Senior Principal Engineer

About the Role

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey is seeking an experienced and highly skilled Senior Principal Engineer to lead the Engineering Department's consultant services programs. This position plays a critical role in the planning, administration, and delivery of professional services programs that support the Agency's Capital Plan, Engineering operations, and other strategic initiatives. This position is Band (NRY) 4, within the Operations Division, located at 2 Montgomery St, Jersey City, NJ.

This is a critical leadership position within the Engineering Operations Division of the Engineering Department. Reporting to the Program Director, Professional Services Unit, the Program Manager will oversee the day-to-day administration and delivery of the Engineering Department's federal and non-federal consultant services programs.

The Senior Project Engineer will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for managing consultant service agreements and task order programs that provide engineering support across all Engineering divisions. These programs are essential to delivering the Agency's Capital Plan, supporting Engineering operations, and advancing other high-priority initiatives.

The successful candidate will serve as the Engineering Department's subject matter expert for consultant services program administration and task order workflows, ensuring consistency, compliance, and operational excellence throughout the procurement and program lifecycle. The Senior Project Engineer will also support program strategy, procurement planning, budget oversight, and compliance with authorized program funding, agreement limitations, and task order requirements.

Responsibilities

Agreement and Contract Administration

• Lead the administration of consultant services agreements and task order programs from solicitation through award and contract execution.
• Ensure compliance with Agency policies, authorized program amounts, agreement limitations, procurement requirements, and funding restrictions.
• Review and coordinate agreements, award letters, purchase orders, amendments, and related contract documents.
• Resolve complex contractual and administrative issues while ensuring consistency across Engineering programs.
• Support the development and revision of consultant services program authorization documents.

B2GNow Compliance and Reporting

• Oversee compliance with MWBE, SDVOB, and other Agency participation requirements using B2GNow and related systems.
• Monitor consultant compliance and reporting requirements throughout the program lifecycle.
• Develop reports and performance metrics for executive management and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of program data across multiple business systems.

Cross-Functional Support & Process Improvement

• Serve as the Engineering Department's subject matter expert for consultant services program workflows and business processes.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Procurement, Legal, Finance, and other stakeholders to ensure efficient program delivery.
• Identify opportunities to improve policies, procedures, workflows, and system utilization.
• Troubleshoot issues involving consultant agreements, SAP, AVM, ERP systems, purchase orders, and related business processes.
• Support strategic planning and implementation of new consultant services initiatives.

Team Leadership and Collaboration with Procurement Department

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team responsible for the administration of consultant services programs.
• Foster collaboration across Engineering divisions and the Procurement Department to ensure timely and compliant procurements.
• Establish priorities, manage workload distribution, and promote continuous improvement within the team.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with consultant firms, internal stakeholders, and executive leadership.
• Represent the Professional Services Unit in meetings, presentations, and cross-functional initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Public Administration, Construction Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in contract procurement and administration, project/program management, or a closely related field.
• Experience managing projects, contracts, or consultant service agreements valued at $1 million or greater.
• Experience working with enterprise business systems such as SAP, AVM, ERP, or similar contract and financial management systems.
• Demonstrated knowledge of procurement, contract administration, and consultant services program management.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to independently manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with employees at all organizational levels, including executive leadership.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to remain composed under pressure while managing changing priorities and deadlines.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience administering task order-based professional services programs for public agencies or large infrastructure organizations.
• Experience managing federal and federally funded consultant contracts, including compliance with applicable regulations.
• Supervisory or leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of Port Authority procurement regulations, consultant selection processes, and contract negotiation.
• Experience with B2GNow or similar supplier diversity compliance systems.
• Experience developing executive-level reports, dashboards, and performance metrics.
• Experience leading business process improvements and implementing operational efficiencies.
• Professional certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Construction Manager (CCM), Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM), or similar credentials.

Selection Process

The application process varies by position, but typically includes an initial phone interview for qualified candidates, followed by a more in-depth interview(s) and/or assessment(s). Selected candidates who are made a conditional job offer will be asked to undergo a background check.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey offers a competitive benefits package and a professional environment that supports development and recognizes achievement.​ Click here for more information about benefits, our culture, and career development opportunities.​

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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey anticipates that the actual salary offered to a successful candidate will depend on aspects such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and internal factors. The expected compensation range for this role is:​

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Minimum: $135,018 Midpoint: $175,530 Maximum: $216,034

In accordance with Port Authority policy, this position permits employees to work remotely a maximum of one day per week, subject to operational and business needs.