BES Professional Services Lead

HDR; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 177,716 - 253,880; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision care

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Parental leave

Retirement plan with employer match

Employee referral bonus

Paid time off

Job summary

HDR in Chicago seeks a senior engineering leader to oversee operations within Building Engineering Services. You will develop and monitor technical competencies, manage project oversight, and drive profitability.

The role requires at least 10 years' experience, a PE license, and strong communication and leadership skills. HDR values employee ownership and collaboration across groups.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering or closely related field.
• Minimum 10 years' experience.
• Maintains a professional or engineering registration and has related technical experience.
• Demonstrated experience with leading diverse teams. Committed to quality, improvement and HDR values.
• Actively engaged in professional or industry associations to enhance HDR technical expertise and brand.
• Ability to work cooperatively with regional and local office managers, other area business group directors, technical directors and marketing managers.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must.

Responsibilities

• Develop, coordinate, monitor and improve technical competencies of Business Group staff to meet client needs and market drivers.
• Assist with daily operations, such as project oversight, management reviews, financials and driving profitability at the project level.
• Lead and monitor hiring, development and training of area staff in technical and business competencies.
• Work with market sector leads on workload projections and coordinating workload sharing with other Business Groups or Areas.
• Lead quality assurance efforts to implement QA/QC Program activities striving for continuous improvement.
• Lead and monitor activities for continuous improvement including development and use of technical standards, procedures, best practices and lessons learned.
• Participate in project reviews and support project teams with management of claims and losses.
• Participate in key pursuit teaming, staffing discussion and fee development.
• Partner with Market Sector Leaders and Project Delivery Leader.
• Work with Business Group Manager to streamline and coordinate business processes consistent with Area, corporate policy and MOA.
• Oversee and ensure implementation of quality, standards, and best practices.
• Support communication and coordination within all business groups.
• Work closely with the Area Professional Services Lead.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering or closely related field

Job description

About HDR

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? We believe building engineering is more than systems and structures, it’s about powering progress and enabling innovation. As part of HDR’s Building Engineering Services Group, you’ll help design the critical infrastructure that supports the digital age and shapes the spaces where people work, connect, and thrive. From high‑performance data centers driving the future of AI to dynamic commercial environments, your work will directly support technological advancement, sustainability, and human experience. We bring together mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineering experts to solve complex design challenges with precision, creativity, and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Be responsible to the Business Group Manager to develop, coordinate, monitor and improve technical competencies of Business Group staff to meet client needs and market drivers.
• Assist with daily operations, such as project oversight, management reviews, financials and driving profitability at the project level.
• Lead and monitor hiring, development and training of area staff in technical and business competencies.
• Work with market sector leads on workload projections and coordinating workload sharing with other Business Groups or Areas.
• Lead quality assurance efforts to implement QA/QC Program activities striving for continuous improvement.
• Lead and monitor activities for continuous improvement including development and use of technical standards, procedures, best practices and lessons learned.
• Participate in project reviews and support project teams with management of claims and losses.
• Participate in key pursuit teaming, staffing discussion and fee development.
• Partner with Market Sector Leaders and Project Delivery Leader.
• Work with Business Group Manager to streamline and coordinate business processes consistent with Area, corporate policy and MOA.
• Oversee and ensure implementation of quality, standards, and best practices.
• Support communication and coordination within all business groups.
• Work closely with the Area Professional Services Lead.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• A minimum of 15 years' experience. Knowledge of the local market.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Excellent communication, leadership and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of the local market.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering or closely related field.
• A minimum of 10 years' experience.
• Maintains a professional or engineering registration and has related technical experience.
• Demonstrated experience with leading diverse teams. Committed to quality, improvement and HDR values.
• Actively engaged in professional or industry associations to enhance HDR technical expertise and brand.
• Ability to work cooperatively with regional and local office managers, other area business group directors, technical directors and marketing managers.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must.

Benefits

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. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full‑time regular positions. Temporary and part‑time roles eligible for limited benefits.) $177,716.00 – $253,880.00. Primary Location: United States‑Illinois‑Chicago. Industry: Building Engineering. Schedule: Full‑time. Employee Status: Regular. Business Class: Marketing and Admin. Job Posting: Jul 15, 2026.

Equal Employment Opportunity

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.