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Mott MacDonald · 1 day ago

Principal Project Manager

San Diego, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Lead/Staff

15+ years exp

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy committed to delivering impactful work that shapes the future. As a Principal Project Manager, you will lead complex, multi-disciplinary programs and projects from strategy through delivery, ensuring client satisfaction and project success.

ConsultingDeveloper PlatformProfessional ServicesSoftware

Growth Opportunities

Responsibilities

Define and secure agreement on project vision, objectives, success criteria, and benefits; establish effective governance and decision‑making structures

Lead multi‑disciplinary internal teams and external supply chains; set expectations on safety, quality, ethics, and performance

Chair key project boards/meetings; provide accurate, timely reporting and escalation

Own end‑to‑end delivery (initiation to close‑out): scope definition, WBS, schedule, cost baseline, resourcing, risk/issue/change control, and quality assurance

Apply stage‑gate controls and delivery frameworks (e.g., PMBoK/PRINCE2/Agile/NEC/P3M)

Drive proactive risk management, value engineering, and benefits tracking

Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and cashflow; ensure profitability and commercial compliance

Lead procurement strategies and contract administration (e.g., NEC, FIDIC, JCT, bespoke)

Negotiate with clients and suppliers; manage variations, claims, and disputes constructively

Build strong, trusted relationships with client sponsors and senior stakeholders; act as the primary point of accountability

Develop and deliver client engagement and communications plans; manage statutory, community, and third‑party interfaces

Serve as client account leader for key clients and support other staff with client account management

Represent Mott MacDonald in local industry organizations and events

Evaluate local and regional sales strategy and oversee execution. Develop a local sales plan to increase Greater San Diego Area client and project base across markets

Validate pipeline of capture opportunities and oversee decision-to-pursue and decision-to-bid activities

Lead relationship development with clients in the local market

Manage pursuit budgets and effective capture delivery

Integrate design, construction, digital delivery (e.g., BIM, common data environments), and systems engineering as appropriate

Promote data‑driven decision making, dashboards, and project analytics

Serve as office principal in Mott MacDonald’s San Diego office. Mentor, coach, and line‑manage project managers and coordinators; build succession and capability

Contribute to bids, proposals, and thought leadership; support key account growth

Champion a safety‑first culture and right‑first‑time quality

Embed sustainability, resilience, carbon reduction, and social value objectives in delivery

Qualification

PMP CertificationCommercial ManagementStakeholder EngagementProject ManagementDigital FluencyRisk ManagementStrategic ThinkingTeam DevelopmentReport WritingLeadershipCommunication SkillsAdaptabilityPresentation Skills

Required

Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, project management, or related discipline (Master's preferred)

15+ years of progressive project/program management experience delivering complex, multi‑stakeholder capital projects (consultancy experience preferred)

Professional certification: PMP or equivalent

Demonstrable experience with one or more forms of contract and robust commercial management

Proven track record delivering within agreed scope, schedule, cost, and quality—while achieving high client satisfaction

Strategic thinker with excellent planning, governance, and risk leadership

Strong commercial acumen (budgeting, forecasting, margin management)

Confident communicator able to influence executive level; excellent report writing and presentation skills

Inclusive people leader—able to motivate, coach, and grow teams

Comfortable operating in matrix/global environments; adaptable and collaborative

Digital fluency (e.g., MS Project/Primavera P6, Power BI, BIM/CDEs, and collaboration platforms)

Sector expertise in [Transportation/Water/Energy/Buildings/Advisory] across the full asset lifecycle

Experience with alliance/integrated delivery models or major program PMOs

Experience leading bids and key account growth