Highways Services Practice Lead

Highways Services Practice Lead

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world? Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

The Highways Services Practice Lead is a strategic and technical leadership role that integrates market development with practice excellence across the Area. This position is responsible for driving growth, ensuring high-quality project delivery, and developing talent within the Highways Business Class. Reporting to the Professional Services Leader, this position collaborates with regional, area, business class and business group leadership to align business strategy with technical execution, positioning HDR as a premier service provider in their field, and champion technical excellence of the team.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Serve as Project Manager or Technical Project Lead for key/critical projects or programs.
• Provide Area leadership of technical capabilities within the Highways Business Class.
• Coordinate with State Highway Section Managers to plan workload and staffing, as well as technical training of the team.
• Lead strategic planning and execution for market growth within the assigned practice area.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, with a deep understanding of client needs, funding mechanisms, and regulatory environments.
• Partner with Area Business Development Lead and others to identify and pursue new business opportunities.
• Oversee quality assurance processes, including critical project reviews.
• Advance best practices, tools, and standards across the practice.
• Serve as liaison to national Business Classes, as appropriate.
• Collaborate with national and regional technical leaders to maintain a cutting-edge, competitive practice and manage workshare.
• Mentor and develop staff, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement.
• Monitor utilization and coordinate staffing strategies, including hiring and workshare.
• Support succession planning and career development initiatives.
• Participate in monthly coordination calls with business class, regional, and client leadership.
• Troubleshoot project delivery issues and support resolution planning.
• Participate in annual reviews of staff, when appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• 15 years' experience in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering or closely related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Excellent communication, leadership and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of the local market.
• Ability to work cooperatively with area manager, area business group managers, area business development lead, and area professional services lead.
• Actively engaged in professional or industry associations to enhance HDR technical expertise and brand

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering or closely related field
• 10 years of experience
• Committed to quality, improvement and HDR values
• Maintains a professional or engineering registration and has related technical experience
• Experienced in development and management of diverse teams
• Works cooperatively with other area business class leaders, operations managers, technical directors and marketing managers on business class efforts
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve. Our Commitment As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day. Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location: United States-Tennessee-Nashville

Other Locations: United States-Tennessee-Chattanooga, United States-Tennessee-Memphis

Industry: Highway + Road

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

Business Class: Highways

Job Posting: Jul 28, 2025

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.