Business Development Leader Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California

Northern California Water Business Development Leader

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

We believe water is more than a resource, it's a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you’ll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience. We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. This isn’t just a job, it's a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.

Join a team that’s shaping the future of water infrastructure in the Central Valley of California. As the Northern California Water Business Development Leader, you’ll be at the forefront of driving innovation, building strategic partnerships, and unlocking new opportunities in drinking water, wastewater, and water resources planning and design. This isn’t just business development—it’s about creating sustainable solutions for communities and making a lasting impact.

Working in partnership with the Northern California Water Business Group (WBG) Management, the Northern California Water Business Development Leader is responsible for strategically developing and directing business development opportunities for clients requiring drinking water, wastewater and water resources planning and design consulting services throughout Northern California, focusing on opportunities and clients in the San Joaquin Valley. In addition, work with all Business Groups in Northern California to create strategy to drive initiatives to bring more of HDR to our clients. Duties include: Maintaining and expanding existing client relationships; identifying, establishing and nurturing relationships with new target clients; developing market networks; and positioning the firm for project pursuits that result in client selection, leading technical teams in proposal and interview preparation.

What You’ll Do

As a Business Development Leader, you’ll be the connector, strategist, and visionary who:

• Leads with purpose: Co-create annual growth strategies with leadership to meet ambitious financial goals and expand our regional footprint.
• Builds meaningful relationships: Identify and engage with key decision-makers across public and private sectors. You’ll be the face of HDR in the San Joaquin Valley.
• Collaborates across disciplines: Partner with technical and market leaders to craft winning strategies and proposals that resonate with clients.
• Leverages data and insights: Use HDR’s business tools to track progress, analyze trends, and make informed decisions.
• Drives innovation in storytelling: Work with marketing to develop compelling materials that showcase our expertise and elevate our brand.
• Champions client success: Serve as a trusted advisor and project principal, ensuring client satisfaction and long-term partnerships.
• Mentors and inspires: Share your knowledge and passion with emerging professionals, helping shape the next generation of leaders.
• Represents HDR boldly: Attend industry events, speak on panels, and build your personal brand while promoting HDR’s mission.
• Identify and qualify leads that outlines a path to achieving annual sales goals.
• Manage area business development and marketing budgets.
• Manage client relationship management and financial systems to inform reporting metrics and dashboards.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the market trends and drivers impacting our clients.
• Develop business relationships with teaming partners.
• Implement go/no-go decision process in accordance with HDR’s Matrix of Authority.
• Lead pursuit teams in creating and implementing effective win strategies (capture planning).
• Engage the appropriate project management and technical talent in pursuit teams.
• Participate in pursuit teams to develop persuasive proposal and interview materials.
• Participate in quality reviews of proposal and interview materials.
• Coach interview teams to be effective at delivering key messages during interview presentations.
• Facilitate debriefs to identify improvement opportunities and to measure overall competitiveness.
• Recognize and celebrate pursuit successes and milestones.
• Retain, develop and supervise business development and marketing employees, as assigned.
• Identify candidates to fill management, technical, business development and marketing positions.
• Solicit and act on formal and informal client feedback.
• Understand and apply HDR’s risk management approach when pursuing new business opportunities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 15 years relevant industry experience.
• Demonstrated "self-starter" with a history of completing projects with limited oversight.
• Deep knowledge of the A/E/C industry's standard approach to procurement of professional services.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and inspire others.
• Demonstrated ability to build a network of clients and industry partners.
• Experience in sales and developing effective win strategies.
• Strong financial acumen and negotiation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability and desire to travel and engage with others in-person.
• Demonstrated experience in writing compelling content based on information from technical staff.
• Demonstrated experience in growing programs in new or highly competitive markets.
• Demonstrated experience in winning high-value contracts in the A/E/C industry.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Maintain a professional or engineering registration or certificate or have related technical experience.

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. The expected compensation range for this position is $147,378.00 - $210,540.00 annually depending upon skills, experience, education and geographical location.

LOCATION

Primary Location: United States-California-Fresno

Other Locations: United States-California-Modesto

Industry

Water

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

Business Class

Marketing and Admin

Job Posting

May 22, 2026