Practice Consultant - Tunnels and Complex Underground Structures

HNTB Corporation; New York (NY); On-site; USD 226,000 - 361,000; Full time

Job summary

HNTB Corporation in the United States seeks a senior tunnel professional to lead business development for tunnels and underground structures across transit, rail, highways and more. The role combines technical know-how with client relationships and market knowledge to grow the National Tunnel Practice nationwide.

Working with practice leadership, this position identifies opportunities, strengthens partnerships, and guides pursuit teams through capture and proposal development with cross‑office

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field with 12 years of relevant experience.
• Master’s degree in relevant field with 11 years of relevant experience.
• In lieu of degree, 16 years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement BD strategies aligned with tunnel practice priorities.
• Establish and strengthen relationships with infrastructure owners and authorities.
• Monitor capital plans and build a qualified pipeline of opportunities.
• Lead capture strategies and support proposal development.
• Represent the firm at industry events to enhance visibility.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Master’s degree in relevant field

In lieu of degree, 16 years of relevant experience

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. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners. HNTB seeks an accomplished tunnel professional to lead business development for tunnels and complex underground structures across the transit, rail, highways, airports, and water/wastewater market sectors. This position will combine technical expertise, client relationships, market knowledge, and pursuit leadership to advance the growth of HNTB’s National Tunnel Practice. Working closely with the National Tunnel Practice leadership, geographic offices, and market sector leaders, this individual will identify emerging opportunities, strengthen strategic partnerships, and position HNTB to win and deliver major underground infrastructure programs nationwide.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic growth and market development: Develop and implement business development strategies aligned with the National Tunnel Practice’s priorities. Identify opportunities to expand HNTB’s services, enter new geographic markets, and apply tunnel and underground engineering expertise across market sectors.
• Client engagement and relationship management: Establish and strengthen relationships with infrastructure owners, public agencies, airport authorities, utilities, contractors, and other decision-makers. Understand clients’ capital programs, technical challenges, funding constraints, and delivery objectives to position HNTB as a trusted advisor.
• Opportunity identification and qualification: Monitor capital investment plans, project development activities, funding initiatives, and procurement schedules. Build and maintain a qualified pipeline of opportunities, assess strategic fit and competitive positioning, and support go/no-go decisions.
• Capture planning and pursuit leadership: Lead early positioning and capture strategies for priority opportunities. Coordinate client engagement, competitor assessments, teaming arrangements, win themes, and technical differentiators. Guide proposal development and interview preparation in collaboration with pursuit managers and technical leaders.
• Technical positioning and advisory support: Translate deep knowledge of tunneling and complex underground construction into compelling, client-focused solutions. Help clients evaluate project feasibility, underground alternatives, delivery approaches, constructability, risk, and lifecycle value during early project development.
• Strategic teaming and partnerships: Identify and cultivate relationships with engineering firms, specialty consultants, contractors, and technology providers. Recommend teaming structures that strengthen HNTB’s qualifications, technical capabilities, and competitive position.
• Cross‑sector and geographic coordination: Connect tunnel expertise with HNTB’s broader transportation and water infrastructure capabilities. Collaborate across offices and practices to develop integrated service offerings and expand opportunities from planning and program management through design and construction support.
• Industry visibility and thought leadership: Represent HNTB at industry conferences, professional associations, client forums, and technical events. Support presentations and publications that demonstrate the firm’s capabilities and strengthen its reputation in underground infrastructure.
• Growth planning and performance: Contribute to annual business plans, sales forecasts, pursuit budgets, and resource planning. Track pipeline development, client engagement, pursuit outcomes, and progress against agreed growth objectives.
• Transition from pursuit to delivery: Support effective handover of successful pursuits to project teams, preserving client commitments and strategic objectives. Maintain client relationships during delivery to gather feedback, strengthen satisfaction, and identify follow‑on opportunities.

What You’ll Do

Applies technical expertise and guidance in area of practice. Acts as subject matter expert to provide strategic advice and analysis and engage in marketing and business development efforts for pursuits. Prepares technical materials for projects, including strategic analyses, commercial documentation, technical provisions, procurement documents, and other materials pertaining to applicable subject matter focus. Works with the line organization in a senior support role on strategically important client and project pursuits, providing technical input and market knowledge to navigate complex projects and enhance win probabilities and client satisfaction. Targets national and international associations, trade shows, etc., to help the division/region/office identify leads, win work and maintain industry recognition. Identifies, pursues, and executes high‑level projects with assigned departments, agencies, and programs. Assists in the successful contracting and project execution process, working closely with regional HNTB staff and office leadership. Partners with National Practice Consultants and Leaders to develop and promote technical knowledge and applicability of practice area. Works with HNTB project leadership to manage client relationships and guides the application of HNTB services within a specific practice area to best serve the interests of the client and HNTB. Contributes to strategic planning in area of expertise and assists with thought leadership initiatives. Performs other duties as assigned.

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field with 12 years of relevant experience
• Master’s degree in relevant field with 11 years of relevant experience
• In lieu of degree, 16 years of relevant experience

What We Prefer

A senior tunnel and underground infrastructure professional with a strong technical foundation, established industry relationships, and demonstrated success in business development and major project pursuits. The individual should bring sound commercial judgment, excellent communication skills, and the ability to mobilize multidisciplinary teams around client needs and growth opportunities.

Additional Information

Locations: Denver, CO, New York, NY, San Francisco, CA. The approximate pay range for the California San Francisco Bay Area is $225,746.07 - $360,607.36. 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 Colorado is $198,656.54 - $317,334.48. 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. The anticipated last day to apply is 01/31/2027. Please note that the job may be unposted prior to this date if the job is filled or no longer a need. The approximate pay range for New York is $225,746.07 - $360,607.36. 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.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

HNTB is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other status protected by law. We will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with a disability where appropriate.

Work Authorization

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, we will only employ qualified individuals legally authorized to work in the United States (if the position is or will be one which is subject to U.S. law). Verification of employment eligibility will be required. HNTB participates in E-Verify. Know your rights: Right to Work