Design Build Commercial and Risk Director

HNTB Corporation; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 307,660 - 512,767; Full time

Job summary

HNTB Corporation is looking for an experienced professional to direct contract strategy and risk management across their national design-build portfolio in Los Angeles. The role will involve leading complex negotiations, mentoring teams, and managing stakeholder relationships to ensure project delivery.

Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields, along with 15 years of experience in design-build project management. Strong leadership and decision-making skills are essential, along with a strategic vision and the ability to navigate complex contracts.

Generous benefits package available, details on HNTB Total Rewards page.

Qualifications

• 15 years of alternative delivery, design-build project management and/or contract management experience.
• Experience developing, reviewing, and interpreting legal and contractual documents.

Responsibilities

• Directs the Design-Build strategy for contract negotiations.
• Evaluates potential disputes and suggests strategies for resolution.
• Participates in all Contractor negotiations of pre-award and post-award agreements.

Skills

Strategic visionary

Sound technical skills

Analytical ability

Excellent communication

Leadership

Problem-solving

Decision-making

Contract negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, or related field

Master’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, or related field

Job description

What We're Looking For

At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country.

This opportunity entails being responsible for directing contract strategy, risk management, and contractor relationships across the national design‑build portfolio. Leads complex pre‑award and post‑award negotiations in coordination with legal and corporate contracting teams, ensuring consistent contract terms, effective risk mitigation, and alignment with organizational objectives. Provides leadership and mentorship to commercial and project operations teams while supporting dispute resolution, change management, and alternative delivery best practices. Builds and maintains strong relationships with national contractors, internal business units, and client stakeholders to drive successful project delivery and long‑term partnership growth.

This position can be located in any HNTB office.

What You'll Do

• Directs the Design‑Build strategy for contract negotiations with Contractors in coordination with Corporate Contracting and Legal Services, while maintaining consistent contract terms and conditions across the entire design‑build portfolio with all Contractor clients and construction joint ventures.
• Participates in all Contractor negotiations of pre‑award and post‑award agreements. First‑line review of potential terms/contracts from new Contractor clients for comparison to HNTB established preferred terms. Works with Corporate Contracting to develop Deal Structure Review documents and participates in monthly Deal Structure Review Board (DSRB) calls.
• Provides Commercial leadership and development for a team of Contract Manager(s), Project Operations Managers and/or commercial team members deployed across design‑build projects and more broadly with HNTB offices and divisions.
• Oversees review and evaluation of RFQ and RFP documents released by Owner for risk and assists in negotiating mitigation strategies to benefit Design‑Builder and HNTB. Engages with Division, Office and DB leadership during pre‑award and post‑award project delivery work planning, change management, risk assessment/management and payment.
• Evaluates potential disputes, suggests strategies for early and effective resolution and avoidance of claims. If disputes arise, ensures contract provisions are followed and participates in dispute resolution steps, commercial negotiations, or litigation support at direction of the Office of General Counsel.
• Works closely with other business units to build integrated and effective solutions and leverage existing contractor relationships to establish best practices related to Alternative Delivery across the Owner and Contractor services that HNTB performs.
• Establishes policies and procedures and implementation strategies for risk assessment and management. Oversees the Design‑Build Risk Assessment process (Owner, Project, Contractor, Contract).
• Builds/maintains effective relationships with key national contractors. Working with the Organization, develop a vertical relationship alignment with the national contractor organizations and support local offices with regional contractor relationships.
• Develops and nurtures effective and lasting customer/client relationships internally (Region/Division/Office and other Market/Service Lines) and externally with our Contractor clients.
• Provides coaching and mentoring of the division teams in design‑build best practices. Interfaces with corporate offices, including general counsel, corporate contracting and operations organizations to ensure adherence with corporate policies and performance.
• Acts as Proxy for Design‑Build President and Chief Engineer as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned including project specific assignments such as Project Executive for Ultra and Super‑Mega projects.

What You'll Need

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, or related field
• 15 years of alternative delivery, design‑build project management and/or contract management experience

What You'll Bring

• Background in the design and construction industry, with exposure to transportation, infrastructure and architecture projects.
• A strategic visionary with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, clear communication skills and strong operations focus.
• Creative leader with demonstrated history of success delivering solutions to complex problems.
• Critical thinking to understand what really matters in any given situation and then develop appropriate solutions.
• Tenacity to overcome obstacles while at same time forging strong relationships with key stakeholders.
• Well organized and self‑directed individual who is “politically savvy” and a team player.
• Experience developing, reviewing and interpreting legal and contractual documents, negotiating contracts and resolving disputes.
• Sound decision‑making skills, including the ability to make recommendations that may influence policies, procedures, risk exposure, strategic objectives, and project costs.
• Executive level management skills.

What We Prefer

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, or related field
• Professional Engineer (PE), AIA, or equivalent
• 15 years’ experience in a key leadership position in Architecture/Engineering/Planning (AEP) or closely related business

Benefits

Benefits information available on HNTB Total Rewards page.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.

Visa Sponsorship

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Locations

Arlington, VA (Alexandria), Atlanta, GA, Bellevue, WA (Seattle), Boston, MA, Indianapolis, IN, Kansas City, MO, Los Angeles, CA (Figueroa Street), Milwaukee, WI (East Wisconsin Avenue), New York, NY, Parsippany, NJ (Fairfield), Salt Lake City, UT

Pay Range

Approximate pay ranges vary by location: New York: $267,531.09 - $557,356.43; New Jersey: $294,284.20 - $535,062.18; Massachusetts: $321,037.31 - $535,062.18; Los Angeles Metro Area and Orange County, CA: $307,660.75 - $512,767.92; Greater Seattle, WA Metro Area: $307,660.75 - $512,767.92; Nationwide: $267,531.09 - $557,356.43.

Job Details

Job Type: Regular

Full/Part Time: Full time

Job Category: Design Build Group

ReqID: R-30381