Surface Transportation Practice Lead

Battelle delivers when others can't. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design and manufacture products and deliver critical services for our clients-whether they are a multi-national corporation, a small start-up or a government agency.We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.**Job Summary**We are currently seeking a Surface Transportation Practice Lead for a **hybrid** role based in **Crystal City, VA** to provide strategic, operational, and growth leadership for our consulting and research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E) portfolio. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for business growth, client engagement, operational excellence, and people leadership across a diverse set of Federal and commercial transportation programs.The Surface Transportation Practice Lead leads and grows a $10M+ portfolio with responsibility for business development, capture, portfolio performance, and execution. This role drives strategy aligned with Battelle ISS objectives and serves as a trusted partner to key clients such as the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and commercial transportation stakeholders. The position requires strong external leadership to cultivate client relationships and win new work, along with internal leadership to ensure delivery excellence, operational discipline, and team development. Core domain expertise includes transportation planning and policy, transportation systems management and operations (TSMO), Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV), and transportation safety and human factors.**Responsibilities**+ Business Development & Growth Leadership+ Lead the growth strategy for the Surface Transportation Practice, aligned with Battelle ISS strategic priorities and market opportunities.+ Drive business capture activities, including opportunity shaping, win strategy development, teaming, and executive-level client engagement.+ Serve as a senior, trusted point of contact for Federal and commercial transportation clients.+ Identify, develop, and mature new offerings and market opportunities in transportation safety, emerging transportation technologies, test & evaluation, verification & validation, and data-driven safety solutions.+ Partner closely with Business Development, Capture, and Proposal teams to ensure competitive positioning and high-quality submissions.+ Portfolio & Operational Excellence+ Maintain P&L accountability for a $10M+ portfolio, including revenue growth, margin performance, and cost control.+ Serve as Program Manager on one or more USDOT IDIQ contract vehicles. This includes program oversight/execution, project management (scope, delivery quality, cost, schedule), technical task execution, proposal capture/development, subcontractor oversight/relationship management, and client relationship management.+ Ensure consistent, high-quality program execution across the surface transportation portfolio, with strong focus on schedule, cost, technical quality, and client satisfaction.+ Establish and reinforce standardized operational processes, performance metrics, and best practices across projects.+ Drive improvements in operational efficiency, including staffing strategies, subcontractor management, and contract startup execution.+ Proactively manage financial, contractual, and execution risks.+ Strategy & Practice Development+ Define and execute the long-term strategic roadmap for the Surface Transportation Practice.+ Monitor market trends, client priorities, and competitor activity to inform growth and investment decisions.+ Collaborate across ISS and Battelle business lines to deliver integrated, multi-disciplinary solutions and expand client impact.+ People & Talent Leadership+ Lead, mentor, and develop program managers, technical leads, and subject matter experts.+ Sustain and continue to grow a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.+ Support workforce planning, recruiting, onboarding, and succession planning to ensure the practice has the talent needed for sustained growth.+ Provide performance management, coaching, and career development for leaders and staff within the practice**Key Qualifications**+ Bachelor's Degree in engineering, transportation, public policy, statistics, business or a related field with seven (7) years of experience in surface transportation safety and mobility; or an equivalent combination of education/experience.+ Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification+ Direct experience managing USDOT IDIQ programs/projects and client relationships across USDOT, including the FHWA Office of Operations, FHWA Office of Policy, ITS JPO, and NHTSA Vehicle and Behavioral Safety offices.+ Demonstrated experience as program manager or principal investigator in leading transportation research projects aimed at improving safety and mobility - e.g., CAV & automated driving systems (ADS), ITS/TSMO, vehicle, driver, & infrastructure safety, and simulation & field testing on closed courses & open roads.+ Knowledge and understanding of State and local DOT needs and priorities; and ability to build partnerships that bring new business opportunities to Battelle.+ Demonstrated success leading and growing a $10M+ business or portfolio, including P&L responsibility.+ Demonstrated experience creating business strategies and driving operational improvements and transformation.+ Understanding of Federal acquisition processes, IDIQ contracts, and multi-year program execution.+ Proven experience in business development and capture, including shaping and winning complex Federal and/or commercial programs, and leading/writing winning proposals.+ Experience working with commercial transportation clients (e.g., technology providers, OEMs, operators, or infrastructure owners).+ Staff leadership experience, including managing leads and multidisciplinary teams.+ Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills with hands-on experience developing presentations, technical reports, executive briefings, and other similar products for government and commercial clients.+ Willingness to travel as required.+ Must be a U.S. Citizen.**Preferred Qualifications**+ Master's Degree or PhD in engineering, transportation, public policy, statistics, business or a related field with ten (10) years of experience in surface transportation safety and mobility; or an equivalent combination of education/experience.+ Certified Professional Engineer (P.E.).+ Understanding of transportation safety and mobility concepts, frameworks, and tools - e.g., Highway Safety Manual (HSM), Highway Capacity Manual (HCM), Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), and traffic/vehicle simulation and modeling.\#LI-TF1**Benefits: Live an Extraordinary Life**We care about your well-being, not just on the job. Battelle offers comprehensive and competitive benefits to help you live your best life.+ **Balance life through a compressed work schedule** : Most of our team follows a flexible, compressed work schedule that allows for every other Friday off-giving you a dedicated day to accomplish things in your personal life without using vacation time.+ **Enjoy enhanced work flexibility, including a hybrid arrangement:** You have options for where and when you work. Our Together with Flexibility model allows you to work 60% in-office and 40% remote, with Monday and Tuesday as common in-office days, dependent on team and position needs.+ **Take time to recharge** : You get paid time off to support work-life balance and keep motivated.+ **Prioritize wellness** : Stay healthy with medical, dental, and vision coverage with wellness incentives and benefits plus a variety of optional supplemental benefits.+ **Better together** : Coverage for partners, gender-affirming care and health support, and family formation support.+ **Build your financial future** : Build financial stability with an industry-leading 401(k) retirement savings plan. For most employees, we put in 5 percent whether you contribute or not, and match your contributions on top of that.+ **Advance your education** : Tuition assistance is available to pursue higher education.**A Work Environment Where You Succeed**For brilliant minds in science, technology, engineering and business operations, Battelle is the place to do the greatest good by solving humanity's most pressing challenges and creating a safer, healthier and more secure world.You will have the opportunity to thrive in a culture that inspires you to:+ Apply your talent to challenging and meaningful projects+ Receive select funding to pursue ideas in scientific and technological discovery+ Partner with world-class experts in a collaborative environment+ Nurture and develop the next generation of scientific leaders+ Give back to and improve our communities**Vaccinations & Safety Protocols**_Battelle may require employees, based on job duties, work location, and/or its clients' requirements to follow certain safety protocols and to be vaccinated against a variety of viruses, bacteria, and diseases as a condition of employment and continued employment and to provide documentation that they are fully vaccinated. If applicable, Battelle will provide reasonable accommodations based on a qualified disability or medical condition through the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Rehabilitation Act or for a sincerely held religious belief under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (and related state laws).__Battelle is an equal opportunity employer. We provide employment and opportunities for advancement, compensation, training, and growth according to individual merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, genetic information, disability, veteran-status veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal, state, or local law. Our goal is for each staff member to have the opportunity to grow to the limits of their abilities and to achieve personal and organizational objectives. We will support positive programs for equal treatment of all staff and full utilization of all qualified employees at all levels within Battelle._The above statements are intended to describe the nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, activities and skills required of staff members. **No statement herein is intended to imply any authorities to commit Battelle unless special written permission is granted by Battelle's Legal Department.**For more information about our other openings, please visit www.battelle.org/careers