Program Coordinator

Summary

Join Benesch's expanding Railroad Team as a Program Coordinator! You will serve as a vital liaison between the railroad client, DOTs, municipalities, and other partners. Your primary responsibility is project administration oversight during preliminary engineering, ensuring projects meet client requirements and stay on schedule. You will coordinate with internal and external teams, manage stakeholder communication, and support the transition to the construction phase. This role requires a Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field, 3-5 years of relevant experience, and strong communication and organizational skills. Benesch offers a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, flexible work schedules, and professional development opportunities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s in engineering or a related field from an accredited program
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in project coordination, preferably within the railroad or transportation industry
• Knowledge of preliminary engineering processes, as well as permitting, regulatory compliance, and DOT coordination
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Proficiency in Project Management software (e.g., MS Project, Primavera, Quickbase) and Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines
• Understanding of budget management, financial tracking, and reporting in a project context

Responsibilities

• Lead the preliminary engineering review phase, working closely with Benesch engineering teams to ensure project design meets railroad standards and aligns with the objectives of our railroad clients
• Coordinate with internal and external teams to address design issues, permitting, utility conflicts, property issues & approvals, and environmental concerns during the review phase
• Act as the primary liaison with DOTs, municipalities, and other stakeholders, establishing a collaborative approach to project administration planning and execution
• Facilitate regular project meetings, updates, and communication channels with external agencies, ensuring all parties remain informed of project status and requirements
• Maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, providing timely responses to questions and coordinating reviews as needed
• Ensure a smooth transition of projects from the preliminary engineering review phase to the construction phase, working closely with the Project Managers to communicate all relevant details
• Supporting the Project Manager with administration needs, as well as providing updates to our rail client and other stakeholders on project progress
• Support budget preparation and tracking, assisting the Project Managers with cost control throughout the project
• Monitor expenditures during various phases of the project
• Ensure alignment between budget allocations and funding sources, coordinating with finance teams as needed
• Support quality assurance by ensuring design and construction standards meet railroad requirements and regulatory guidelines
• Assist in conducting periodic reviews to verify project adherence to quality and safety standards
• Maintain accurate records and documentation for each project, including preliminary engineering reports, meeting notes, regulatory filings, and stakeholder communications
• Provide regular reports to internal leadership and external stakeholders on project status, budget, and any regulatory or compliance updates
• Assist in the preparation of final project reports and closeout documentation upon project completion

Benefits

• Insurance
• Retirement plans
• Wellness programs
• Opportunities for management and leadership development at all levels, including executive coaching and leadership development for Team Leaders, Group Managers, Division Managers, and Executive Leaders
• Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses
• Ongoing professional development through resources like Red Vector, LinkedIn Learning, technical team meetings, knowledge-sharing training sessions
• Personalized training and career development plans with your manager
• Funding for training, committee work, professional organization memberships, and licenses/certifications
• Support for active participation in professional organizations to foster leadership and community engagement
• Access to valuable retirement planning tools, education, and individual meetings with plan advisors at no charge
• Potential for Benesch to contribute up to 9% of your gross compensation to your retirement plan (5% profit-sharing contribution to your 401(k) plan, regardless of your own contributions & 80% match on your contributions, up to a maximum company contribution of 4%)
• Flexible work schedules and hours, including work-from-home options (dependent on the role)
• Generous Paid Time Benefits (PTB) that increase with your career
• Immediate use of annual PTB; no accrual needed with the ability to bundle time-off plans for extended vacations or life events
• Ten days of paid parental leave for birth, adoption, or foster placement