Technical Director, Transportation

The Technical Director leads the strategic direction, growth, technical excellence, and organizational performance of a Practice Area by establishing standards, developing capabilities, building technical leadership, and ensuring the consistent delivery of exceptional client outcomes. Serves as the primary steward of Practice Area quality, innovation, profitability, and technical reputation while aligning technical expertise with business objectives and market opportunities.

This role contributes to both Growth and Technical Excellence by connecting market opportunities, client needs, technical expertise, innovation, and organizational capabilities. The role is designed to flex across both pillars, with the level of emphasis varying according to business priorities, strategic initiatives, and organizational objectives, ensuring the greatest impact on client outcomes and firm performance.

Technical Excellence

• Owns the technical direction, quality, performance, and capability development of the Practice by establishing standards, methodologies, governance frameworks, and quality expectations that ensure consistent delivery of exceptional client outcomes.
• Serves as the technical escalation point for complex, high-risk, high-value, and strategically significant engagements, providing oversight, guidance, and technical decision-making.
• Leads technical governance, quality assurance, peer review, audit, risk-management, and continuous-improvement initiatives that strengthen technical performance and reduce organizational risk.
• Drives innovation, capability development, and technical differentiation by identifying capability gaps, advancing best practices, sponsoring thought leadership, and guiding investments in new services, technologies, and methodologies.
• Monitors industry trends, regulatory developments, emerging technologies, and client needs to ensure the Practice remains technically relevant, competitive, and positioned for future success.
• Develops organizational technical capability by strengthening expertise, promoting knowledge sharing, reinforcing professional standards, and ensuring technical resources support both current and future business demands.

Growth

• Partners closely with Growth, Commercial, and People & Delivery leaders to develop and execute the Practice Area growth strategy, aligning technical capabilities, market opportunities, workforce investments, and client needs with long-term business objectives.
• Builds and maintains strategic relationships with clients, industry partners, and key stakeholders, working collaboratively with Growth and Commercial teams to expand market presence, strengthen client engagement, and increase adoption of the organization's services and expertise.
• Collaborates across Growth, Commercial, and People & Delivery functions to identify and pursue new market opportunities, service offerings, and growth initiatives that support client needs, organizational priorities, and sustainable business growth.
• Serves as a technical partner on strategic pursuits, account expansion efforts, and integrated client solutions, ensuring technical expertise, delivery capabilities, commercial strategy, and workforce capacity are aligned to maximize client value and business outcomes.
• Supports the development, positioning, and commercialization of new capabilities, methodologies, and technical solutions in partnership with Growth, Commercial, and People & Delivery leaders to strengthen market differentiation, organizational capability, and revenue growth opportunities.
• Evaluates growth opportunities, market investments, resource requirements, and capability-development priorities in collaboration with Growth, Commercial, and People & Delivery leadership, ensuring decisions balance technical excellence, client needs, talent capacity, profitability objectives, and long-term Practice success.

People & Delivery

• Leads and develops Technical Managers and technical professionals by establishing performance expectations, mentoring future leaders, and fostering accountability for technical quality, professional growth, and business results.
• Partners with Regional, Growth, Commercial, and People & Delivery leaders to align staffing strategies, workforce planning, technical capabilities, and organizational resources with client demands and strategic priorities.
• Supports recruiting, succession planning, leadership development, and talent-management initiatives that strengthen technical expertise, leadership capacity, and long-term organizational sustainability.
• Promotes effective communication, collaboration, and alignment across Technical Excellence, Growth, Commercial, and operational functions to improve decision-making, execution, and client outcomes.
• Supports project delivery teams in addressing escalated technical, operational, resource, and client challenges while balancing quality, risk management, profitability, and client satisfaction.
• Fosters a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, continuous learning, inclusion, professionalism, and client service while serving as a role model for leadership, integrity, and organizational values.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates advanced technical expertise, strategic thinking, and sound professional judgment, with the ability to establish technical direction, evaluate complex technical and business challenges, assess risk, and make decisions that support long-term organizational success.
• Proven ability to lead technical excellence through governance, quality management, and capability development, including establishing standards, methodologies, quality expectations, and continuous-improvement initiatives across diverse teams and regions.
• Demonstrates strong business acumen and the ability to align technical capabilities with client needs, market opportunities, commercial objectives, operational priorities, and overall organizational strategy.
• Demonstrates exceptional leadership, talent-development, and stakeholder-management capabilities, with the ability to mentor Technical Managers, build leadership bench strength, influence organizational direction, and foster collaboration across technical, commercial, operational, and executive teams.
• Demonstrates strong communication, relationship-building, and organizational awareness, with the ability to build consensus, influence decisions, navigate complex matrixed environments, and effectively represent the organization with clients, industry groups, and professional communities.
• Demonstrates innovation, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement, with the ability to identify emerging trends, evaluate future capability needs, strengthen service offerings, drive organizational performance, and uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, accountability, and technical excellence.

Required Experience, Education, and Certifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred, along with applicable professional licensure, registration, or discipline-specific certifications.
• Minimum of 12-15 years of progressive experience in consulting, engineering, scientific, architectural, forensic, construction, or related technical disciplines, including leadership responsibility for complex technical organizations, practices, programs, or service areas.
• Recognized technical expertise and industry credibility, with significant experience establishing and governing technical standards, methodologies, quality programs, and professional practice requirements.
• Proven success developing technical capabilities, leading innovation initiatives, strengthening organizational performance, and driving strategic growth within a professional-services environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical leaders, build high-performing teams, influence executive stakeholders, and effectively operate within a matrixed organization.
• Strong understanding of business operations, financial performance, resource planning, and client engagement, with experience supporting strategic pursuits, executive-level client relationships, and continuous improvement initiatives that advance technical excellence and organizational success.

At Rimkus, we value a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued and respected. We are committed to creating a work environment that supports and celebrates the unique perspectives and experiences of all employees. If you share our commitment to diversity and inclusivity and are excited about joining a welcoming and supportive team, we encourage you to apply for our open positions.

Rimkus is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and will make all employment-related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. 

THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A CONTRACT FOR EMPLOYMENT OR A GUARANTEE OF CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT.

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Work From Home