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Program Director Jobs in Wilmette, IL (NOW HIRING)

Alliant Human Capital

Director of Programs

Chicago, IL · On-site

$85K - $90K/yr

Director of Program Services Reports To: Executive Director Employment Type: Full-Time Location: Chicago, IL Organization Background: The Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR) mission is:

FutureSense LLC

Director of Programs

Chicago, IL · On-site

$85K - $90K/yr

Director of Program Services Reports To: Executive Director Employment Type: Full-Time Location: Chicago, IL Organization Background: The Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR) mission is:

Outreach

Older Adults Program Director

Carol Stream, IL · On-site

$68K - $72K/yr

Outreach is hiring a Full-time Older Adults Program Director (with clinical licensure) at Outreach Carol Stream to serve as the clinical lead for senior services, providing direct clinical care ...

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All JobsProgram JobsProgram Director JobsProgram Director Jobs in Wilmette, IL

Program Director information

See Wilmette, IL salary details

$28K

$74.3K

$130.1K

How much do program director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for program director in Wilmette, IL is $74,264.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $50,300.00 and $87,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges program directors face when overseeing multiple projects or initiatives?

Program Directors often encounter the challenge of balancing competing priorities across several projects, while ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic goals. Managing diverse teams, coordinating resources, and addressing unexpected obstacles—such as shifting stakeholder requirements or budget constraints—are common aspects of the role. Effective communication, adaptability, and strong organizational skills are essential for navigating these complexities and ensuring successful program delivery. Collaboration with senior leadership and cross-functional teams is also crucial for resolving issues promptly and maintaining program momentum.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a program director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Program Director, you need strong leadership, project management, and strategic planning skills, usually supported by a relevant degree and several years of management experience. Experience with budgeting software, project management tools like Asana or MS Project, and familiarity with compliance standards are often necessary. Exceptional communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution abilities are critical soft skills that set top Program Directors apart. These skills are crucial for aligning teams, driving program success, and ensuring organizational goals are consistently met.

What is a program director?

A program director is an upper-management position found within organizations across almost all industries. Your primary job duties include coordinating, implementing, and overseeing all details of a company’s operation and programs. You monitor the budget, create community programs, supervise other managers, and develop better business practices. The exact job duties vary widely depending on industry and employer. Some program directors oversee the entire organization while others oversee specific departments. Though almost all industries utilize program directors, the two most commonly seen are business and healthcare.

What is the difference between Program Director vs Project Manager?

AspectProgram DirectorProject Manager
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor’s degree; often prefers PMP or similar certificationsRequires a bachelor’s degree; PMP or CAPM certifications are common
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple projects within a program, strategic focusManages individual projects, tactical focus
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in nonprofits, corporate, government sectors for large initiativesCommon across industries for specific project execution

The Program Director focuses on overseeing multiple related projects to achieve strategic goals, while the Project Manager handles the planning and execution of a single project. Both roles require similar credentials but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What degree do you need to be a program director?

A program director typically needs at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as business, management, or a specific industry-related area. Many roles also prefer or require a master's degree or higher, along with experience in leadership, project management, or the specific sector they oversee.
More about Program Director jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Program jobs in Wilmette, IL?

The most popular types of Program jobs in Wilmette, IL are:

What job categories do people searching Program Director jobs in Wilmette, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Program Director jobs in Wilmette, IL are:

What cities near Wilmette, IL are hiring for Program Director jobs?

Cities near Wilmette, IL with the most Program Director job openings:

Program Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Program Director job openings in Wilmette, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $74,264 per year, or $35.7 per hour.

Program Director, Transportation Infrastructure

Parsons Corporation

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 23 days ago

Parsons rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 46 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

