Municipal Client Relationship Manager- Transportation- Orange/San Diego County

GHD; Long Beach (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

GHD in California seeks a Client Relationship Manager-Transportation to lead engagement with municipal clients, shape long-term infrastructure strategies, and grow the council's portfolio.

You will coordinate cross-functional teams, advocate client needs, and drive opportunities from water, transportation, and urban development sectors.

This role offers hybrid work, in-office three days a week, with a focus on trusted partnerships and delivering compelling public outcomes.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in client service management or client relationship management with municipal/public sector clients.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence at senior levels.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with municipal clients, including city governments and public agencies.
• Act as the voice of the client, ensuring priorities are understood and addressed.
• Develop and implement client interaction plans to engage decision-makers and influencers.
• Lead and mentor a Client Engagement Team to deliver tailored solutions.
• Create and execute annual growth plans for municipal accounts (3–5 years).
• Monitor trends in public spending and infrastructure investments to identify opportunities.
• Identify and pursue new opportunities within municipal markets (water, transportation, urban development).
• Collaborate with technical teams to align proposals with client preferences during bidding and delivery phases.

Skills

Client relationship management

Communication

Negotiation

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Engineering or Environmental Science or similar

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

Help us build the future and we'll help you build a rewarding and purposeful career. Our global network is made up of architects, designers, planners, engineers, and environmental scientists all working towards the same goal. Join a team that brings inspirational architecture, landscapes, townscapes and places to our world, and we'll provide you unlimited space to grow.You'll be able to apply our powerful global network of skills and decades of experience to build positive Client outcomes.

Who are we looking for?

GHD's municipal business in Water and Transportation is in a period of accelerated growth. Over the past few years, we have doubled our municipal portfolio, driven by strong client relationships, technical excellence, and a deep commitment to the communities we serve. Building on this momentum, we have launched a bold growth initiative to double our municipal practice over the next four years. This next phase of growth is intentional, market-focused, and rooted in long-term partnerships with cities, counties, and local agencies. To help lead this next chapter, we are seeking Client Relationship Managers (CRM)-Transportation who are energized by growth, trusted by clients, and motivated to shape the future of public infrastructure.

Client Relationship Managers are viewed as a critical role within GHD. They sit at the intersection of our clients, our communities, and our technical teams - brining external voices, priorities, and opportunities into the organization. AT GHD, our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in office, three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.

Client Relationship Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with municipal clients, including city governments, utilities, and public agencies.
• Act as the voice of the client within the organization, ensuring their priorities and challenges are understood and addressed.
• Develop and implement client interaction plans to engage decision-makers and influencers.

Strategic Account Management

• Lead and mentor a Client Engagement Team to deliver innovative solutions tailored to municipal needs.
• Create and execute annual growth plans for municipal accounts, focusing on long-term objectives (3-5 years).
• Monitor trends in public spending, regulatory changes, and infrastructure investments to identify opportunities.

Business Development

• Identify and pursue new opportunities within municipal markets, including water, transportation, and urban development sectors.
• Collaborate with technical teams to align proposals with client preferences during bidding and delivery phases.
• Maintain an active pipeline of projects and pursuits.

Advocacy and Representation

• Represent the organization at municipal meetings, conferences, and industry events.
• Promote the organization's brand and capabilities to municipal stakeholders.
• Facilitate multi-party communications when needed to resolve issues and advance strategic initiatives.

Key Performance Indicators

• Opportunity pipeline
• Bookings targets

Education

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, or similar discipline.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in client service management, or client relationship management preferably with municipal or public sector clients.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence at senior levels.
• Proficiency in CRM tools (Salesforce in particular) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strategic thinker with a client-centric mindset.
• Strong understanding of municipal operations, governance, and procurement.
• Ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and build consensus.
• Experience in client engagement and business development, with a track record of building relationships across government, industry, and community stakeholders.
• Proven ability to develop and execute market strategies.

Salary Range: $180,000-$250,000 based on experience and location

As a multicultural organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race; color; religion; genetic information; national origin; sex (including same sex); sexual orientation; gender identity; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability or handicap; citizenship status; service member status; or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

About Us

Take on some of the world's toughest challenges - with GHD supporting you every step of the way. We'll give you control over your career, empower you to find innovative solutions and help you create a lasting impact. See where your commitment could take you with GHD.

The Pledge to You

At GHD, we don't just believe in the power of commitment, we live and breathe it every day. That's why we pledge to empower our people to make a positive impact. Combining our deep technical expertise with the capabilities of our clients and partners, we respond to some of the most complex challenges facing our planet today. See where your commitment could take you. That's the #PowerOfCommitment

Who we are

GHD is a global professional services company that leads through engineering, architecture, and construction expertise. We are an employee-owned company with over 11,000 diverse and skilled individuals, across more than 200 offices spanning five continents. The Power of Commitment is our brand promise. It's what makes us different. We are bound to our stated vision and determination to address humanity's most urgent needs: to make water, energy and urbanisation sustainable for generations to come.