Lead and manage complex highway projects for IDOT and local agencies from planning through construction while mentoring teams and ensuring client satisfaction.
Transportation Practice
Consistently ranked by Engineering News-Record as a Top 20 transportation firm, Michael Baker International offers clients an integrated team of professionals versed in all aspects of transportation planning, design, permitting, and construction management and inspection. In addition, Michael Baker International is a recognized leader in the practical aspects of operating and maintaining a safe and efficient transportation infrastructure.
What We’re Looking For:
Michael Baker International is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager – Highway to join our Highway Department in Chicago, Illinois. This is an exciting opportunity for a transportation professional who wants to lead high‑profile IDOT, Illinois Tollway, and local agency roadway projects while mentoring teams and building trusted client relationships.
In this role, you’ll take ownership of complex highway projects from concept through delivery—balancing technical excellence with project management, collaboration, and client engagement. You’ll work in a supportive, employee‑focused environment that values innovation, flexibility, and professional growth. This position offers a hybrid work schedule, allowing you to balance in‑office collaboration with flexible remote work.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead and manage roadway and highway projects for IDOT, Illinois Tollway, and local agencies from planning through construction
- Oversee project scope, schedules, budgets, staffing, and quality to ensure successful project delivery
- Provide technical leadership in roadway design, modeling, and plan production using MicroStation/OpenRoads
- Coordinate and guide multidisciplinary project teams across multiple offices and subconsultants
- Review plans, reports, and proposals to ensure accuracy, compliance, and quality standards
- Conduct QA/QC reviews and resolve technical challenges as projects progress
- Build and maintain strong client relationships, supporting client satisfaction and long‑term partnerships
- Support proposal development and help position teams for future work opportunities
- Mentor and support staff development while fostering a collaborative team environment
- Coordinate with regulatory agencies and clients to successfully advance project approvals
- Travel occasionally to support project and client needs
What You Need to Succeed:
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering
- Professional Engineer (PE) license in Illinois, or ability to obtain within four months of hire
- 15+ years of transportation experience, with proven success managing complex highway projects
- Experience delivering IDOT, Illinois Tollway, and Illinois Local Agency projects strongly preferred
- Strong project management skills, including scope, budget, and schedule control
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage change, and solve complex technical challenges
- Strong communication and relationship‑building skills with clients and internal teams
- Proficiency with MicroStation/OpenRoads, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, Bluebeam, and ProjectWise
- Additional certifications such as PMP or PTOE are a plus, but not required
COMPENSATION
The approximate compensation range for this position is $115,478 to $187,000. This compensation range is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation is dependent upon factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and physical work location.
Why Choose Us:
- Medical, dental, vision insurance
- 401k Retirement Plan
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability
- Professional and personal development
- Generous paid time off
- Commuter and wellness benefits
#LI-MM1 #LI-HYBRID
About UsMichael Baker International, a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management, has been solving some of the world’s most complex infrastructure challenges for more than 85 years with a legacy of expertise, experience, innovation and integrity.Based in Pittsburgh and with over 100 offices nationwide, we partner with clients on everything from roads, bridges, tunnels, mass transit, and airports, to water treatment plants, arctic oil pipelines, environmental restoration and specialized overseas construction. We serve as a trusted adviser to the communities we serve, making them safer, more accessible, more sustainable and more prosperous.
We provide visionary leadership in facilitating transformational change for our clients. Our work delivers differentiating innovations and dedicated experts who challenge the status quo and share a world of diverse experience and an impassioned entrepreneurial spirit. We deliver quality of life.
We Make a Difference.
Michael Baker International is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Michael Baker International provides equal employment opportunity for all persons, in all facets of employment. Michael Baker International maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for any open position for which they feel they are qualified and all will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, familial status, pregnancy or childbirth, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, or membership or activity in a local human rights commission, or any other legally protected status.
EEO is the Law. Applicants to and employees of Michael Baker International are protected under Federal law from discrimination.
*It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
*There is no current application deadline. Michael Baker will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled or no longer needed.
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