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Business Center Practice Leader

Stantec

Stantec

San Diego, CA, USA
USD 177,500-295,200 / year
Posted on Mar 20, 2026

A career in transportation is more than roads, bridges, and highways. As we plan, design, and deliver infrastructure that moves people and goods, we create connections that strengthen communities and economies. Within California, investment in roadway and highway infrastructure continues to be a critical priority, and Stantec is well positioned with strong, established roadway and bridge teams to support this growth.

Stantec’s Transportation Pacific group is seeking a Business Center Practice Leader (BCPL) with a primary focus on growing the Roads & Highways practice in California. This role also provides practice leadership oversight across the broader Transportation Pacific portfolio, including Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Hawaii. While the Transportation practice also includes transit & rail, airports, and ports, the core emphasis of this role is roadway and highway infrastructure in California.

Your Opportunity

The Business Center Practice Leader is a senior seller/doer leadership role responsible for driving growth, client success, and delivery excellence. In this position, you will lead the strategic expansion of Stantec’s California Roads & Highways practice, building on a strong foundation of existing roadway and bridge teams while positioning the business for sustained growth.

You will work closely with Business Center and regional leadership to provide market-facing leadership, oversee key client relationships, lead major pursuits, and support the operational, technical, and people leadership of the Transportation Pacific group which includes California, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii. This role reports to the Regional Business Leader for Transportation for the Western US and plays a critical role in strengthening Stantec’s market position across California, while maintaining connectivity and alignment with the broader Pacific region.

Your Key Responsibilities

Client Focus:

  • Lead and grow key client relationships within California’s Roads & Highways market, including state, regional, and local public agencies.

  • Personally lead and oversee major roadway and highway client accounts, ensuring high levels of client satisfaction and repeat business.

  • Drive client relationship strategies in collaboration with regional and discipline leaders.

  • Lead and participate in major pursuits and campaigns for California roadway and highway opportunities.

  • Support client satisfaction initiatives and client feedback processes, ensuring issues are addressed and resolved.

  • Achieve minimum client- and proposal-specific marketing and business development (M&BD) sales goals, including internal cross-selling initiatives.

Business Development and Collaboration:

  • Key client and account development and maintenance

  • Lead the strategic growth of the California Roads & Highways practice, including market positioning, pursuit strategy, and sales planning.

  • Develop and execute business development and marketing strategies aligned with Transportation Pacific and regional priorities.

  • Identify and pursue new opportunities by leveraging Stantec’s strong roadway and bridge foundation and cross-discipline capabilities.

  • Actively contribute to win strategies, key pursuits and successful project execution and become involved at a hands-on level on projects should issues impacting client satisfaction or project management best practices escalate.

  • Track pursuit success rate and Return on Investment rate on client by client basis.

  • Collaborate with other Transportation practice leaders to support integrated pursuits across transit & rail, airports, and ports, as appropriate.

  • Maintain and monitor the opportunity pipeline to optimize pursuit success and support sustainable growth.

  • Responsible for implementing the M&BD plan for the BC including cross selling.

  • Increase visibility of Stantec by sharing our knowledge and innovation story through key client engagements to enhance our reputation and drive revenue.

  • Participate in Go/No Go Review process and track compliance of Go/No Go Process.

  • Partner with BC and local leaders to drive collaboration on pursuits across geographies and business lines.

  • Utilize, maintain, and monitor the opportunity pipeline to optimize business development plans and employee utilization rates.

  • Ensure local marketplace reputation through established relationships and support of leadership.

  • Market and community outreach and engagement; and

  • Accountable to achieve organic growth targets.

Project Focus:

  • Lead delivery and oversight of significant roadway and highway pursuits and projects.

  • Provide senior technical and strategic input on complex projects, pursuits, contracts, and risk management decisions.

  • Ensure adherence to Stantec’s Project Management Frameworks, QA/QC standards, and delivery best practices.

  • Step in at a hands-on level when needed to address project, client, or delivery challenges.

