Transportation Construction Engineering Lead

Finding the right fit:

Due to exciting growth, our transportation division is seeking a confident and motivated engineer with an entrepreneurial mind-set to take the lead in offering construction engineering services to new and existing clients in eastern Minnesota.

As the construction services lead, you’ll work alongside your colleagues in our St. Paul office and coordinate with staff located around the country to strategize, collaborate, and implement action plans promoting overall company growth.

Success will be defined by your ability to develop client relationships; identify, pursue, win and manage transportation related projects; make hiring recommendations as you grow this service-line; and be instrumental in the career development of your staff.

Join Ayres – a USA TODAY Top Workplace recognized in both 2025 and 2026 – where people-first leadership, collaboration, and professional growth create an environment where great teams do their best work.

On any given day, you’ll:

• Take the lead in successfully identifying, marketing, and winning transportation construction management projects from clients including MnDOT, Counties, municipalities, and private sector clients.
• Prepare and negotiate contract documents.
• Perform onsite construction management services.
• Manage clients.
• Manage projects overseeing the completion of all project work, ensuring that the work is produced on schedule, profitably, and in conformance with the quality standards of Ayres Associates and requirements of the contract.
• Build and maintain respectful working relationships with fellow employee owners and leaders within the company.
• Support and participate in the development and mentorship of staff.
• Be an active participant in monthly division meetings held with the vice president and fellow transportation employee owners.
• Asist with the design and plan production of transportation related projects by performing constructability reviews and performing other value-added tasks.
• Assist with the development of an annual business plan and budget with emphasis on growth, financial planning, capital purchases, marketing, and training initiatives associated with construction engineering.
• Actively engage in local, statewide, and/or national professional organizations.
• Participate in office-wide, social events.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with an emphasis in transportation.

• Registered Professional Engineer (PE) in the state of Minnesota (or ability to attain within 3 months).

• A minimum of 8 years of combined experience in the following:

• Sound transportation construction management skills.

• Proven business development expertise focused on identifying, pursuing, and winning projects.

• Managing and mentoring staff.

• Willingness to travel to other company locations on occasion.

• Willingness to travel to project locations outside of the Twin Cities area when necessary (overnight stays may be required depending upon the project location)

• A valid driver’s license with a good driving record.

Desired Skills and Experiences:

• A desire to build the Ayres Associates brand at professional meetings/conferences locally, statewide, and potentially nationally.
• Proven success in meeting goals and objectives of annual business plans and budgets, including revenue and profitability, staffing, backlog, billing, accounts receivable, ROI on capital purchases, and image development.
• Ability to think outside the box to generate creative ideas and inspire your team.
• Passion for representing Ayres Associates in a professional manner.
• Eagerness to cultivate a team environment where all staff members feel valued and supported and all ideas flow freely.
• Enthusiastic focus on business development, including client contact, marketing initiatives, and monitoring client and partner satisfaction.

Benefits of being part of the Ayres team:

• Health, dental, and vision Insurance.
• Short and long-term disability and life insurance.
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) and 401K with company match.
• PTO upon hire, paid holidays including two floating holidays, and a flexible work schedule.
• Professional development opportunities.

Please note, benefits vary depending on job status. To learn more about our great benefits, visit our website at https://www.ayresassociates.com/careers/the-ayres-advantage/

Our good-faith compensation approach is fair and equitable, and takes into consideration only permissible factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, training, skills, and experience, and geographic location where the work is performed. A salary range for this posting is $110000 - $135000. The foregoing salary range represents what the company believes, in good-faith, it will pay for the posted opportunity. The individual selected for this role will be evaluated with the compensation factors in mind and placed appropriately.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer