Vice President, Transportation Operations - DC Region

Short Description:

Bowman has an opportunity for a Vice President, Transportation Operations to join our team in Fairfax, VA.

At Bowman, we believe in creating opportunities for aspiring people to thrive and achieve ambitious goals. That’s why a career at Bowman is more than a job. It is an opportunity to be part of a diverse and engaged community of professionals, to be treated as a respected and valued member of a motivated team and to be empowered to do exceptional work that advances the best interest of everyone involved. We recognize the importance of creating a work environment that is both rewarding to our employees and supportive of our unwavering commitment to provide unparalleled service to our clients.

Overview:

Provide executive leadership and operational oversight for transportation operations across the DC Region (MD, DC, VA) region, supporting the Division Manager and Business Unit leadership in driving operational excellence, financial performance, and strategic growth. This role is responsible for ensuring the efficient and profitable operation of transportation-focused offices and teams while strengthening client relationships and expanding the firm’s transportation presence within the DC Region.

Responsibilities:

Leadership and Direction

• In collaboration with Regional and Business Unit leadership, provide strategic oversight and direction to Transportation Office and Leaders across the Transportation Division, including development of business plans, budgets, staffing strategies, and project delivery performance.
• Provide strong executive leadership that fosters a positive, high-performing, and collaborative work environment across regional transportation teams.
• Mentor and support leaders in developing staff, building strong teams, and maintaining high levels of engagement and accountability.
• Align regional transportation operations with corporate goals, growth strategies, and operational standards.

At the Operational and Company Level

• Support the development and execution of regional transportation strategy, including market expansion, client growth, and service diversification.
• Partner with leadership to strengthen relationships with key transportation clients including state DOTs, transit agencies, aviation authorities, and municipal clients.
• Assist regional leaders in implementing systems and operational improvements that enhance quality, efficiency, cost control, and on-time project delivery.
• Collaborate with marketing and business development teams to pursue major transportation opportunities and strategic pursuits.
• Provide recommendations, insights, and alternative solutions to Business Unit and Regional leadership regarding operational performance and market strategy.

Do the Work

• Work closely with Transportation Office and Leaders to identify operational challenges and implement strategies for improvement and growth.
• Analyze financial and operational metrics including revenue, utilization, backlog, and profitability to guide decision-making and operational planning.
• Lead regular operational reviews, leadership meetings, and strategic planning sessions across the regional transportation practice.
• Oversee project performance through project reviews and collaboration with project managers and technical leaders.
• Monitor regional revenue performance, forecasting, and operational trends.
• Support workforce planning and resource management across the region to ensure alignment with project demands and opportunity pipelines.
• Provide guidance on hiring, leadership development, and organizational structure to support sustained growth in the transportation practice.
• Promote collaboration across offices and disciplines to maximize resource sharing and delivery excellence.

Success Metrics and Competencies:

• Strong executive leadership and operational management capabilities.
• Ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams across multiple offices and markets.
• Ability to build and maintain strong client relationships within the transportation sector.
• Collaborative leadership style that promotes cross-office and cross-discipline integration.
• Ability to influence organizational direction and support long-term strategic objectives.
• Ability to work both independently and within a team environment.
• Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization and external partners.
• High degree of discretion and ability to manage highly confidential information.
• Highly motivated and problem-solving attitude.
• Strong sense of urgency in responding to constituents.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong work ethic and commitment to quality.
• Self-reliance and ability to operate independently with limited direction.
• Commitment to promoting the reputation of the company through quality of work.
• Commitment to driving profitability and growth.
• Effective working relationship with internal leaders and peers, as well as external clients.
• Commitment to becoming a “citizen” of the broader organization, breaking down barriers and silos.
• Commitment to working in partnership with others inside and outside the organization.
• Focus on improving return on investment.
• Basic understanding of financial reports and metrics.
• Data analysis and interpretation skills.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor/Masters degree in Engineering or related discipline.
• Ten or more (10+) years experience managing engineering projects within the AEC industry with an emphasis on transportation, transit, aviation and marine clients, of which at least two years successfully leading a multidisciplinary team or managing a branch office.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership experience overseeing operations, offices, or major practice areas within a region.
• Experience working with public-sector transportation clients such as state DOTs, regional agencies, and municipalities strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of transportation project delivery, contracting approaches, and program management.
• Intermediate to advanced use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Physical Demands and Working Environment:

• Primarily indoor professional office environment which may include bright/dim light, noise, fumes, odors, and traffic.
• Mobility around an office environment.
• Frequent and prolonged use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
• Mobility around a job/construction site to include walking, bending, crawling, climbing, squatting, or kneeling and wearing of required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Primarily local travel during the business day, although some out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be required according to the needs of the business.
• Occasional lifting or carrying up to 25 pounds.
• Occasional pushing or pulling up to 25 pounds.
• Occasional reaching outward or above shoulder.

About Bowman:

Are you ready to build a career that makes a lasting impact? At Bowman, our people are at the center of everything we do. We’re committed to creating an environment where employees can thrive both personally and professionally, while helping to shape the infrastructure of tomorrow.

A career at Bowman means being part of a collaborative, forward-thinking organization where innovation, inclusion, and growth are encouraged at every level. We offer competitive compensation, a supportive work environment, and benefits designed to help our employees succeed.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match
• Paid time off, sick leave, and paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development support
• Discretionary bonuses and other performance-based incentives
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP), wellness initiatives, and employee discounts

Eligibility for certain benefits may vary based on position, location, and employment status.

Job Description Disclaimer:

Note: While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the job requirements, it is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties from particular jobs and to assign other duties as necessary at any time with or without notice.

Bowman is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued and respected. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. For our EEO Policy Statement, please click here . If you’d like more information on your EEO rights under the law, please click here .

Bowman has an obligation to provide and maintain a safe, healthy, and productive environment for its employees and clients. We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol-free workplace.

If you have any questions about the application process, please email [email protected] .