Principal Project Manager

Location(s):

Los Angeles, CA, US

Contract Type: Regular (US only)

Work Pattern: Full Time

Market: Various

Discipline: Project programme and commercial management

Job Ref: 12748

Recruiter Contact: Heather Yawger

At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our sectors in North America, including, Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water.

We believe in empowering our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining work. Join us and be part of a collaborative environment where your ambitions are united with ours, and you can truly shape your story.

If you share that vision, even if you don’t meet every requirement listed, we’d still love to hear from you. We value potential and diverse perspectives as much as experience. Let’s explore how we can support your growth and help you take the next step in your career, while contributing to an exciting new chapter for Mott MacDonald in North America.

The Workstream Delivery & Operational Lead for the Enhanced Transit Service will oversee the planning, coordination, and delivery, operational readiness and delivery of a temporary, large-scale transit system to support mega events.

The successful candidate will be a highly accomplished transport and project management professional with over two decades of experience in public transport, planning, and delivery and operations. With a career spanning leadership role in the bus industry and extensive consultancy experience, they will bring unmatched expertise in bus and BRT operations, zero-emission fleet deployment, park-and-ride systems, and the planning and delivery of transport services for major international events.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Service Design

Provide visionary leadership in the development, evaluation, and refinement of the Enhanced Transit Service strategy including international best practice for mega-event transport.

Direct the enhancement and application of the “living model” as a dynamic decision-support tool, integrating demand forecasting, service design, and operational planning to ensure accuracy and adaptability.

Establish a comprehensive, multimodal service plan that seamlessly integrates bus and rail operations with mobility hubs, park-and-ride facilities, and depot locations, ensuring efficient end-to-end journeys for spectators and workforce.

Embed resilience, scalability, and flexibility into Enhanced Transit Service planning, enabling rapid adaptation to evolving event-time requirements, unforeseen disruptions, and fluctuating demand.

Transit Operations & Network Optimization

Partner with client Operations to optimize the existing and planned transportation network, ensuring it can absorb and manage the extraordinary demand.

Oversee the integration of Enhanced Transit Service services with regional transit systems, creating a unified, reliable, and user-friendly network for spectators and workforce.

Develop sophisticated operational strategies for fleet deployment, scheduling, and routing, maximizing efficiency, minimizing delays, and ensuring equitable service distribution.

Anticipate, model, and mitigate operational risks including congestion, service disruptions, and capacity constraints through proactive scenario planning and contingency measures.

Infrastructure, Fleet & Technology Coordination

Oversee the fleet strategy, including procurement, allocation, maintenance, and lifecycle planning, ensuring sufficient capacity and operational resilience.

Support the planning and acquisition of temporary or permanent real estate for depots, hubs, and operational facilities.

Drive the integration of intelligent transportation systems (ITS), real-time monitoring, and passenger information systems to enhance operational oversight and customer experience.

Candidate Suitability

The individual selected for this role is exceptionally well-prepared to succeed, bringing:

Extensive expertise in bus and BRT operations, service planning, and the delivery of large-scale transit systems.

Proven leadership in managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects with transport authorities, operators, and international partners.

Specialized knowledge in zero-emission fleet procurement, depot planning, and sustainable transit operations.

Global perspective gained through involvement in high-profile infrastructure and mobility programs, including major international sporting events.

Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build consensus and deliver results in politically and technically complex environments.

Demonstrated ability to deliver under high-pressure, time-sensitive conditions, ensuring operational excellence for events of global significance

Benefits & Reward

At Mott MacDonald, our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, providing them with a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses. We provide a comprehensive benefit package that includes 401k, medical, dental and vision insurance, short-term/long-term disability, paid holidays, PTO, parental leave, and company paid life insurance.

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

The expected salary for this position is $260,000- $275,000

Collaboration at Our Core
At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we’re together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet client, team, and personal commitments.

Equal opportunity is the law.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.