Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urban Transport Project Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Urban Transport Project Manager leads planning, design, procurement, construction and commissioning of urban mobility projects—BRT, tram/light rail, metro feeder networks, integrated bus services, junction & signal upgrades, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, ITS and smart mobility pilots. This role coordinates cross-disciplinary teams, manages budgets and contracts, ensures compliance with local regulations and donor requirements (World Bank, ADB, EU), and delivers projects on scope, time and budget while advancing sustainable, inclusive and multimodal transport solutions.

Key SEO terms: Urban Transport Project Manager, transport project delivery, multimodal mobility, public transport infrastructure, sustainable urban mobility, transport planning, traffic engineering, ITS, donor funded transport projects.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Transport Planner or Transport Planning Consultant (BRT, bus network design, PT integration)
Civil/Transport Engineer or Traffic Engineer with road design experience
Infrastructure Project Engineer or Construction Manager with transport experience

Advancement To:

Senior Urban Transport Project Manager / Program Manager (city-wide mobility programs)
Head of Transport Planning & Delivery / Director of Mobility
Portfolio Manager for Sustainable Transport or Infrastructure Delivery Director

Lateral Moves:

Transport Policy Advisor or Mobility Strategist
Infrastructure Procurement & Contract Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead full-lifecycle delivery of urban transport projects (planning → design → procurement → construction → commissioning), ensuring alignment with city mobility objectives, climate targets and inclusive access requirements.
Develop and manage project scope, work breakdown structures, detailed budgets and multi-year cashflows; maintain cost controls and deliver value-for-money on public and donor-funded transport investments.
Prepare, review and approve technical design deliverables (schematics, detailed design drawings, specifications) for roads, intersections, stations, guideways, track, platforms, shelters and associated drainage, lighting and landscaping works.
Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams including transport planners, civil/structural engineers, traffic signal engineers, ITS specialists, environmental and social safeguard experts, and contractors to ensure integrated project outcomes.
Manage procurement and tendering processes for goods, works and consultancy services—prepare procurement strategies, tender documents, evaluation criteria and lead bid evaluation panels in compliance with FIDIC, World Bank, ADB or EU procurement rules when applicable.
Negotiate and administer construction and consultancy contracts (FIDIC, NEC or local forms); manage variations, claims, extensions of time and contractor performance to protect project objectives and budgets.
Lead stakeholder engagement and consultations with municipal departments, utilities, elected officials, community groups, transport operators and relevant regulatory bodies to resolve rights-of-way, utility relocations and social impacts.
Oversee traffic management plans and safeguard public safety during construction; coordinate phased implementation to minimize disruption to bus services, freight and commuter flows.
Integrate Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), real-time passenger information, fare integration and priority signalling into project scope and coordinate with ITS vendors and city ITS teams for successful deployment.
Implement quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) processes across design and construction activities; conduct site inspections, witness tests and ensure handover packages meet contractual and operational standards.
Design and supervise monitoring & evaluation (M&E) frameworks and KPIs for mobility, ridership, operational performance, safety and socioeconomic outcomes; report progress to donors and city leadership.
Prepare and present concise technical and financial reports, dashboards and executive summaries for project steering committees, donors and municipal councils.
Manage environmental and social safeguards: lead ESIA/ESMP and SEP implementation, oversee resettlement action plans (RAP) where needed, and ensure compliance with local regulations and donor safeguard policies.
Coordinate utility mapping, relocation protocols and joint trenching agreements to mitigate delays and cost overruns associated with buried services.
Lead commissioning, testing, trial operations and operator handover for public transport assets; develop O&M manuals and support initial service launch and transition to operators.
Support integration of active mobility infrastructure (cycle lanes, crossings, pedestrian zones) and public realm enhancements to maximize multimodal connectivity and first/last-mile access.
Establish and manage risk registers, contingency plans and mitigation measures for technical, commercial, environmental and political risks; escalate critical issues proactively to senior management.
Drive capacity building and technical assistance programs for city staff, operators and local contractors to ensure sustainable operations and maintenance after project closeout.
Manage multi-stakeholder grants and donor disbursements, ensuring compliance with financial management, audit and reporting requirements.
Lead corridor-level modelling and demand forecasting input requirements, review transport models (VISUM, TransCAD, VISSIM) and liaise with modelling teams to validate design decisions and ridership projections.
Champion sustainability initiatives—emission reduction strategies, low-carbon materials, bus electrification readiness and green procurement practices integrated into project planning.
Facilitate interface management across parallel infrastructure programs (utility upgrades, housing, commercial developments) to avoid clashes and optimize synergies.
Supervise contractor payment certifications, claims assessments and close-out activities ensuring timely finalization of defects liability and release of retention.
Act as the primary point of contact for media, public information releases and community complaints related to project activities, ensuring transparent communication and timely resolutions.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Assist procurement teams in preparing technical sections of funding applications and proposal submissions.
Mentor junior project staff, provide on-the-job training and performance feedback to build local delivery capability.
Support policy workshops and integrated mobility strategy sessions to align individual projects with city transport master plans.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Project Management (PMP, PRINCE2 or equivalent) — demonstrated experience managing urban transport projects end-to-end and delivering against time, cost and quality baselines.
Transport Planning & Modeling — proficiency with strategic and operational models (VISUM, TransCAD, VISSIM, EMME) and ability to interpret demand forecasts for design decisions.
Civil & Traffic Engineering Expertise — road, intersection, geometry, drainage, pavement design and traffic signal design knowledge relevant to BRT, light rail and urban corridor works.
Procurement & Contract Management — hands-on experience with FIDIC, NEC or municipal contract forms, tendering, bid evaluation and contract administration.
ITS & Smart Mobility Integration — understanding of passenger information systems, priority signalling, fare collection systems and telematics integration.
Budgeting & Financial Management — developing project budgets, cashflow forecasting, financial controls and managing donor disbursements.
Environmental & Social Safeguards — implement ESIA/ESMP, RAP, SEP and stakeholder engagement in accordance with donor and national standards.
Quality Assurance / Quality Control — develop QA/QC plans, oversee testing regimes and manage defect rectification processes.
Construction Supervision & Site Management — ability to perform site inspections, interim certifications and commissioning oversight.
Software & Technical Tools — proficiency in MS Project / Primavera P6, Excel (financial modeling), AutoCAD/Civil 3D, GIS (ArcGIS/QGIS) and Microsoft Power BI or Tableau for reporting.
Safety & Traffic Management — planning and overseeing safe work zones, TMPs and contractor compliance with HSE standards.
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) — KPI development, baseline studies, data collection methodologies and impact assessment for transport projects.

