Railroad Program Coordinator @ Benesch

Simply Put, A Great Place to Work

Benesch is a growing, multi-disciplined planning, engineering, and professional services firm. We enhance infrastructure and communities across the country – creating spaces and providing connections in ways that make a difference.

We pride ourselves on being nimble enough to remain responsive to client needs yet large enough to offer exceptional bench strength. As a member of our team, you’ll have an opportunity to draw from those resources when you need them and, likewise, contribute your expertise when you have something to share.

At Benesch, we are looking for candidates with varied backgrounds and worldviews. Diverse ideas come from diverse people, and we are committed to offering an inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Statistics show that women and underrepresented groups are less likely to apply for a position if they don’t meet 100% of the qualifications. If this statement resonates with you, don’t be so hard on yourself—apply for the job!

Railroad Program Coordinator

Benesch is looking for a Program Coordinator to join our expanding Railroad Team. The Railroad Program Coordinator is a vital liaison between the railroad (our client), Departments of Transportation (DOTs), municipalities, and other external partners. The primary responsibility is to provide project administration oversight during the preliminary engineering review phase of projects and maintain minor involvement during construction, while the Project Managers takes on day-to-day management during the construction phase. This role is essential for ensuring projects meet our railroad client’s requirements, remain on schedule, and maintain consistent communication between our client’s internal teams, our team members working on various projects and external agencies.

Benesch’s Railroad Division is made up of highly skilled rail professionals, many of whom are former employees of operating railroads. This firsthand experience working to design and maintain active rail systems uniquely equips our team to develop innovative solutions to a wide variety of rail projects. If you are a motivated and experienced professional seeking an exciting opportunity to grow your career in the railroad industry, we encourage you to apply.

The Impact You Will Have

Preliminary Engineering and Project Oversight
- Lead the preliminary engineering review phase, working closely with Benesch engineering teams to ensure project design meets railroad standards and aligns with the objectives of our railroad clients.
- Coordinate with internal and external teams to address design issues, permitting, utility conflicts, property issues & approvals, and environmental concerns during the review phase.
Stakeholder Coordination
- Act as the primary liaison with DOTs, municipalities, and other stakeholders, establishing a collaborative approach to project administration planning and execution.
- Facilitate regular project meetings, updates, and communication channels with external agencies, ensuring all parties remain informed of project status and requirements.
- Maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, providing timely responses to questions and coordinating reviews as needed.
Transition to Construction and Continuous Involvement
- Ensure a smooth transition of projects from the preliminary engineering review phase to the construction phase, working closely with the Project Managers to communicate all relevant details.
- Supporting the Project Manager with administration needs, as well as providing updates to our rail client and other stakeholders on project progress.
Budget Management and Financial Oversight
- Support budget preparation and tracking, assisting the Project Managers with cost control throughout the project.
- Monitor expenditures during various phases of the project.
- Ensure alignment between budget allocations and funding sources, coordinating with finance teams as needed.
Quality Assurance
- Support quality assurance by ensuring design and construction standards meet railroad requirements and regulatory guidelines.
- Assist in conducting periodic reviews to verify project adherence to quality and safety standards.
Documentation and Reporting
- Maintain accurate records and documentation for each project, including preliminary engineering reports, meeting notes, regulatory filings, and stakeholder communications.
- Provide regular reports to internal leadership and external stakeholders on project status, budget, and any regulatory or compliance updates.
- Assist in the preparation of final project reports and closeout documentation upon project completion.

What We Are Looking For

Bachelor’s in engineering or a related field from an accredited program.
Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in project coordination, preferably within the railroad or transportation industry.
Knowledge of preliminary engineering processes, as well as permitting, regulatory compliance, and DOT coordination.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
Proficiency in Project Management software (e.g., MS Project, Primavera, Quickbase) and Microsoft Office Suite.
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
Understanding of budget management, financial tracking, and reporting in a project context. #LI-MM1

#LI-MM1

Explore the Benefits of Working at Benesch!

At Benesch, we prioritize the health and wellness of our employees, understanding that their well-being is crucial for both personal and professional success. We offer a range of benefits for eligible employees, including insurance, retirement plans, and wellness programs. Our Total Rewards package is designed to support a healthy lifestyle and can be customized to meet the needs of our employees and their families. Click here to learn more about some of the benefits of working at Benesch!

Professional Development

Opportunities for management and leadership development at all levels, including executive coaching and leadership development for Team Leaders, Group Managers, Division Managers, and Executive Leaders
Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses
Ongoing professional development through resources like Red Vector, LinkedIn Learning, technical team meetings, knowledge-sharing training sessions
Personalized training and career development plans with your manager
Funding for training, committee work, professional organization memberships, and licenses/certifications
Support for active participation in professional organizations to foster leadership and community engagement

Retirement Benefits

Access to valuable retirement planning tools, education, and individual meetings with plan advisors at no charge
Potential for Benesch to contribute up to 9% of your gross compensation to your retirement plan (5% profit-sharing contribution to your 401(k) plan, regardless of your own contributions & 80% match on your contributions, up to a maximum company contribution of 4%)

Work/Life Balance

Flexible work schedules and hours, including work-from-home options (dependent on the role)
Generous Paid Time Benefits (PTB) that increase with your career
Immediate use of annual PTB; no accrual needed with the ability to bundle time-off plans for extended vacations or life events
Ten days of paid parental leave for birth, adoption, or foster placement

Employee Engagement

At Benesch, we encourage our team members to extend their impact beyond their core responsibilities. Join our employee resource groups and committees to enhance your work-life balance and contribute to our community-focused initiatives. We support a variety of programs including community service, student scholarships, and matching gift opportunities, reflecting our commitment to a vibrant and diverse workplace.

If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents linked here.

Benesch is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ Affirmative Action/ Disability/ Protected Veteran Employer. Qualified applicants are evaluated without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation or belief, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic. For more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the below documents:

Know your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

EEO Information

For more information about pay transparency, please download the below document:

Pay Transparency Policy Statement

We will be accepting applications on an ongoing basis until a candidate is found.

Benesch is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with a physical disability or other impairment.

If you are limited in your ability or are unable to access Benesch’s Careers website due to a physical disability or other impairment, you may request a reasonable accommodation by emailing [email protected]. This option is only available to those in need of an accommodation due to a disability or other impairment. Please do not use this as an alternative method for general inquiries or status on applications, as you will not receive a response. Reasonable requests will be responded to as soon as possible on a case-by-case basis.

Recruiters or staffing agencies: Benesch is not obligated to compensate any external recruiter or search firm who presents a candidate, their resume, or profile to a Benesch employee without a recent, current, and fully executed agreement on file. Please direct all communications to the HR team at [email protected]

Railroad Program Coordinator

Benesch

Simply Put, A Great Place to Work

Railroad Program Coordinator

The Impact You Will Have

What We Are Looking For

Explore the Benefits of Working at Benesch!

Professional Development

Retirement Benefits

Work/Life Balance

Employee Engagement

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What believers are saying

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What makes Benesch unique

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