Principal Consultant - Transportation

Company description

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. 

As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.

Our diverse teams of experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.

We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport. 

Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.

PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life

Job description

We are seeking a commercially sharp, strategically minded Principal Consultant to join and strengthen our Transportation practice. Equivalent to a Director, this role sits at the intersection of client engagement, business development, and delivery excellence helping public and private transportation clients navigate their most complex operational, financial, and strategic challenges.

What You Will Do

Client Engagement

Build and sustain trusted relationships across transit authorities, toll agencies, DOTs,and mobility operators, helping clients navigate complex stakeholder environments define strategic priorities.

Financial & Commercial Advisory

Contribute to engagements spanning business cases, funding strategy, fare revenue modeling, P3 structuring, and capital program financial management for major infrastructure clients.

Operating Model Design

Advise clients on organizational restructuring, governance design, operating model transformation, and workforce strategy across complex multi-modal transport systems.

Business Development

Support and drive pipeline growth by contributing to pursuit strategy, authoring proposals, and representing the firm at industry forums, conferences, and with strategic partners.

Team & Practice Development

Coach and support consultants and managers, contribute to a high-performing team culture, and participate in practice capability building, hiring, and thought leadership.

Strategic & Policy Insight

Translate federal and state policy trends, funding mechanisms (IIJA, FTA, FHWA), and market dynamics into actionable strategies for clients and internal planning.

Qualifications

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in management consulting, public sector advisory, or a substantive role within a transportation authority or agency
• Experience building and managing client relationships at a senior level, including engagement with executive directors, C-suite, or senior public sector officials
• Experience contributing to and managing complex engagements with multidisciplinary teams — from project initiation through final deliverable Involvement in business development activities, including contributing to proposals, responding to RFPs, and supporting go-to-market efforts Financial acumen: experience with business case development, budget oversight, cost-benefit analysis, and value-for-money assessments
• Solid understanding of transportation operating models, including multimodal service delivery, fare systems, fleet management, and capital project governance
• Familiarity with public sector economics: funding structures, deficit management, ridership demand modelling, and public finance instruments
• Experience with organizational design, operating model transformation, or performance improvement in a transportation or infrastructure context

Skills & Subject Matter Expertise

• Financial modelling, scenario analysis, and investment appraisal for public infrastructure programs
• Operating model design: governance structures, organizational charts, RACI frameworks, workforce planning, and change management
• Transportation economics: demand forecasting, revenue optimization, subsidy analysis, and cost allocation methodologies
• Public-private partnership (P3) advisory, including procurement structure, risk allocation, and contract management
• Program management for capital delivery: schedule risk, funding management, and contractor oversight frameworks
• Knowledge of federal and state transportation funding mechanisms (IIJA, FTA programs, TIFIA, state revolving funds) Data-driven decision-making: comfort with performance metrics, KPIs, dashboards, and translating analysis into executive narratives
• Executive communication: ability to produce board-level briefings, strategy documents, and compelling presentations

Preferred Qualifications

• An advanced degree in business administration, public policy, finance, engineering, or a related field; an MBA is highly valued
• Prior experience within a transit authority, state DOT, or transportation agency, whether in an advisory, operational, or project role
• Active network within the US transportation industry  with transit authorities, toll agencies, federal agencies (FTA, FHWA), or industry bodies (APTA, IBTTA)
• Familiarity with technology-enabled transportation transformation: MaaS platforms, contactless fare collection, GTFS/data standards, or intelligent transportation systems
• Experience working in coalition or teaming arrangements with engineering, construction, or technology partners

Additional information

Hybrid working - our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week. However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment.

Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work.

Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We're focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self.

Find out more about Life at PA here.

We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief veteran status, or other by any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on recruitmentenquiries@paconsulting.com

In compliance with Colorado’s, New York & Massachusetts's Equal Pay Transparency Act, PA is required to provide a reasonable salary range for this role.  This salary range is specific to the State of Massachusetts and is commensurate with experience, market data, applicant skills, internal equity and/or degrees/certifications. 

Salary Range: Low: $159,200 - High: $212,300.

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