Soft Skills

Stakeholder Management — proven ability to build relationships with municipal leaders, utilities, funders and communities.
Leadership & Team Building — lead cross-functional, multicultural teams and develop local capacity.
Communication & Presentation — prepare and present clear executive reports, technical briefs and public communications.
Negotiation & Conflict Resolution — manage contractor claims, utility negotiations and community grievances.
Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving — align project delivery with broader city mobility goals and resolve complex interface challenges.
Adaptability & Political Savvy — navigate political cycles, regulatory changes and dynamic urban contexts while maintaining project continuity.
Attention to Detail — meticulous in contract terms, technical specifications and compliance documentation.
Time Management & Prioritization — juggle multiple concurrent workstreams and meet critical deadlines.
Analytical & Data-driven Decision Making — use modelling outputs, traffic studies and KPI data to inform design and operational choices.
Cultural Sensitivity & Community Engagement — design inclusive consultation processes and integrate gender and social inclusion principles.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Transport Engineering, Urban Planning, Infrastructure Management or related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Transport Planning, Urban Transport, Infrastructure Project Management, or an MBA with infrastructure focus.
Professional certifications (PMP, PRINCE2, Chartered Engineer / PE) and training in donor-funded project management are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Civil / Transport Engineering
Urban & Regional Planning
Infrastructure / Construction Management
Environmental & Social Safeguards

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

5 – 12 years of progressive professional experience in transport infrastructure planning, design or construction.

Preferred:

8+ years leading medium to large-scale urban transport projects (BRT, tram, metro feeder networks, multimodal corridor upgrades).
Demonstrated experience with donor-funded programs (World Bank, ADB, EU, bilateral donors) and familiarity with their procurement and safeguard policies.
Track record of successful contract administration, procurement management and multi-stakeholder coordination in urban environments.
Experience with transport modelling, ITS integration, M&E frameworks and capacity-building initiatives.