263rd of 449 rated engineering

Job description

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next!
At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what's possible.
Job Description:
Parsons is seeking a highly experienced Program Director - Transportation Infrastructure to help lead, grow, and deliver major transportation programs and pursuits across the Midwest and broader U.S. market. This role is ideal for a senior transportation leader with deep public-sector infrastructure experience, strong executive presence, and the ability to connect client priorities, project delivery strategy, pursuit positioning, and successful program execution.
The successful candidate will support major road, highway, bridge, urban corridor, multimodal, tolling, and transportation infrastructure programs for state DOTs, toll agencies, municipalities, regional agencies, and other public-sector clients. This position will play a key role in strengthening client relationships, shaping pursuit strategies, advising on delivery approaches, and helping Parsons continue to expand its transportation infrastructure portfolio.
This is a highly visible leadership position for an individual who understands how major public infrastructure programs are planned, funded, procured, delivered, and evaluated. The ideal candidate will bring a combination of technical fluency, market credibility, client trust, commercial awareness, and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams through complex transportation challenges.
Hybrid or remote work options may be available, with travel required for client meetings, industry events, pursuits, and project assignments.
What You'll Be Doing
  • Lead and support major transportation infrastructure programs, projects, and pursuits for public-sector clients.
  • Serve as a senior client-facing leader with state DOTs, toll agencies, municipalities, regional transportation agencies, and other infrastructure owners.
  • Help identify, position, and capture new transportation opportunities before and during formal procurement.
  • Translate client goals, evaluation criteria, funding priorities, and delivery constraints into winning pursuit strategies and executable project approaches.
  • Advise on delivery strategy, project packaging, risk allocation, procurement approach, phasing, stakeholder considerations, and market readiness.
  • Manage or support large-scale transportation programs involving planning, preliminary engineering, final design, environmental coordination, construction support, program management, and/or owner advisory services.
  • Lead multidisciplinary teams across roadway, bridge, traffic, drainage, environmental, structures, utilities, right-of-way, construction, project controls, and specialty technical disciplines.
  • Develop and review scopes of work, budgets, schedules, staffing plans, quality plans, risk registers, and project execution strategies.
  • Monitor project performance, financial progress, schedule status, resource needs, and client satisfaction.
  • Collaborate with operations, business development, proposal, estimating, legal, risk, and technical leadership to advance strategic pursuits.
  • Represent Parsons in client meetings, industry forums, partner discussions, stakeholder briefings, and pursuit interviews.
  • Support growth of Parsons' transportation practice by mentoring staff, strengthening delivery teams, identifying new market opportunities, and helping align resources with client needs.
  • Promote technical excellence, quality, innovation, safety, sustainability, resiliency, and commercial discipline across transportation assignments.

What Required Skills You'll Bring
  • Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Construction Management, Planning, Public Administration, Business, or a related technical or management field.
  • 20+ years of progressive experience in transportation infrastructure, engineering, program management, public-sector capital delivery, alternative project delivery or related consulting services.
  • Demonstrated experience leading or advising on major road, highway, bridge, urban corridor, multimodal, tolling, or transportation infrastructure programs.
  • Strong understanding of public-sector project development, procurement, funding, stakeholder coordination, risk management, and capital program execution.
  • Proven ability to work effectively with state DOTs, toll agencies, municipalities, regional agencies, contractors, engineering consultants, and industry partners.
  • Experience developing or supporting pursuit strategies, statements of qualifications, proposals, interviews, teaming strategies, and client capture plans.
  • Ability to evaluate client priorities and translate them into clear technical, commercial, and delivery strategies.
  • Strong leadership skills with experience managing multidisciplinary teams, coordinating across offices, and mobilizing resources to meet project and pursuit needs.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
  • Strong business and commercial acumen, including awareness of scope, schedule, budget, risk, profitability, and client value.
  • Professional Engineer registration is preferred, or the ability to demonstrate equivalent executive-level transportation infrastructure leadership experience.

What Desired Skills You'll Bring
  • Experience working with or for a public transportation owner, state DOT, toll agency, or major infrastructure program.
  • Experience shaping or advising on transportation procurement strategies, project packaging, delivery models, risk allocation, or industry engagement.
  • Familiarity with a range of delivery methods, including design-bid-build, program management, construction management, CM/GC, progressive delivery, P3, and design-build, with emphasis on selecting the right delivery approach for the client and project.
  • Ability to identify early-stage opportunities and position Parsons before formal RFQ/RFP release.
  • Experience working with executive leadership, elected officials, agency staff, industry associations, contractors, consultants, and public stakeholders.
  • Background in major urban corridors, complex interchanges, multimodal transportation, waterfront or constrained corridors, large capital programs, or high-visibility public infrastructure initiatives.
  • A practical, hands-on leadership style with the ability to operate as a seller-doer, trusted advisor, strategist, and project leader.
  • Ability to mentor emerging leaders and help grow a high-performing transportation practice.

Security Clearance Requirement:
None
This position is part of our Critical Infrastructure team.
For more than 80 years, our experts have designed and delivered the critical infrastructure that connects and protects communities around the world. We work in collaborative teams, both within the company and with our partners and customers, to plan, design, build, and modernize infrastructure. We take special pride in projects and solutions that improve communities as well as people's quality of life by promoting economic growth, enhancing mobility, and increasing sustainability and resiliency. Powered by our people, we provide the imagination necessary to support our customers' visions-and to help them see what's next!
Salary Range: $148,300.00 - $266,900.00
We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!
This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will continue to be posted for an average of 30 days until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.
Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.
We truly invest and care about our employee's wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest-APPLY TODAY!
Parsons is aware of fraudulent recruitment practices. To learn more about recruitment fraud and how to report it, please refer to https://www.parsons.com/fraudulent-recruitment/.

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