Director, Rail Sector Lead - US

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries. Working with our clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people’s lives. Working in partnership makes it possible to deliver the world’s most impactful projects and programmes as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success.

Our capabilities include programme, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions.

We are majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with our partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with the premier programme, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.

The role of Rail Sector Lead is a senior leadership position responsible for growing our business and our reputation in the rail sector in the region with priority focus on the USA. This senior Director level role includes determining and delivering the regional business generation strategy and assuming the responsibility for generating new business, building our proposition, building teams and capacity to deliver. You will assume full responsibility for P&L, for the quality of our delivery and building client advocacy.

The key objectives of the role are to:

• Develop a national rail strategy that serves as the basis for developing the best approach for securing business development opportunities with existing and new clients, including cross selling opportunities, and generate new business.
• Be accountable for current rail commissions and performance.
• Take a leading role identifying and creating strategic alliances to secure routes to market.
• Effectively manage risk and maximize commercial returns.
• Develop a position for Turner & Townsend as a program partner within the marketplace.
• Influence clients at the board level through gravitas and experience.
• Access key decision makers within clients, regulatory bodies, and government.

The Rail Sector Lead has dual reporting lines – to the Regional Managing Director (RMD) and the Regional Infrastructure Lead (RIL).

Primary responsibilities

Strategic planning

• Advance the overall rail service offering through a well-articulated vision.
• Provide thought leadership at national and regional levels.
• Critical understanding and ability to comprehend internal strengths and weaknesses across the global practice.
• Lead the development of the annual strategic plan for the US rail market sector.
• Plan and coordinate national conference activities and events.

Business development and client account management

• Lead business development, while providing guidance to field offices to develop and execute targeted client capture plans.
• Serve as capture lead and/or sponsor on key strategic pursuits.
• Establish and prioritize key accounts at a national scale across the US market; survey industry and develop a prioritized list of growth areas.
• Guide the development of winning pursuits strategies and assist in reviewing client solicitations.
• Publish articles in key rail journals and/or presents at industry conferences as part of our brand recognition strategy.
• Key metrics include identification of new opportunities and successfully winning new opportunities.

Operational management

• Oversee team organization, including leadership, recruitment interviews, resource planning and deployment, staff competency development, and organizing mentoring and support.
• Oversee the planning, execution, and completion of large-scale rail projects and programs, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.
• Ensure that all projects adhere to the highest quality standards. Implement quality control processes and continuously monitor project performance to build trust and deliver excellence.
• Oversee the financial performance of projects, ensuring effective budget management and cost control. Provide regular financial reports and forecasts to senior management.
• Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure project success. Conduct regular risk assessments and implement measures to minimize impact.
• Stay updated with the latest industry standards, regulations, and best practices. Ensure all projects comply with relevant legal and regulatory requirements.

Leadership

• Guide, lead and build our team offering a strong point of focus for the business.
• Develop the respect of the team through track record and natural leadership qualities.
• Provide clear leadership on behalf of clients, translating into trust and confidence in Turner & Townsend’s brand and ability to deliver.
• Lead by example by being hands on in delivery and quality assurance.
• Be a team player influencing and working with other leaders and teams on cross national and regional initiatives and leverage best practice and knowledge.
• Lead national rail sector initiatives and working groups delivering the required outcomes on time and on budget.
• Develop succession plans and elevate talent.
• Contribute to boards, be visible and have high impact in the business.
• Be bold and ambitious building capability ahead of the game.

• A background in one of Turner & Townsend’s key service lines – program management, project management, cost management, or project controls.
• Hold relevant certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP) for project management, Professional Engineer (PE) for engineering, and Certified Cost Professional (CCP) for cost management, or equivalent in relevant discipline.
• Demonstrated recognition within the industry through awards, certifications, and professional memberships, showcasing expertise and commitment to excellence.
• Capability to establish and maintain trust with clients and team members through transparency, reliability, and consistent performance.
• Competence in successfully leading large and diverse teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture. The ability to mentor and develop team members aligns with the leadership requirements of this role.
• Ability to develop and implement business strategies, with a focus on driving growth and profitability. Strong analytical skills and the ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Proficiency in communicating effectively with clients, team members, and stakeholders. Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to efficiently assigning tasks to team members, managing time effectively, and prioritizing tasks to ensure that project milestones are met, and objectives are achieved.

Turner & Townsend carefully considers multiple factors to determine compensation, including a candidate’s education, training, and experience. The minimum salary for the Director, Rail Sector Lead position is $200,000 annually and the maximum salary for the Director, Rail Sector Lead position is $300,000 annually. The compensation that is offered to a successful candidate will depend on the candidate’s skills, qualifications, and experience.

Turner & Townsend is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you’d like to view a copy of the company’s affirmative action plan, please email [email protected]. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact the Human Resources Department at 713-457-9400 or [email protected]. This telephone line and email address is reserved solely for job seekers with disabilities requesting accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Please do not call about the status of your job application if you do not require accessibility assistance or an accommodation. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or non-disability related technical issues, will not receive a response.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time. 

Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review. 

Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects: 

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time. 

Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.