Senior Project Manager, Goods Movement

Overview of the Department

The Mega Projects, Border and Goods Movement Department focuses on delivering complex infrastructure and technology projects in the San Diego region, as well as delivering projects that focus on goods movement and border connectivity. Some of these projects include the SR 11/Otay Mesa East Port of Entry (OME POE), the LOSSAN Rail Realignment, the Harbor Drive 2.0/Vesta Street Bridge, and the Back Office System.

Role

Under the direction of the Goods Movement Delivery Program Manager, the Senior Project Manager, Goods Movement will manage the implementation of the Goods Movement Program related to port (land, sea, and air), highway, and rail projects. Reporting to the Program Manager, the Senior Project Manager will focus on managing specific goods movement projects, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring successful project delivery within scope, schedule, and budget.

This position will be filled as a Senior Regional Planner or Senior Engineer, depending on experience.

• Manage assigned goods movement projects, ensuring alignment with program objectives and adherence to established timelines and budgets.
• Coordinate technical activities related to goods movement project development, including planning, design, environmental clearance, permitting, and construction contract award.
• Assist in the delivery of key initiatives such as the OME POE project and Harbor 2.0/Vesta Street Bridge project by supporting project milestones and resolving challenges.
• Collaborate with the Program Manager to implement elements of the Goods Movement Program identified in the San Diego and Imperial County Sustainable Freight Implementation Strategy and SANDAG Regional Plan.
• Contribute to binational and interregional collaboration efforts by supporting goods movement projects that promote economic growth, sustainable development, and equitable outcomes.
• Participate in project budget development, preparation and administration; prepare cost estimates and budget justifications; monitor and control expenditures as part of the annual SANDAG Program Budget; track expenditures and recommend adjustments as necessary.
• Support forecasting of additional resources needed for staffing, equipment, or supplies related to assigned projects.
• Facilitate project development by fostering and establishing collaborative relationships with key internal and external customers, partners, stakeholders, and funding agencies such as local jurisdictions, rail operators (MTS, NCTD, and freight rail operators), Port of San Diego, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Caltrans, freight businesses, and local community planning and interest groups as well as Mexican partners at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Coordinate project activities with inter-departmental and inter-agency multidisciplinary project teams; lead meetings with project teams and develop project partnerships; ensure effective communication of goals, progress, and decisions.
• Review consultant contracts, change orders, amendments, and payments; manage project consultants and ensure projects progress on schedule, within the approved budget, and at a consistently high level of quality; ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
• Participate in procurement processes by contributing to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), scopes of work, and vendor selection for assigned projects.
• Identify potential risks associated with assigned projects; work with the Program Manager to develop mitigation strategies that ensure successful outcomes.
• Coordinate with inter-departmental and inter-agency teams to develop project scopes, costs, and schedules for grant applications seeking discretionary/formula funding. 
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior staff members working on goods movement projects; collaborate closely with multidisciplinary team members (e.g. planners and engineers) to achieve project objectives.
• Prepare written technical reports, analyses, and presentations for internal teams, stakeholders, policy committees, or community groups.
• Support the Program Manager by presenting findings or recommendations to SANDAG’s Board of Directors or Policy Advisory Committees as needed.
• Participate in goods movement related studies as a delivery subject matter expert directly leading into project delivery phases. 
• Represent assigned projects at meetings with internal departments, elected officials, outside agencies/organizations, or community groups; communicate program goals effectively; provide updates on progress and address inquiries or concerns.
• Analyze the effects of new legislation on the goods movement delivery programs, projects, and plans. Coordinate project legislation needs with the SANDAG Government Relations team.

• The minimum education, training, and experience qualifications for the Senior Regional Planner include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with major course work in urban, regional, transportation or environmental planning, geography, business, public administration, public policy, or a related field. 
• At least five years of increasingly responsible, professional regional, transportation, or environmental planning experience, including some lead or supervisory experience, along with project management experience.
• Proven experience managing projects, ensuring alignment with program objectives, timelines, and budgets, with a track record of successfully delivering projects on schedule and within financial constraints. Preference for managing goods movement projects. 
• Strong background in coordinating technical activities related to project development, including planning, design, environmental clearance, permitting, and construction contract award, in compliance with relevant regulations.
• Experience supporting and contributing to large-scale projects such as the OME POE and Harbor 2.0/Vesta Street Bridge projects, including resolving project challenges and advancing key project milestones.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate on implementing regional transportation and sustainable freight strategies, with knowledge of the San Diego and Imperial County Sustainable Freight Implementation Strategy and SANDAG Regional Plan.
• Experience fostering binational and interregional collaboration, particularly in promoting sustainable development and equitable outcomes in the goods movement sector, including cross-border efforts with Mexican federal, state, and local entities.
• Proven ability to develop, administer, and monitor project budgets, track expenditures, and recommend necessary adjustments to align with financial goals, as part of a broader program budget.
• Experience in forecasting and coordinating additional staffing, equipment, or supplies required for successful project delivery, ensuring adequate resources are available.
• Demonstrated skill in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government agencies, community planning groups, and freight businesses, to ensure seamless project execution.
• Experience leading and coordinating multidisciplinary teams, ensuring effective communication of goals, progress, and decisions across departments and agencies.
• Expertise in reviewing and managing consultant contracts, including change orders, amendments, and payments, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and high-quality project delivery.
• Experience participating in procurement processes, including contributing to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), developing scopes of work, and assisting in vendor selection for goods movement projects.
• Proven ability to identify potential project risks and collaborate with program managers to develop effective mitigation strategies to ensure successful outcomes.
• Experience in coordinating with teams to develop project scopes, budgets, and schedules for grant applications seeking discretionary or formula funding.
• Ability to provide guidance and mentorship to junior staff, fostering professional growth and facilitating collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to achieve project objectives.
• Strong writing skills with the ability to prepare clear, concise technical reports, analyses, and presentations for both internal teams and external stakeholders, including data interpretation and the presentation of recommendations.
• Experience presenting findings, recommendations, and progress updates to senior management, external stakeholders, and policy committees, with the ability to communicate complex information effectively.
• In-depth knowledge of goods movement systems, having participated in related studies and contributed as a subject matter expert to project delivery phases.
• Ability to analyze and assess the impact of new legislation on goods movement projects and regional transportation plans, coordinating legislative needs with government relations teams.
  
  

Experience and Qualifications if Filled as a Senior Engineer

• The minimum education, training, and experience qualifications include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with major course work in civil, structural, or transportation engineering or a related field. 
• At least five years of increasingly responsible, professional engineering experience, including some lead or supervisory experience, and project management experience.
• Possession of Professional Engineer Registration in the State of California.

Salary : $96,824 - $157,602