Business Development Lead Jobs at BKF Engineers with Visa Sponsorship
Business Development Lead jobs at BKF Engineers involve growing client relationships and pursuing infrastructure and land development projects across the western U.S. The firm has an established track record of sponsoring employment-based Green Cards for professional staff, making it a realistic target for international candidates in consulting and engineering services.
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INTRODUCTION
BKF is a multi-service infrastructure consulting firm providing civil engineering, construction management, environmental, planning, and surveying services across California, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. With offices throughout California and the Portland area, BKF has served transportation, water resources, land development, government, and federal clients for over 110 years.
At BKF, you’ll find a unique opportunity to grow your career with intention. Our culture values professional autonomy, innovation, and meaningful collaboration across offices. We are proud to be recognized with the Great Place to Work certification for the second year in a row.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Southern California Business Development Director is an external-facing growth leader responsible for building and converting a qualified regional pipeline—driving opportunity creation, pursuit leadership, and client relationship development in alignment with the Development Solutions Division’s strategic goals. The role reports directly to the Vice President of Business Development – Development Solutions and partners closely with regional technical leaders, seller-doers, marketing, and key client leaders to execute client plans, strengthen market presence, and deliver on bookings, win rate, and pipeline health targets.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with division clients, increasing share-of-wallet and repeat business across key markets such as healthcare, education, civic, and science & technology.
- Expand priority and emerging client accounts through strategic planning, regular touchpoints, and opportunity identification.
- Represent the firm externally through industry events, networking, and strategic partnerships to enhance market presence and generate new opportunities.
- Collaborate with seller-doers, client leaders, marketing, and operations teams to align messaging, client strategies, and engagement approaches across regions and service lines.
- Identify and drive cross-selling opportunities across business lines and geographies to maximize revenue potential.
- Develop and execute regional business development plans aligned with divisional strategy, including target markets, clients, and pursuit strategies.
- Build and maintain a strong, qualified pipeline of opportunities through proactive relationship management, market intelligence, and partner networks.
- Lead and support major pursuits from early-stage opportunity through award, including go/no-go decisions, win strategies, teaming, proposal development, interviews, and negotiations.
- Track and manage all business development activities within the CRM system, using data and insights to guide forecasting, prioritization, and strategic decisions.
- Monitor and deliver on regional revenue goals, including bookings, win rates, and pipeline health metrics.
- Provide coaching and guidance to seller-doers and pursuit teams to strengthen overall business development effectiveness.
- Report regularly to leadership on pipeline status, key pursuits, client risks, and emerging opportunities while developing and managing regional BD budgets.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Journalism, or a related field
- Minimum of 10+ years of relevant experience within an A/E/C firm
- Proven track record of successful business development leadership and client relationship management
- Strong client relationships with architects, contractors, and owners in healthcare, education, civic, and science & technology markets
- Experience working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a dynamic environment
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator)
- Active participation and/or leadership in industry organizations
- Experience with Deltek VantagePoint (preferred)
- Experience with Client Experience (CX) strategies or programs (preferred)
- Ability to travel periodically and attend after-hours client events
- Ability to travel within the Southern California region, primarily based in Orange County with travel to Los Angeles, Inland Empire, and San Diego
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must be able to regularly talk, hear and operate a computer, keyboard and mouse and occasionally lift, pull/push and carry up to 20 pounds with accommodations.
WORK CONDITIONS
Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds at a low or moderate level consistent with an office setting. Exposure to high-stress, fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Travel to other BKF locations and client sites may be required.
BENEFITS
- The typical base salary range for this position is $140,000 - $195,000, annualized depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is a salary position paid biweekly.
- Competitive salaries, profit sharing, and 401k.
- Generous paid time off packages.
- 9 Paid Holidays.
- Flexible schedules.
- Education reimbursement, paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations.
- BKF offers competitive and award-winning benefits and perks. To learn more click here.
BKF provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
BKF does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and a specific solicitation for the position or other approved engagement request for the position with BKF, BKF reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited submittals are done at the risk of the recruiter.
LI-Hybrid
Tips for Finding Business Development Lead Jobs at BKF Engineers
Align your credentials with specialty occupation standards
Business Development roles at engineering consultancies can face USCIS scrutiny over whether the position qualifies as a specialty occupation. Document how your degree in civil engineering, urban planning, or a related field directly underpins the technical client work BKF Engineers pursues.
Target BKF offices pursuing active infrastructure projects
BKF Engineers operates across California and the Pacific Northwest, with pipelines tied to land development and public infrastructure. Researching which regional office has active project pursuits helps you apply where business development hiring demand is highest.
Browse BKF's open roles through Migrate Mate
Filter Business Development Lead openings at BKF Engineers by visa sponsorship eligibility on Migrate Mate. This lets you confirm which postings are currently active and prioritize applications to the office locations most likely to initiate a sponsorship filing.
Prepare for a longer sponsorship timeline upfront
EB-2 and EB-3 Green Card sponsorship through PERM requires DOL-approved recruitment documentation before USCIS filing begins. That process typically takes one to two years from offer acceptance, so negotiate start dates and any status bridge strategy with HR early.
Clarify sponsorship scope before accepting an offer
Ask BKF's HR team directly whether the offer includes Green Card sponsorship or only work authorization maintenance. Consulting firms sometimes distinguish between the two, and confirming the full scope in writing prevents gaps between your current status expiring and an I-140 approval.
Leverage professional engineer client networks in your application
BKF's Business Development Leads are expected to cultivate relationships with municipal agencies, developers, and land use consultants. Demonstrating an existing professional network in California infrastructure or Bay Area development markets addresses the practical hiring bar beyond just visa eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does BKF Engineers sponsor H-1B visas for Business Development Leads?
BKF Engineers' documented sponsorship activity for Business Development Leads sits primarily in the employment-based Green Card categories rather than H-1B visa. If you're already in H-1B status through a prior employer, BKF may be open to a transfer, but you should raise H-1B sponsorship explicitly during the offer stage and confirm their position in writing before accepting.
Which visa types are commonly used for Business Development Lead roles at BKF Engineers?
BKF Engineers has sponsored employment-based Green Cards, specifically EB-2 and EB-3, for professional roles including Business Development functions. EB-3 is the more common pathway for roles where a bachelor's degree in a related field is the primary qualification, while EB-2 applies when the position requires an advanced degree or equivalent expertise in engineering or planning disciplines.
What qualifications and experience does BKF Engineers expect for Business Development Leads?
BKF Engineers looks for candidates with a background in civil engineering, land development consulting, or a related technical discipline, combined with demonstrated experience cultivating client relationships in public agency or private development markets. Familiarity with infrastructure project pursuits in California or the Pacific Northwest, and the ability to lead proposals and manage client pipelines, are recurring expectations across their postings.
How do I apply for Business Development Lead jobs at BKF Engineers?
You can find and apply for Business Development Lead openings at BKF Engineers through Migrate Mate, which filters jobs by visa sponsorship eligibility so you can confirm sponsorship is on the table before applying. When you apply, tailor your materials to BKF's project sectors, specifically land development, civil infrastructure, and municipal work, since generic consulting resumes rarely advance past screening.
How do I plan my timeline if BKF Engineers sponsors my Green Card?
Green Card sponsorship through PERM and USCIS typically spans one to two years from the start of the DOL recruitment process to I-140 approval, and longer if your priority date is backlogged under EB-3. If you're on a time-limited status like OPT or H-1B, discuss bridging strategies with BKF's HR and an immigration attorney early, since PERM cannot be initiated until after you start employment.