MTO Project Manager - Lead Highway Engineer

What is the role? As an MTO Project Manager and Lead Highway Engineer , you will play a key role in delivering complex highway and transportation infrastructure projects (with an emphasis on leading MTO highway-focused assignments), while supporting the continued growth of LEA's Highway Sector. Combining technical expertise, project management, strong leadership traits, client relationship management, and business development acumen, you will help strengthen LEA's presence across Northern Ontario and beyond. Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, you will lead the planning and design of highway projects, effectively manage projects for MTO and other clients, provide mentorship to technical staff, and serve as a trusted advisor to clients and stakeholders. You will also support business development initiatives, lead the pursuit of new project opportunities, and contribute to the successful delivery of projects that improve transportation networks and connect communities across Ontario. This role is ideal for a motivated professional with an entrepreneurial spirit who is passionate about technical excellence, building strong client relationships, and helping grow a thriving highway engineering practice. Why join LEA? LEA is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm with a 72‑year history. We provide multidisciplinary engineering services across Transportation, Civil, Structures, Construction Administration, Electrical and Infrastructure Systems, and Environmental Management. In the Civil Division at LEA, we specialize in the preliminary and detailed design of civil infrastructure, including land development, transit, municipal infrastructure, drainage and hydrology, water resources, highways, and provincial roads. Our expertise has contributed to numerous landmark projects across these sectors. We’re confident that by joining LEA, you can discover and realize your full career potential because LEA:

• Has been recognized as a Greater Toronto Top Employer and Canada’s Top Employer for Young People for 2025 & 2026, highlighting our commitment to fostering an outstanding workplace culture and supporting the next generation of professionals.
• Recruits high-performing, motivated individuals who strive to achieve the highest level of technical excellence and quality.
• Is an Employee-owned company, and almost half of our employees are shareholders.
• Offers a competitive total rewards package of salary, substantial bonuses, benefits and other perks.
• Is continuously involved in many exciting and challenging projects throughout Ontario and around the world.
• Allows for a collaborative hybrid work environment with flexible hours to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Cultivates teamwork and collaboration, offering a variety of social events aimed at fostering relationships across the company, including sports leagues, game nights, special events, and volunteer/charitable opportunities.
• Is an organization that is committed to achieving our Environmental, Social & Governance objectives through our various committees.
• Prioritizes mentorship, training, and rotational assignments for knowledge advancement and career growth.
• Has an entrepreneurial spirit as an employee-owned company, with continuous growth and expansion, taking part in meaningful projects. In this role, your duties and responsibilities will include: Role Strategic Objectives
• Support the growth of LEA's Highway Sector through client engagement, business development, and the identification and pursuit of opportunities within Northern Ontario and other strategic markets, especially with MTO.
• Act as an ambassador for LEA, promoting our expertise and services to current and potential clients, leveraging existing relationships and building new ones. Business Growth & Client Relationships
• Lead business development activities to strengthen client relationships, expand LEA's market presence, and grow the project portfolio across Ontario.
• Lead the preparation and submission of proposals for MTO and other clients, including RFQs, RFIs, RFPs and other procurement-related submissions to secure project opportunities.
• Act as the primary point of contact for clients, ensuring proactive relationship management and strategic guidance to build long-term partnerships.
• Monitor client satisfaction and solicit feedback to continuously improve service delivery and strengthen client relationships.
• Ensure contractual obligations and client commitments are met, addressing issues or concerns promptly and professionally.
• Represent LEA at industry events, client meetings, and professional associations to strengthen relationships and enhance LEA's visibility within the market. Engineering & Technical Leadership
• Lead the design activities for complex highway projects in compliance with the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) and the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) manuals, design standards, and guidelines.
• Manage and coordinate project deliverables with the design team and provide technical guidance to Project Designers on complex design issues and day-to-day project delivery.
• Act as Design Lead on complex highway and transportation infrastructure projects, coordinating engineering design activities across multiple design teams.
• Provide technical and project leadership on complex assignments while offering guidance and mentorship to Project Managers, Project Coordinators, and technical staff. Project Delivery
• Act as a Senior Project Manager, Project Lead or Key Individual on projects as required.
• Share best practices and provide guidance to support the effective delivery of projects by Project Managers, Project Coordinators, and technical staff.
• Lead internal and external project meetings, address technical and design-related challenges, and provide technical leadership to support the successful delivery of high-quality project outcomes.
• Monitor project progress, schedules, and budgets; identify project risks and issues, and implement appropriate mitigation strategies to support successful project delivery. Health & Safety and Quality Control
• Support and promote a culture of health and safety by ensuring compliance with policies and proactively identifying and mitigating workplace hazards to protect the well-being of team members.
• Provide oversight of quality management activities, ensuring appropriate quality reviews are completed throughout the project delivery process and that deliverables meet applicable standards and client requirements. Other
• Stay updated on industry trends and best practices to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned within the scope of the Civil Division. The qualifications you need:
• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, with a minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in highway engineering, and project management or coordination activities.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience managing projects for the MTO is considered a strong asset.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation and membership in good standing with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).
• Eligible for registration in the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) Registry, Appraisal and Qualification System (RAQS) under one or more Highway Engineering categories.
• Demonstrated expertise in highway design principles, including alignments, geometrics, staging, utilities, roadside safety, quantity takeoffs, pavement marking, signage, and constructability.
• Demonstrated experience managing highway projects, including scope, schedule, cost, and risk management.
• Experience acting as Design Lead, Project Manager, Project Lead, or Key Individual on both routine and complex transportation infrastructure projects.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and coordinating internal and external s