Operations Program Manager Jobs in Plano, IL (NOW HIRING)

Be involved in projects with our Illinois Tollway General Engineering Consultant (GEC) Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client's objectives and solves their challenges. 

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WSP is initiating a search for a Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Program Manager to lead and oversee the planning, design, construction, and life-cycle management of technology and operational assets for the Illinois Tollway. This role serves as the primary technical and strategic lead for the TSMO program, driving innovation while ensuring consistency with Illinois Tollway standards, manuals, and best practices.

The TSMO Program Manager will work closely with Illinois Tollway staff, designers, construction teams, and operations and maintenance stakeholders to ensure assets are planned, delivered, and managed through a full life-cycle lens. This includes oversight of standards development, design reviews, construction walk-throughs, asset replacement planning, inventory development, inspections, and condition assessment.

This position requires a blend of technical depth, program leadership, staff management, and strategic coordination, with the opportunity to influence how transportation technology assets are delivered and sustained across the Tollway system.

Program and Professional Leadership

• Serve as the TSMO Program Manager for the Illinois Tollway GEC.
• Provide strategic leadership across ITS, Tolling, Optical Fiber, Roadway Lighting, and related technology and operational assets.
• Act as a trusted advisor to Illinois Tollway staff on innovation, technology evolution, and asset life-cycle management.
• Coordinate across planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance to ensure integrated delivery of TSMO assets.
• Set program and task-level goals aligned with Illinois Tollway objectives.
• Plan and organize work efforts, staffing, schedules, and resources.
• Monitor workloads, task tracking, and overall performance.
• Mentor staff in both technical and professional development.

Design and Construction Oversight

• Lead the review of design submittals prepared by consultants to ensure compliance with Illinois Tollway standards, specifications, and manuals.
• Identify gaps, conflicts, or outdated guidance within existing standards and manuals.
• Lead or support updates to Illinois Tollway standards, manuals, specifications, and design guidance for TSMO-related assets.
• Provide construction support for RFI's and material substitutions 
• Ensure lessons learned from design, construction, and operations are incorporated back into standards and practices.
• Oversee construction walk-throughs for TSMO assets to validate constructability, compliance, and long-term maintainability.
• Support planning and sequencing of asset replacements and upgrades.

Life-Cycle Asset Management

• Oversee the full life cycle of TSMO assets, including:
  • Planning and needs assessment
  • Design and systems engineering
  • Construction coordination and walk-throughs
  • Inventory development and asset data governance
  • Inspections and condition assessment
  • Asset replacement and capital planning
• Support development and refinement of asset inventories, condition rating methodologies, and inspection practices.
• Coordinate with asset management, maintenance, and operations teams to support State of Good Repair (SGR) objectives.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Participate in regular coordination meetings with Illinois Tollway management.
• Collaborate with designers, construction consultants, operations staff, and maintenance providers.
• Coordinate with internal WSP subject matter experts and national resources to bring best practices and innovation to the program.

Required Qualifications

• Strong desire to bring innovative, practical solutions to transportation operations and technology challenges.
• Strong technical knowledge of ITS and Fiber designs
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical concepts clearly.
• Self-starter with the ability to proactively identify issues and drive solutions.
• Ability to work effectively across multi-disciplinary teams and multiple stakeholders.
• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Network Engineering, or a related field from an accredited university.
• Minimum of ten (10+) years of experience in transportation technology, TSMO, ITS, Tolling, Fiber, or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience with planning, design, and implementation of ITS or transportation technology systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of Illinois Tollway standards, specifications, and plan preparation manuals.
• Experience working directly with the Illinois Tollway, IDOT, or similar toll agencies.
• Understanding of connected and automated vehicle technologies and their operational implications.

WSP Benefits: 

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee's career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.  

Compensation: 

Expected Salary: $110,700 - $188,200

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant's sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

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