Tennessee Transportation Planning Lead

NASHVILLE, MURFREESBORO, Chattanooga, or KNOXVILLE, TN

Neel-Schaffer is seeking a Transportation Planning Lead to lead all aspects of our Tennessee transportation planning group. This position can be based in Nashville, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, or Knoxville, TN.

Neel-Schaffer is an Engineering News-Record Top 200 Design firm that operates 39 offices across nine states. The firm offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits, including health care and a matching 401(k) savings plan.

The successful candidate for Transportation Planning Lead will provide technical leadership, project oversight, and client-facing expertise for a wide range of transportation planning projects. This role is ideal for a seasoned professional who combines strong technical knowledge with leadership, mentoring, and business development skills.

The Transportation Planning Lead will serve as a subject matter expert, guide and mentor project teams, and help grow and advance the firm’s Tennessee Transportation Planning practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead transportation planning assignments in Tennessee, overseeing work that includes long-range transportation plans, mobility master plans, metropolitan transportation plans, freight plans, safety action plans, active transportation plans, transit plans, corridor studies, public engagement and other transportation planning assignments.
• Lead project execution, including coordination of tasks, deliverables, schedules, budgets, staffing, risks, and quality review.
• Lead range of planning tasks, including analysis of existing conditions and needs, community engagement, visioning, financial planning, and plan development.
• Coordinate with clients, project teams, subconsultants, and practice leadership to support successful delivery.
• Serve as the primary client contact for metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), departments of transportation (DOTs), transit agencies, counties, municipalities, and regional organizations.
• Support market growth by identifying opportunities, tracking client needs, and helping position the firm for future work.
• Contribute to major pursuits, proposals, interviews, and client development efforts.
• Stay current on industry trends, regulations and emerging technologies.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 15 years of progressive transportation planning experience, including at least 5 years of experience developing and managing staff.
• Bachelor’s degree in planning, engineering, geography, public policy, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• AICP or PE strongly preferred. Additional leadership or project management certification is desirable.
  
  

The Ideal Candidate will also Possess the Following

• Demonstrated success in developing client relationships, winning work, and leading major projects or programs.
• Established relationships with transportation agencies and public-sector clients in the assigned market prefA strong understanding in developing all project management controls, including scope development, proposals, budgeting, scheduling, staff management, and quality assurance and control.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• GIS Experience.
  
  

Domestic travel may be required, mostly in the South/Southeast US. The frequency of travel is contingent on workload and project demands.

Equal Opportunity Employer