quality, safety, contractual, company, professional, and regulatory requirements, and leads workforce planning, hiring, staff development, engagement, retention, and succession. The Area Manager may also serve as a Project Principal or Project Manager on strategic assignments when appropriate. The role is based in any Mid-West Region office and follows a hybrid work environment. Core business hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The position is full-time, with a salary range of $196,000 to $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, where required, ability to obtain credentials in applicable jurisdictions.
15 or more 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 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 trusted relationships with priority clients, industry partners, and community stakeholders; serve as client service leader, capture manager or pursuit leader, or executive sponsor 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 net revenue, sales, wins, bookings, backlog, profitability/EBITDA, utilization, net labor multiplier, project variance, WIP, accounts receivable, overhead and 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 reliable project delivery.
Hold Org Leaders, Project Principals, and Project Managers accountable for scope, schedule, budget, quality, risk, client satisfaction, invoicing, collections and cash, and profitable delivery.
Review general project health and high-risk projects, escalate identified 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, visible 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.