Junior Operations Manager Jobs in Kansas (NOW HIRING)

Simply Put, A Great Place to Work
Benesch is a growing, multi-disciplined planning, engineering, and professional services firm. We enhance infrastructure and communities across the country - creating spaces and providing connections in ways that make a difference.
We pride ourselves on being nimble enough to remain responsive to client needs yet large enough to offer exceptional bench strength. As a member of our team, you'll have an opportunity to draw from those resources when you need them and, likewise, contribute your expertise when you have something to share.
At Benesch, we are looking for candidates with varied backgrounds and worldviews. We are committed to offering an inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Statistics show that women and underrepresented groups are less likely to apply for a position if they don't meet 100% of the qualifications. If this statement resonates with you, don't be so hard on yourself-apply for the job!
Roadway Project Manager
Our Kansas Division is seeking to hire a Project Manager. This is an experienced position involving exciting, challenging, and complex assignments with opportunities for growth. The ideal candidate will have strong project management skills and will have experience in design of roadways, highways, and interstates. On our team, you will have the opportunity to work on various infrastructure projects for State DOT's, local municipalities and private clients. You will work on roadways, driveways, sidewalks, greenways, parks, multimodal improvements, and bridge replacement projects. You will regularly interact and coordinate designs efforts with the hydraulic, traffic, structures, environmental and other disciplines to develop turnkey projects.
Location
This position will have a hybrid work schedule and, when in the office, will work from any of our Kansas/Missouri offices. This includes Kansas City, KS, Topeka, KS, Wichita, KS, Manhattan, KS, Lenexa, KS, or Kansas City, MO.
Key Projects Across Kansas and Missouri
Our Kansas Division leads the management of complex roadway projects, ensuring effective execution, compliance, and quality outcomes.

• K-27 Corridor Improvements - A major corridor modernization project to reconstruct approximately nine miles of K-27 on a new westward alignment, enhancing safety with a flatter profile, improved intersection sight distances, and paved shoulders between the Smoky Hill River and Zig-Zag Road. This work supports improved roadway performance, increased reliability, and long-term operational efficiency on a key rural arterial route.
• US-24 Corridor Management Plan - A comprehensive update to the US-24 Corridor Management Plan that reassesses land use, access management, and transportation needs across an expanded corridor segment to guide investment and safety improvements over the next 20 years. The study will evaluate existing planning documents, forecast growth trends, and recommend multimodal mobility and safety strategies to support future development and traffic operations.
• MoDOT Southwest District STIP Planning - Support planning and coordination of the Missouri Department of Transportation's Southwest District elements of the 2025-2029 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), including scoping, design prioritization, and advancement of highway and bridge projects that align funding, program goals, and regional needs ahead of the FY 2026-2030 cycle. The work contributes to defining project schedules, budgets, and technical scopes for delivery across the district's multimodal network.
• Marlatt Avenue Improvements - A collaborative roadway enhancement project to widen and reconstruct Marlatt Avenue on the north side of Manhattan, KS, improving traffic flow, safety, and multimodal connectivity while supporting access to local destinations and planned community growth. The improvements include updated pavement sections, upgraded intersections, and enhancements for pedestrians and cyclists along this key corridor.
• KDOT K-32 & 4th Street Improvements - A corridor enhancement effort focused on modernizing the K-32 and 4th Street intersection and adjoining segments to improve traffic operations, multimodal connectivity, and safety along this key regional thoroughfare connecting Bonner Springs and Edwardsville. The work supports operational reliability and better integration with local street networks in this growing area.

The Impact You Will Have

• Serving as a project manager on transportation (state and municipal highway/roadway) projects
• Managing project teams, including budgets and schedules
• Mentoring junior staff
• Contributing to Kansas and regional strategic growth initiatives
• Champion relationships with key clients, including DOT, County and Municipal Clients
• Representing Benesch at industry and professional engagement events
• Identifying opportunities and leading strategic project pursuits
• Leading and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams
• Present findings thorough written and verbal communications skills, including public speaking at information meetings, client meetings, and interviews
• Participate in Business Development and Marketing, including networking, preparation of SOQs, proposals, and contracts
• Research local/state regulations as they pertain to transit agency planning and other requirements
• Preparing and assisting with grant applications

What You Will Need

• B.S. Degree in Engineering, or related, and Professional Engineering License are required
• Excellent communication, strong written, oral, and client relation skills, experience interacting with clients, agencies, and other project stakeholders
• Experience in making presentations before elected officials and advisory boards, attending conferences, and participating in interviews
• Strong organization and leadership skills
• Prepare technical analysis within a variety of specialist areas such as transit plans, transit operational analyses, multimodal subarea/corridor studies, modal compliance, transit grants management, and special transit studies, among others
• Experienced in Project Management, including cost control, project budget control, and quality assurance/quality control
• Direct and manage the budgeting and execution of projects including the supervision of assigned staff and subcontractors
• Ability to work independently and develop task deliverables in a complete and reviewable manner
• Experienced in the public bidding process

Why Benesch
It's simple. We invest in our people, not just our projects.

• Career growth that's real with leadership development, training, and clear paths forward
• Strong financial future with up to 9% retirement contribution for benefit-eligible employees
• Flexibility that works with schedules that support your life
• Time to recharge with generous paid time off and parental leave for benefit-eligible employees
• Support beyond work through mentorship, hands-on experience, and opportunities to make an impact from day one

Whether you're starting your career or bringing years of experience, you'll have the support and exposure to grow here.
Explore our full benefits here: Click here
Equal Opportunity & Accessibility
At Benesch, we believe great work starts with great people and that means creating a workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Benesch is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants in all protected groups, including veterans and individuals with disabilities, or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.
Benesch is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with a physical disability or other impairment.
If you are limited in your ability or are unable to access Benesch's Careers website due to a physical disability or other impairment, you may request a reasonable accommodation by emailing TalentAcquisition@benesch.com. This option is only available to those in need of an accommodation due to a disability or other impairment. Please do not use this as an alternative method for general inquiries or status on applications, as you will not receive a response. Reasonable requests will be responded to as soon as possible on a case-by-case basis.
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We will be accepting applications on an ongoing basis until a candidate is found.
External Recruiters and Staffing Agencies
Benesch shall have no obligation to compensate any external recruiter or search firm for candidate submissions made without a valid, current, and fully executed agreement. Submission of candidate information does not establish entitlement to a fee.
All recruiting activity must be coordinated and authorized through the Benesch Talent Acquisition team. Please direct all communications to TalentAcquisition@Benesch.com