Managing Principal, Building Structures

HNTB; Kansas City (KS); On-site; USD 180,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

HNTB is seeking a Managing Principal to lead and advance the Building Structures practice in the Kansas City region. The role combines operational excellence, technical leadership, business development, and strategic growth across multiple studios to position the practice for expansion into new markets and opportunities.

The leader will guide project delivery, financial performance, talent development, and client satisfaction, working with office, division, and national leadership to define

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or related field required.
• 15+ years of relevant experience in building structures.
• Strong leadership and business development skills.
• Ability to lead multi-location teams.

Responsibilities

• Directs and supervises multiple studio locations within specialty market.
• Leads project pursuits and delivery priorities, staffing schedules and assignments.
• Implements and executes SSA, SCA, SDA, and SAP processes.
• Manages group resources, sales, contributions, and hiring targets.
• Recruits, hires, develops, and retains staff including reviews and succession planning.
• Partners with Project Manager to ensure 4for4 delivery on every project.
• Serves as primary client liaison to build and maintain executive relationships.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Business Development

Team Leadership

Client Relationships

Communication

Strategic Growth

Education

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

15+ years of relevant experience

Job description

What We're Looking For

At HNTB, you can create a career that leaves a lasting mark on the communities we serve and the industry we help shape. For more than 100 years, HNTB has delivered some of the  nation's most complex infrastructure programs, and our continued growth creates an exciting opportunity for leaders who want to drive what's next. As an employee-owned firm, we invest in people who are passionate about innovation, collaboration, and building a legacy.

We are seeking a Managing Principal to lead and advance our Building Structures practice. This highly visible leadership role combines operational excellence, technical leadership, business development, and strategic growth. The successful candidate will guide multidisciplinary structural engineering teams delivering complex projects while positioning the practice for expansion into new clients, geographies, and opportunities.

As the leader of the practice, you will be responsible for overall business performance, including project delivery, financial results, talent development, and client satisfaction. Working closely with office, division, and national leadership, you will help define growth strategies, strengthen key client relationships, and pursue opportunities that expand HNTB's presence in both established and emerging markets.

This role extends beyond project execution. You will build and mentor high‑performing teams, develop future leaders, and create an environment where technical excellence and innovation thrive. Managing Principals typically lead organizations of 25 or more professionals through direct and indirect reporting relationships, making this an opportunity to influence people, projects, and business outcomes at a meaningful scale.

If you are energized by growing a practice, developing talent, and shaping the future of structural engineering within one of the industry’s most respected firms, we invite you to join us and help define the next chapter of our Building Structures practice.

What You'll Do:

• Directs and supervises multiple studio locations within specialty market (Sports, Aviation, Transit, etc.).
• Leads project pursuits and responsible for delivery priorities, staffing schedules, and staff assignments to ensure clients are provided the best design capabilities to meet their needs.
• Implements and executes the firm's processed throughout the project lifecycle such as the Sophisticated Sales Approach (SSA), Sophisticated Contracting Approach (SCA), Sophisticated Delivery Approach (SDA) and Sophisticated Approach to People (SAP).
• Manages group resources and is accountable for the group’s sales, contributions, and earning goals, growth and hiring targets, and the success of each studio within their scope.
• Recruits, hires, develops, and retains staff including performance and compensation reviews and succession planning.
• Partners with or acts as Project Manager to ensure 4for4 delivery on every project – quality work, on time, on schedule, and to the client’s satisfaction.
• Serves as primary client liaison in developing, marketing, and maintaining key executive client relationships in accordance with office strategic plans.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What You'll Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture, Interior Design, Engineering, or related field and 15 years of relevant experience

What You’ll Bring:

• Demonstrated leadership and business development skills
• Ability to develop, grow, and lead high‑performing teams
• Strong organizational abilities and ability to establish delivery and quality control processes
• Ability to successfully manage client relationships and deliver projects
• Strong communication skills

What We Prefer:

• SE and/or PE (multi‑state licensure a plus)
• Strong record of mentoring and developing senior technical staff
• Experience in complex and signature building structures projects, such as commercial, institutional, aviation, transit or public facilities
• Proven ability to originate, pursue, and win work beyond an existing client base
• Demonstrated success in business development and growing a building structures practice, including expansion into new markets and client sectors
• Established relationships with architects, developers, owners and public agencies, with the ability to open doors and create new client partnerships
• Demonstrated ability to build and scale teams, including recruiting senior talent in competitive markets
• Experience collaborating across disciplines (architecture, construction, transportation, aviation, etc.) to deliver quality solutions for clients
• Experience working within a large, multi‑office AEC organization while maintaining an entrepreneurial, growth‑oriented mindset

Additional Information

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

The approximate pay range for Los Angeles Metro Area and Orange County, CA is $207,686.38 - $331,758.78. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state.

The approximate pay range for Washington is $216,716.23 - $346,183.07. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state.

Locations:

Bellevue, WA (Seattle), Kansas City, MO, Los Angeles, CA (Figueroa Street), Overland Park, KS (Sprint Parkway)