Practice & Business Operations Focus:

  • Partner with local and Business Center leadership to enable effective cross‑discipline design processes and best practices.

  • Champion technical excellence, innovation, QA/QC, and consistent delivery quality across the Roads & Highways practice.

  • Lead and hold teams accountable for project delivery, discipline standards, and high‑quality work products.

  • Collaborate with the BCOL on utilization, backlog, resource planning, and work‑sharing.

  • Support the BCOL in annual budgeting, financial planning, and setting performance priorities.

  • Accountable for revenue growth, M&BD spend, and net revenue forecasting, while supporting margin, G&A, and operating income targets.

  • Apply strong financial and commercial judgment, including contract and risk negotiations.

  • Support BCOL with the health and safety performance of the BC, including monitoring leading and lagging indicators, meeting leading indicator goals, and following up on BC Improvement Plans.

People Leadership:

  • Act as a highly regarded leader, thought partner and a source of counsel and advice for their BC.

  • Be personally involved in key client relationships, strategic project pursuits and major project leadership within the BC.

  • Proactively identify opportunities to reinforce and further develop Stantec’s high- performance culture with a focus on innovation, speed, and productivity.

  • Foster a success-oriented, accountable environment within the company.

  • Uphold a corporate culture that promotes ethical practices, encourages individual integrity, and focuses on the customer and service delivery.

  • Provide support through ongoing collaboration with Business Operating Unit Leader, Regional Business Leader, and Regional Leaders regarding resolution of operational issues identified within the BC.

  • Establish employee connectedness to leadership by interfacing frequently with employees

  • Partner with BCOL by conducting quarterly office visits and BC wide meetings to communicate the vision, business strategy and progress against applicable action plans.

  • Serve as an inspirational leader with strong influential leadership competencies.

  • Support the overall talent management lifecycle including career development, employee engagement, succession planning, coaching, and mentoring, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development for the BC.

  • Support the BCOL with managing performance and compensation in accordance with Stantec’s compensation philosophy within the BC through yearly employee performance review (YEPR), rate review, and STIP/bonus -allocation for the BC.

Your Capabilities and Credentials

  • Proven capability to win and deliver major highway or roadway programs with focus on Caltrans projects.

  • Demonstrated technical leadership on Caltrans highway projects as Project/Contract Manager.

  • Experience working with the Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) and local California counties and transportation agencies is required.

  • Knowledge of California highway market and processes, with strong client relationships with Caltrans or Transportation Agencies.

  • A track record of establishing and maintaining client relationships in the California and broadly in US West markets.

  • Experience in technical design delivery for highway infrastructure is required.

  • Experience in cost estimating, tender preparation, and contract administration on transportation projects is an asset.

  • Strong ability to develop business and promote business relationships.

  • Ability to motivate staff and promote teamwork within and across offices.

  • Excellent organization, coordination, management, and leadership skills.

  • Results oriented individual who excels in multi-disciplinary environment.

  • Strong project planning and delivery experience.

  • Excellent verbal and written communication.

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and relevant design software.

  • Must have valid driver's license and good driving record.

Education and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.

  • Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of California is required.

  • Minimum of 15 years of experience.

Typical office environment working with computers at a desk for long periods of time. Field work may include exposure to the elements including inclement weather.

This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.

About Stantec

Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what’s previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what’s possible.

Pay Range:

• Locations in CO, HI, IL, MD & Various CA, NJ Areas-$177,500.00 - $275,200.00 Annually

• Locations in WA, DC & Various CA, MA areas-$190,500.00 - $295,200.00 Annually

Primary Location: United States | CA | Los Angeles
Organization: BC-2073 Transpt-US Pacific
Employee Status: Regular
Business Justification: New Position
Travel: Yes
Schedule: Full time
Job Posting: 20/03/2026 12:03:11
Req ID: 1004990

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. At Stantec we are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process then please inform a member of our Talent Acquisition team.