Business Development Lead Jobs in Illinois

INTRODUCTION

A career in transportation is more than bridges, roads, and rail. As we plan, design, and manage projects that move people and goods from Point A to Point B, we create connections that transform our communities. Every airport, road, bridge, port, or transit project is an opportunity to make communities safer, cleaner, and more resilient. Together, we’re making an impact around the world.

If you’re looking for a career that moves, join our team of professionals who are passionate about the future of transportation.

Do you see your career as a highway to a brighter future? Join our transportation team to drive forth our economies, our societies, and your career.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We are looking for a talented Transportation Business Development Leader in the Chicago area who wants to be part of a purpose-driven organization that is focused on helping our clients, colleagues and communities thrive.

The Transportation Business Development Leader is the “seller/doer” responsible for leading the pursuit and delivery of excellent work to our clients. Accountable for the top line, this position leads the growth of Transportation services and Stantec’s market position while providing innovative design solutions with exceptional quality and execution that exceed client expectations. You will lead the growth of the transportation business and Stantec’s market position by leveraging your client and industry relationships, market knowledge, and technical understanding to pursue and win work that transforms our business and inspires our people.

The Transportation Growth Leader will work closely with regional growth leader, BCPL, account and project managers, business developers, technical leadership, and marketing lead to develop growth strategies, pursue opportunities, strengthen our relationships with clients and teaming partners, and be Stantec’s brand ambassador.

This position will provide direct supervision of team members who are highly engaged in driving design excellence, delivering notable projects, and growing market presence. The Transportation Business Development Leader partners with the BC Practice and Operations Leaders and the broader leadership team to lead and manage, inspire, and engage, win and do work – building a culturally strong and high performing business.

This position is eligible for a hybrid work model, in-person presence is required at our office located on N. Orleans Street 3 days per week.

Your Key Responsibilities

Client Focus & Project Focus:

• Lead and participate in pursuits and campaigns for major business opportunities; engage directly in relationship development, positioning, win strategies and teaming.
• Grow Stantec’s Transportation business in Illinois and the Chicago area with the support of the Regional Growth Leader and other regional and local leadership.
• Exceed client expectations through strong account management across the Illinois market and personally leading accounts for major clients.
• Lead and participate in pursuits and campaigns for major Illinois opportunities.
• Manage key client relationships and target key clients and pursuits including large Transportation programs with a focus on Illinois.
• Identify important industry trends and develop strategies at the regional level to keep Stantec at the forefront of the market.
• Lead and support the business in decision-making such as strategic direction, goal setting, identifying clients, market challenges and opportunities.
• Engage our clients in meaningful discussions about their critical issues and translate those discussions into opportunities to deliver solutions.
• Actively contribute to written content in major projects.
• Oversee risk management of projects and pursuits, including review of contracts, fees, proposals on large pursuits, in partnership with our risk management team.

Business Development and Collaboration:

• Actively contribute to win strategies and successful project execution and become involved at a hands-on level in key pursuits as needed and on projects should issues impacting client satisfaction or project management best practices escalate and track pursuit success rate and Return on Investment rate on client-by-client basis.
• Lead growth of the Chicago office through business development, key pursuit and sales strategy and hold business developers accountable to expand our reach and client base utilizing strong marketing, business development, sales account management plans.
• Increase visibility of Stantec by sharing our knowledge and innovation story through key client engagements to enhance our reputation and drive revenue.

Practice:

• Inspire, motivate, and hold the team accountable for the delivery of innovative design solutions.
• Driving project excellence.
• Lead or assign responsibility for oversight of project delivery, QAQC, discipline excellence and technical quality, documents quality and best practices in the execution of work.
• Assigning responsibility for design excellence in all disciplines present in BC to foster innovation, sustainable design principles and use of technology.
• Responsible for compliance with ISO-certified Integrated management System and Project management (PM) Frameworks.
• Lead or assign responsibility for management, needs assessment and provision of digital practice, tools and applications in support of BC to deliver work.

People Leadership:

• Support BCOL with developing, attracting, engaging and retaining top talent.
• Establish employee connectedness to leadership by interfacing frequently with employees.
• Partner with BCOL by participating in BC-wide meetings to communicate the vision, business strategy and progress against applicable action plans.
• Support the overall talent management lifecycle including career development, employee engagement, succession planning, coaching and mentoring, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development for the Chicago team.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Diverse design and project management experience in any or all of the following markets: municipal, county or state infrastructure, private development, planning or landscape design.
• Established and strong client and industry relationships in Illinois and the Chicago area. Additional relationships in other states a plus.
• Demonstrated design expertise and leadership on major projects. Experience with alternative project delivery methods is preferred, but not required.
• Experience with responding to Requests for Proposals, Expression of Interests, Statement of Qualifications.
• Strong business development skills, including significant experience building and maintaining productive relationships with a client base.
• Strong seller-doer capable of generating work and creating long-term relationships and delivering long-term value to clients for Stantec.
• An entrepreneurial orientation with strong understanding of the business development challenges of a consulting-services provider.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organization, coordination, leadership, team-building and managerial skills.
• Knowledge of market assessment techniques, insights, and contacts.
• Proven success in developing new clients and maintaining strong client relationships.
• Travel to other offices as well as to project sites may be required.
• Bachelor’s degree in civil, mechanical or electrical engineering, or equivalent required.
• Minimum 10 years’ relevant experience, leadership, financial management, business development and consulting experience; or an equivalent combination of education and related experience is required.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) is required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

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.

PAY RANGE:

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

PAY TRANSPARENCY: In compliance with pay transparency laws, pay ranges are provided for positions in locations where required. Please note, the final agreed upon compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. At Stantec certain roles are bonus eligible. Actual compensation for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on the agreed number of working hours per week.

BENEFITS SUMMARY: Regular full-time and part-time employees (working at least 20 hours per week) have access to medical, dental, and vision plans, a wellness program, health saving accounts, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase program, life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term/long-term disability plans, emergency travel benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional membership fee coverage and paid family leave. Regular full-time and part-time employees will receive ten paid holidays in each calendar year. In addition, employees will be eligible to accrue vacation between 10 and 20 days per year and eligible for paid sick leave (and if more generous, in accordance with state and local law).

Temporary/casual employees have access to 401(k) plans, employee stock purchase program, and paid leave, in accordance with state and local law.

The benefits information listed above may not apply to union positions because benefits for such positions are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements.

PRIMARY LOCATION: United States | IL | Chicago

ORGANIZATION: BC-1736 Transpt-US North Central

EMPLOYEE STATUS: Regular

BUSINESS JUSTIFICATION: New Position

TRAVEL: Yes

SCHEDULE: Full time

JOB POSTING: 26/03/2026 07:03:17

REQ ID: 1005000

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.