SCJ Alliance is looking for an experienced transportation Project Manager and Lacey Team Lead to help shape the future of our Lacey transportation practice. You'll lead a team of nine, manage projects that improve how communities move, and build the client relationships that bring new opportunities to the team.
This role combines project delivery, people leadership, and business development, with a voice in the work we pursue and how our team grows. You'll bring technical judgment, a commitment to developing others, and the initiative to turn ideas into action.
As part of a 100% employee-owned firm, you'll have a stake in the company you help build, along with leadership training, participation in strategic planning, and opportunities to grow into broader leadership responsibilities.
The work and the team
Our transportation work includes corridor and roadway design, signalized intersections and roundabouts, downtown transportation revitalization, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, trails, transit facilities, and stormwater design. Projects may also include highway framework studies, interchange justification reports, and coordination with transportation planning and public outreach specialists.
We work with state and federal transportation agencies, cities, counties, and Tribal clients to address transportation needs and improve communities.
As the Lacey Team Lead, you'll report to our Transportation Business Group Director, and provide leadership for nine designers, design engineers, project engineers, and project managers. You'll manage your own projects while coordinating team workloads and staffing to support successful project delivery. Your people leadership responsibilities will include supporting your direct reports and partnering with other managers in the group to guide performance, career growth, and technical and leadership development across the team.
Working with the Office Principal and Transportation Business Group Director, you'll help shape business development efforts, resource plans, annual budgets, and training priorities. You'll help strengthen our local transportation practice while helping the people behind the work grow and succeed.
A few projects we're proud of
- 236th Street NE Corridor Improvements. SCJ partnered with the Stillaguamish Tribe, Snohomish County, and Reece Construction Company on this corridor improvement project, which earned both state and national APWA Project of the Year awards in the Transportation, $5 Million to $25 Million category. The recognition highlights the collaboration and innovation behind work that makes a lasting difference in our communities.
- SR 3 and Log Yard Road Roundabout. SCJ led permitting, design, and public engagement for Mason Transit Authority's roundabout, the first in the Belfair and North Mason County community. Working closely with WSDOT, stakeholders, and local utilities, our team designed the intersection to accommodate oversized freight vehicles while supporting safer travel and access to a future park-and-ride.
- Capitol Boulevard and Trosper Road Improvements. SCJ helped advance improvements to a key Tumwater corridor, securing timely WSDOT approvals that paved the way for $7 million in grant funding. The project included three new roundabouts, realigned interchange ramps, enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and stormwater and waterline upgrades to support mobility, business access, and a more welcoming corridor.
What you'll do
Lead transportation projects from start to finish. Develop and negotiate scopes, fees, and schedules with clients. Create and maintain project management plans, assign responsibilities, and guide work through changing needs and priorities.
Provide technical direction. Help teams develop and evaluate design alternatives, resolve engineering challenges, and prepare plans, specifications, and estimates. Coordinate contributions from other disciplines and subconsultants.
Protect the quality of the work. Provide technical quality reviews and peer review, ensure quality assurance and quality control processes are followed, and review reports and deliverables before submission.
Build trusted client relationships. Understand client priorities, set clear expectations, facilitate productive meetings, and communicate options when challenges arise.
Manage project performance. Track budgets, schedules, staffing, and progress regularly. Address scope changes and financial concerns early, and manage contracts with attention to both client relationships and SCJ's interests.
Lead and develop people. Set clear expectations, delegate thoughtfully, provide useful feedback, and help engineers and designers identify and set goals to help them strengthen their technical and leadership skills.
Support other project managers. Partner with your Business Group Director and group leads from other offices to mentor newer PMs in project controls, client communication, delegation, and team leadership.
Coordinate workloads and resources. Identify staffing needs, forecast workloads, and coordinate with other offices to match project demands with staff skills and capacity.
Help grow the practice. Work with the Office Principal, Business Group Director and our Marketing team to identify opportunities, develop and strengthen client relationships, and lead or contribute to proposals, interviews, and presentations.
Keep people informed and connected. Communicate clearly with clients, colleagues, leadership, agencies, and other stakeholders. Lead group and project meetings, prepare reports and presentations, and make priorities and next steps clear.
Strengthen the team. Share knowledge, encourage questions, and model accountability, kindness, and collaboration, and definitely make room for some fun along the way.
What you bring
- A bachelor's degree in civil engineering or equivalent.
- A Professional Engineer license.
- 7+ years of progressively responsible transportation engineering experience, including project management.
- Experience managing transportation design projects and preparing or overseeing plans, specifications, and estimates.
- The ability to develop scopes, fees, schedules, and work plans, and manage project financial performance.
- Experience working with public agency clients and coordinating with stakeholders. WSDOT experience preferred.
- Strong communication and leadership skills, including the ability to organize work, delegate effectively, mentor staff, and address challenges constructively.
- Leadership experience with responsibility for direct supervision and mentoring of technical staff.
- Experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation, OpenRoads, or other platforms.
- Experience with Vantagepoint &/or Mosaic is helpful but not required.
- A commitment to client service, thoughtful problem-solving, and high-quality work.
Benefits that support your life
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Company-provided life, AD&D, travel, EAP, and short- and long-term disability insurance policies.
- HSA and FSA options.
- PTO, paid holidays, and floating holidays.
- A 401(k) plan and employee stock ownership plan.
- Reimbursement for eligible licensing and professional organization expenses.
- Dog-friendly office
Location and work expectations
This position is based in our Lacey office, home to approximately 60 employees. You'll lead a transportation team that includes colleagues based in Lacey and one fully remote member. Most Lacey staff work in the office three or more days per week. We expect leaders to be present most days to support their teams, with some flexibility for a hybrid schedule.
With transportation teams in three of our eight offices, there are opportunities to travel for collaboration and conferences. Site visits occur as needed and are typically local, though occasional overnight travel may be required.
Let's talk
If you enjoy solving transportation challenges, building client relationships, and helping people grow, we'd like to meet you.
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