Full-time, Salaried | Reports to: Director of Partnerships

Location: This position is remote (accommodation for a hybrid schedule will be discussed if you are in the Atlanta, GA area); regular (ex: quarterly or semi-annual) in-person meetings with supervisors will be required.

Schedule: Monday - Friday

About the Role: The Project Manager is the primary relationship manager between The Ray and State Departments of Transportation (State DOTs) and other modal partners, which may include tollways, airports, seaports, and local governments. This role is focused on facilitating agency-led infrastructure and/or technology projects by catalyzing project concepts, providing technical assistance, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring effective communication and follow-through.

As a Project Manager, you will help transportation agencies turn innovation into action by connecting them with technology providers, producing and/or sharing research, modeling, analysis, and planning assets, advising on procurement and permitting, and responding to challenges that arise during project delivery. You will work with other team members to coordinate project delivery directly for certain programs of The Ray. You will serve as both a trusted partner to transportation agencies and a connector across The Ray’s team, ensuring projects align with our mission and deliver measurable impact.

Key Responsibilities

Partnership & Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary liaison with State DOTs, tollway and turnpike authorities, MPOs, airports, transit operators, Native American tribes, local governments, and other transportation partners in your portfolio.

• Respond to partnership inquiries and opportunities generated through The Ray’s staff, board, media presence, or external outreach, ensuring timely engagement and follow-up.

• Proactively cultivate initial conversations and casual inquiries into structured partnership opportunities, guiding potential partners toward formal collaboration with The Ray.

• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with partner organizations through consistent communication, follow-up, and delivery of value.

• Represent The Ray by delivering presentations and actively engaging in peer exchanges, association gatherings, and key or high-level meetings with the staff and leadership of partner organizations.

• Leverage existing programmatic outreach and connections to cultivate new partnerships with other transportation owners and operators.

• Collaborate with AASHTO, USDOT, State DOTs, and industry colleagues to influence key policy changes, procurement practices, and innovation adoption.

Project Facilitation & Technical Assistance

• Support the implementation of agency-led projects by providing comprehensive technical assistance, including information-sharing, guidance on procurement and permitting, and direct connections to technology providers.

• Provide consistent and timely information about The Ray’s technologies, best practices, innovations, and approaches to ensure partners have actionable resources.

• Function as a technical resource and trusted advisor to partner agencies, supporting innovative project and program delivery.

• Respond to partner questions, concerns, and implementation challenges with consistent, timely, solution-oriented guidance.

• Facilitate communication and coordination across agency staff, technology providers, and The Ray team to ensure effective collaboration.

• Support the design, development, and execution of projects by transportation owners and operators that replicate and scale The Ray’s innovations in the U.S. and abroad.

• Advance the implementation of The Ray’s Strategic Plans by aligning project outcomes with organizational priorities.

Communication & Team Coordination

• Ensure consistent follow-up and clear communication with partners to maintain project momentum and alignment.

• Maintain accurate partner and project records in The Ray’s systems.

• Share lessons learned, partner feedback, and project outcomes with the broader team to strengthen organizational learning and impact.

• Participate in and contribute to grant reporting, fundraising activities, and presentations for the Board of Directors and Corporate Advisory Council as needed.

• Participate in regular staff meetings, remotely or in person, and provide regular status reports on partners and projects to other team members, the Executive Director, The Ray Board of Directors, and/or Corporate Advisory Board as needed.

• Provide regular updates to the Executive Director and senior leadership and participate in cross-team planning and reporting.

Other

• Other duties as needed or assigned.

Skills and Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (transportation, planning, public policy, sustainability, engineering, or similar) or equivalent experience.

• Minimum 12 years of experience working with or within a State DOT, transportation agency, or large public-sector organization.

• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with public-sector partners and facilitate complex projects.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and presentations.

• Experience coordinating across multiple stakeholders and departments within a transportation agency.

• Familiarity with government procurement and permitting processes.

Preferred

• 15+ years of experience working with or within a State DOT, transportation agency, or large public-sector organization.

• Direct experience with State DOT project delivery, procurement, or contracting.

• Experience leading projects in sustainability, energy, transportation innovation, or climate resilience.

• Advanced degree in planning, public administration, environmental policy, or related field.

• Knowledge of multi-modal transportation systems.

• Sustainability or climate-related certifications.

Personal Qualities

We are looking for someone who:

• Is enthusiastic about sustainability and transforming transportation.

• Has a passion for spreading innovation.

• Builds trust through integrity, professionalism, and follow-through.

• Ability to strictly maintain discretion and confidentiality.

• Thrives in an outgoing, collaborative, team-oriented environment.

• Is initiative-taking, attention to detail, and comfortable balancing multiple priorities.

• Brings curiosity and creativity to problem-solving with partners.

Application Submission

Please email your application materials to Christen Sindone at csindone@hillcoadvisors.com. Thanks!