Transportation Lead

Freese and Nichols is seeking a Transportation Lead based in Overland Park, Kansas or Rogers, Arkansas to build and grow our transportation presence across the Central Plains. In this senior leadership role, you are responsible for expanding our Arkansas and Kansas Department of Transportation work, strengthening client relationships, and developing a high-performing transportation team that delivers impactful infrastructure projects. You are trusted to shape market direction, lead pursuits, and serve as a senior technical and client advisor while maintaining accountability for quality, schedule, and financial performance.

What You’ll Do

Lead the growth of the transportation practice in Arkansas and Kansas, with primary emphasis on Arkansas Department of Transportation work

Develop and maintain strong relationships with DOT clients, teaming partners, and industry stakeholders across the Central Plains region

Serve as Client Representative for key transportation clients, ensuring high-quality service and long-term partnerships

Lead business development efforts, including pursuit strategy, proposal development, and interview presentations

Provide senior technical oversight for transportation planning, design, and delivery in accordance with DOT standards and requirements

Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing transportation team, supporting technical growth and career progression

Oversee quality assurance and quality control to ensure projects meet technical standards, budgets, and schedules

Contribute to regional transportation strategy and collaborate with firm leadership to support long-term growth

Qualifications

Required

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related engineering field

Professional Engineer registration

8+ years of progressive transportation engineering experience

Demonstrated experience delivering projects for state departments of transportation, preferably including Arkansas Department of Transportation

Proven ability to develop and maintain client relationships and support business development efforts

Experience leading teams and making independent technical and project decisions

Preferred

Experience working across multiple state DOTs, including Arkansas and Kansas

Background in transportation design, construction, or a combination of both

Experience serving as Project Manager or senior technical advisor on complex transportation projects

Strong understanding of DOT procurement, delivery processes, and funding programs

About Freese and Nichols

At the heart of our culture is our LEADS values ( L earn continuously, E ngage as family, A ct with integrity, D eliver quality, and S erve always). Each year, our employee engagement survey confirms that our leaders and our employees live our values.

We strive to be the firm of choice for clients and employees through innovative approaches, practical results, and outstanding service. For more than 130 years, we have been planning and designing the infrastructure our communities need: developing water supplies, designing roadways and bridges, preparing for natural disasters, and much more.

Besides our comprehensive benefits package (see more at Benefits That Work for You ), we offer paid overtime for salaried employees, an annual bonus, and access to company cabins in Red River, New Mexico and Banner Elk, North Carolina. We are proud of our flexible work environment which includes a hybrid schedule with up to 40% of remote work, and an alternative work schedule program which provides a day off every other Friday.

Join our team of 1,300+ employees as we grow from Virginia to Colorado. Learn more about working here at Working at Freese and Nichols .

Freese and Nichols is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

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