Transportation Engineering Department Director

About Terra Engineering Ltd Honored to be selected as a Crain's 2023 Best Places to Work in Chicago, TERRA Engineering is a woman-owned, full service engineering and landscape design firm headquartered in Chicago, with offices in Peoria, St. Louis and Milwaukee. Since 1992, we have built our reputation on being responsive to client’s needs, dedicated to researching and implementing the newest technology, innovative and collaborative in our design approach, and trustworthy and vigilant allies during the building phase. Join our team! We invite you to apply via any of our posted positions here on Linkedin. A full list of our open positions is also available at https://www.terraengineering.com/careers.

• Transportation department maintains coordination with other departments and
• alignment with Company protocols and procedures. Accountable for overall client
• satisfaction of the department, financial forecasting and performance, and
• Quality Control/Quality Assurance. Conducts strategic marketing and business
• development activities for the department and contributes to firm-wide strategic
• planning. Directs staff planning, recruiting efforts, department and staff
• performance and development, and conflict resolution processes.

Required

• Oversee the department’s proposal development and interviews for a range of
• project sizes and types
• Lead and direct the department’s business development and other strategic
• growth initiatives; actively participate in industry, networking, and
• professional organizations events and activities
• Review and execute project agreements.
• Responsible for ensuring projects and teams are equipped with appropriate
• resources necessary to meet contractual obligations
• Ensure that the process for initiating projects with the accounting
• department is adhering to established guidelines and standards
• Monitor the management and engineering of projects to ensure the highest
• quality of documentation and professionalism, with a focus on client
• communication and satisfaction; proactively address deficiencies
• Ensure that all department personnel are properly trained and supervised
• Provide leadership and direction to the department on client and stakeholder
• presentations with an emphasis on client advocacy, identifying and balancing
• client expectations with contractual obligations, project goals, and client
• satisfaction
• Ensure projects meet Quality Control/Quality Assurance requirements
• Monitor project financial performance and proactively coordinate with
• managers to ensure achievement of goals and address areas of concern
• Oversee monthly invoicing of projects and tracking accounts’ receivables;
• ensure the department is responsive to all requests and direction
• Provide leadership and direction to the department on strategizing successful
• project delivery, financial performance, and risk mitigation
• Guide and support the department in resolving issues, disputes, and
• disagreements affecting projects and/or internal collaboration
• Ensure staff complete internal and external close-out processes
• Maintain highly effective working relationships with team members and clients
• Oversee staff performance, development, and conflicts; proactively consult
• with HR on situations of concern, or potential concern, or are more complex
• in nature
• Monitor and enforce compliance with all TERRA standards, guidelines, and
• policies
• Provide operating policies and procedures unique to the department to ensure
• activities are accomplished within scope, schedule, and budget
• Oversee staff and resource planning, recruiting efforts, candidate selection,
• and onboarding
• Create and advance the growth strategy of the department, defining goals and
• objectives
• Ensure consistent thought process within the department and alignment with
• company values and procedures
• Monitor and address noncompliance issues pertaining to administrative
• policies and procedures such as timesheet recording and submission, expense
• reports, purchase orders, and client coordination
• Coordinate with other Discipline Department Directors to ensure Disciplines
• are coordinated
• Perform other duties as required
• Involves sitting a considerable amount of the time, but requires the ability
• to inspect work and supervise project teams on a construction site or other
• field location
• May exert up to 30 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of
• force to move objects
• Occasionally lifts and carries up to 30 pounds
• Considerable time may be spent at a workstation using a computer and using
• various forms of communication (telephone, email, messaging, etc.)
• Field work includes exposure to outside weather conditions and various
• environmental conditions depending on the site
• Physical activities include walking and occasional stooping and crouching
• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of
• activities, duties and/or responsibilities required of the employee for this
• position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time.
• TERRA Engineering, Ltd. was founded by Karen Steingraber and Jamil Bou-Saab in
• 1992, beginning their journey building strong relationships with clients. In
• 2000, Senior Vice President George Ghareeb joined the team and began overseeing
• operations in a then-newly opened office in Peoria, Illinois. Since then, TERRA
• has continued expanding our reach to broaden our markets and serve additional
• communities, adding offices in St. Louis (2011), Milwaukee (2013), and
• Bolingbrook, Illinois (2025).
• We are proud of our 115+ employees who contribute their talent and skills to
• TERRA’s success. As we continue to grow, we maintain a strong focus on the
• development of our team members through mentorship, collaboration, and the
• continual refining of our collective body of knowledge. At TERRA Engineering,
• our mission of enhancing communities starts from within.
• Competitive compensation packages including sign-on bonus, annual bonus
• program, paid holidays and paid time off

Preferred

• 15+ years of applicable engineering experience
• 10+ years in leadership/management role
• Strong background with IDOT and Illinois Tollway projects
• Professional Engineer Licensure required
• Additional credentials preferred (e.g., CFM, CPESC, ENV SP, LEED AP, etc.)
• PMP certification a plus
• Valid driver's license required for field work
• Highly skilled in leading and guiding teams across multiple disciplines to
• achieve department and firm goals
• Expert in motivating and influencing teams to produce excellent results
• Adept in developing and maintaining strong and dependable client
• relationships
• Strong ability to conduct business development and project pursuit activities
• Highly proficient in verbal and written communication
• Working proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation, and other
• Windows-based and engineering software
• Highly proficient in general documentation software such as Microsoft Suite
• Advanced knowledge of project management software and tools for financial
• management, reporting, and resource utilization
• Strong understanding of business and operations analytics and reporting
• Accomplished public speaker, presenter, and leader
• Strong understanding of industry and construction practices, methodologies,
• and best engineering practices and leverages that understanding to
• effectively lead the department
• Excellent understanding of the differences in how individuals are motivated
• and can effectively adjust management and leadership style to develop and
• maintain a highly effective and functioning department
• Able to conduct site visits as needed, may require a valid driver's license
• Effectively maintains office and field health & safety requirements and
• protocols
• Maintains a work schedule conducive to team collaboration and

• Retirement plan options with safe harbor match and profit sharing
• Hybrid/Flexible work arrangements for most positions
• A warm culture that is conducive to growth and professional development
• And more!
• In accordance with local law, the estimated salary range is applicable to the
• position and location associated with this posting. Compensation will vary based
• upon experience, education, skill level, geographical location, and other
• compensable factors.
• The employment policy of TERRA Engineering, Ltd. is to provide equal opportunity
• to all persons. Our company, therefore, has made a commitment to equal
• employment opportunity through a positive and continuing affirmative action
• program. No employee or applicant for employment will be discriminated against
• because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, military
• and/or veteran status, or any other Federal or State legally protected classes.
• TERRA Engineering, Ltd.  will recruit, hire, train and promote qualified
• individuals in all job titles, and ensure that all other personnel actions are
• Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, which require affirmative action to ensure
• equal opportunity in all aspects of employment. TERRA Engineering, Ltd.  does
• not discriminate on the basis of national origin or citizenship status as
• provided under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.