Program Director - Transportation Planning

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next!

 

At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what’s possible.

 

Job Description:

Make an Impact. Join a Global Leader.

At Parsons, we are shaping the future of transportation through innovative, multimodal solutions that connect communities, improve mobility, and advance sustainability. Across Southern California and throughout North America, our planners, engineers, and technical specialists partner with public agencies to solve complex transportation challenges involving highways, transit, active transportation, freight, emerging mobility, and intelligent transportation systems.

Parsons is seeking an experienced Program Director – Planning to help lead and grow our transportation planning practice across Southern California. Reporting within our Traffic Engineering and Planning leadership team, this role offers an exciting opportunity to direct major planning initiatives, expand client relationships, drive business growth, and help shape the future of mobility throughout the region.

As a senior seller-doer and trusted advisor, you will lead strategic planning projects, contribute to long-range transportation and multimodal mobility programs, oversee business case development and funding strategies, and serve as a key representative of Parsons with agencies including Caltrans, LA Metro, SCAG, SANDAG, RCTC, local cities and counties, transit operators, ports, and freight stakeholders. You will collaborate closely with technical and market leaders across Parsons while mentoring staff and advancing innovative planning solutions that support our clients’ goals.

The ideal location for this position is Pasadena, California, with hybrid work flexibility. Alternate California office locations include Irvine, Corona, and San Diego.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and grow Parsons' transportation planning practice throughout Southern California.
• Direct planning initiatives across highways, transit, active transportation, freight, ITS, AI-enabled mobility, and emerging transportation technologies.
• Serve as a seller-doer by identifying opportunities, maintaining client relationships, leading pursuits, and winning new work.
• Manage and oversee planning projects, ensuring successful delivery, client satisfaction, and financial performance.
• Provide strategic advisory services related to mobility planning, funding strategies, sustainability, equity, safety, and transportation policy.
• Guide development of long-range transportation plans, regional mobility plans, corridor studies, and multimodal programs.
• Lead business case development, funding strategies, and grant applications for transportation investments.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to key clients and support embedded staff engagements.
• Represent Parsons through professional associations, conferences, industry events, and community forums.
• Mentor and develop planning staff while advancing innovation, quality, and best practices across the planning organization.

What Required Skills You'll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Public Policy, Transportation Planning, Civil Engineering, Geography, or a related field.
• 20+ years of progressively responsible experience in transportation planning, program management, or infrastructure consulting.
• Demonstrated experience leading multimodal transportation planning projects involving transit, highways, active transportation, freight, and emerging mobility.
• Established relationships with Southern California transportation agencies and stakeholders, including public sector clients, regional agencies, and transportation partners.
• Proven success leading business development, capture planning, and proposal pursuits.
• Strong project and program management skills, including oversight of scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk.
• Experience providing strategic planning, policy advisory, or implementation support to public agencies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence senior executives, clients, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to mentor staff, lead teams, and foster a collaborative and high-performing work environment.

What Desired Skills You'll Bring:

• Advanced degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Professional certification such as AICP, PE, PTOE, or similar credential.
• Knowledge of federal, state, regional, and local transportation funding programs and policy frameworks.
• Strong understanding of Southern California transportation funding, planning, and project delivery processes.

This position offers an exceptional opportunity to help shape the future of transportation in Southern California while growing a high-performing planning practice within a global infrastructure leader.

Security Clearance Requirement:

None

This position is part of our Critical Infrastructure team.

For more than 80 years, our experts have designed and delivered the critical infrastructure that connects and protects communities around the world. We work in collaborative teams, both within the company and with our partners and customers, to plan, design, build, and modernize infrastructure. We take special pride in projects and solutions that improve communities as well as people’s quality of life by promoting economic growth, enhancing mobility, and increasing sustainability and resiliency. Powered by our people, we provide the imagination necessary to support our customers’ visions—and to help them see what's next!

Salary Range: $157,500.00 - $283,500.00

We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!

This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will continue to be posted for an average of 30 days until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.

Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

Parsons is aware of fraudulent recruitment practices. To learn more about recruitment fraud and how to report it, please refer to https://www.parsons.com/fraudulent-recruitment/.