Business Strategist

LaBella Associates; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Work Schedule

Health/Dental Insurance

401k Plan with Employer Match

Paid Parental Leave

Short & Long Term Disability

Profit Sharing

Paid Time Off

Leadership Development Program

Fitness Reimbursement

Tuition Reimbursement

Referral Bonus Program

Wellness Program

Team Building Events

Community Service Events

Job summary

LaBella Associates seeks a Business Strategist to drive growth, market expansion, and operational success across designated regions for the Civil Division. You will collaborate with regional leadership, project managers, and business development teams to identify opportunities and position LaBella as a trusted engineering partner.

The role blends strategic planning, market intelligence, client development, and cross-functional leadership to deliver sustainable growth and profitability across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Civil Division related field, Engineering Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in engineering consulting, infrastructure development, or professional services.
• Proven success in business development and client relationship management.
• Strong understanding of civil division markets and project delivery.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to travel throughout the designated region.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Growth & Market Development: develop and implement regional growth strategies aligned with corporate objectives.
• Business Development: build and maintain relationships with municipal, state, industrial, commercial, and private development clients.
• Client Strategy & Funding Support: identify funding programs and help clients plan funding sequencing.
• Proposal & Pursuit Leadership: coordinate with Marketing on go/no-go and pursue strategies.
• Relationship Management: represent LaBella at conferences and strengthen partnerships.
• Leadership & Collaboration: mentor project managers and foster cross-disciplinary growth.

Skills

Business development

Strategic planning

Client relationship management

Leadership

Market analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Division related field, Engineering Management, Business Administration, or related field

Job description

A Business Strategist supports the growth, market expansion, and operational success of designated regions and markets for the Civil Division. This leadership-focused position serves as a catalyst for business development, client engagement, regional collaboration, and strategic planning across multiple service lines.

The Business Strategist will work closely with regional leadership, technical managers, project managers, and corporate business development teams to identify growth opportunities, strengthen client relationships, and position LaBella as a trusted engineering partner throughout.

This role combines strategic business planning, market intelligence, client development, operational coordination, and internal leadership support to drive sustainable growth and profitability.

Responsibilities

1. Strategic Growth & Market Development
   • Develop and implement regional growth strategies aligned with LaBella’s corporate objectives.
   • Identify emerging market opportunities, industry trends, and target clients within public and private sectors.
   • Support expansion initiatives across a designated region.
   • Monitor competitive activity and provide market intelligence to divisional and regional leadership.
   • Assist in teaming opportunities, and strategic partnerships.
2. Business Development
   • Build and maintain relationships with designated municipal, state, industrial, commercial, and private development clients.
   • Collaborate with technical leaders to identify and pursue new business opportunities.
   • Support client outreach efforts, networking initiatives, and industry engagement activities.
   • Coordinate strategic pursuit planning for high-value opportunities.
   • Track and manage key client accounts and business development metrics.
3. Client Strategy & Funding Support
   • Work with clients to understand long-term goals, infrastructure priorities, capital needs, and potential barriers to implementation.
   • Identify potential federal, state, regional, and local funding programs that may support client projects and strategic initiatives.
   • Collaborate with technical staff and funding specialists to evaluate project eligibility, timing, competitiveness, and alignment with available funding opportunities.
   • Help clients develop strategies for advancing priority projects, including project phasing, funding sequencing, partnerships, and alignment with capital improvement plans.
   • Monitor emerging funding programs, legislative initiatives, and public investment priorities that may create opportunities for Civil Division clients.
   • Maintain awareness of client funding priorities and communicate relevant opportunities to project managers, technical leaders, and business development teams.
4. Proposal & Pursuit Leadership
   • Coordinate and collaborate with Marketing on go/no-go decision, proposal efforts and interview preparations.
   • Develop pursuit strategies that align with client needs.
5. Relationship Management
   • Represent LaBella at industry conferences, professional organizations, and community events.
   • Strengthen relationships with agency leaders, developers, contractors, and strategic partners.
   • Promote LaBella’s brand and capabilities throughout the designated region.
6. Leadership & Collaboration
   • Serve as a trusted advisor to regional and divisional leadership.
   • Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
   • Mentor project managers and emerging leaders in business development practices.
   • Support cross-disciplinary growth initiatives.

Measurements for success

• Revenue growth and profitability in designated region.
• Expansion of key client relationships.
• Increased win rates on strategic pursuits.
• Growth of project backlog and market presence.
• Successful implementation of regional strategic initiatives.
• Enhanced collaboration among offices and service lines.
• Development of long-term business opportunities across the designated region.
• Identification and advancement of funding strategies that help move projects forward.
• Growth of long-term client opportunities resulting from strategic planning, funding identification, or early project development support.

• Bachelor's degree in a Civil Division related field, Engineering Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in engineering consulting, infrastructure development, or professional services.
• Demonstrated success in business development, client relationship management, and strategic planning.
• Strong understanding of civil division’s consulting markets and project delivery.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to travel throughout the designated region.

Body, mind, and wallet—LaBella’s benefits support a holistic approach to your health and wellness, creating the foundation for physical, mental, and financial well-being. Our benefit offerings cover the must-haves (healthcare and retirement), the just-in-cases (insurances and employee assistance programs), and the cherry-on-tops (fitness reimbursements, year-end incentive pay, and tuition assistance). Visit our website for more details on benefits listed below.

• Flexible Work Schedule
• Health/Dental Insurance
• 401k Plan with Employer Match
• Paid Parental Leave
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Profit Sharing
• Paid Time Off
• Leadership Development Program
• Fitness Reimbursement
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Referral Bonus Program
• Wellness Program
• Team Building Events
• Community Service Events

LaBella is committed to facilitating a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion are respected, valued, and celebrated by implementing thoughtful, practical, and innovative strategies that support our employees and serve the communities in which we reside. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws.

LaBella Associates does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiting professionals or agencies, nor do we accept resumes from any source that does not reference a specific, open position. LaBella Associates will not be responsible for any fees arising from the use of resume submitted by recruiting professionals or agencies that do not have a current placement fee agreement with LaBella Associates. All initial communication with recruiting professionals or agencies must go through human resources.