Principal, Practice Leader

Stantec Buildings is on a mission to become the world’s leading integrated design practice. Our architects, engineers, interior designers, sustainability specialists, and technologists are passionate about the power of design. We take an innovative, collaborative approach to projects, sharing a common belief that sustainable design for the built environment can make the world a better place for future generations. Join us and design your place with Stantec.

Your Opportunity

Our Chicago office is seeking a Business Center Practice Leader (BCPL) to lead the practice functions including top-line strategy and performance, design and project delivery excellence, business planning, market position, and innovation strategies.

Our Chicago team stands as a leader in our Buildings practice in design and market presence. Our portfolio spans Workplace, Healthcare, Hospitality, Civic/DOD, Retail, Higher Ed, and Residential.

This position reports to the Regional Business Leader (RBL) and provides leadership to the Principal Market Leaders. The BCPL partners with the BC Operations Leader (BCOL) and the broader principal-led leadership team to lead and manage, inspire and engagement, win and do work – building a culturally strong and high performing business.

Your Key Responsibilities

Principal Expectations:

• Eligibility & Sphere of Influence
  • Meets the expected competencies of current career level.
  • Sets the strategic direction and is responsible for a broad practice area and an area of the practice such as a market, BC, small region, or functional area. Demonstrates an entrepreneurial spirit in managing their business.
  • Influence within the region, business center, major project/client work, or Functional Service Team and may impact multiple areas of the organization.
• Engaged Stantec Ambassador 
• • Seeks out opportunity to collaborate across the business. Actively engage with the Stantec community and serves as a leader in their local professional community. Strong external reputation as a thought leader who understands client and community needs and can differentiate our world-class expertise.
• Win
  • Consistently achieve annual sales & revenue targets for your area of practice, through client management, market development, pursuit strategies, and/or technical expertise. Strong industry connections including potential clients, colleagues, consultants, and strategic partners.
  • Lead an area of practice that generates a sales and/or net revenue target of $2M-$4M.
  • Has an exceptional resume of work and specialized expertise that supports pre-positioning for and winning work. Serve as client or technical advisor. Serve as a regional SME or across multiple technical areas.
• Do
  • Responsible for projects, functions, and operational elements for their scope. Demonstrate broad leadership for professional excellence and project execution that drives client satisfaction. Collaborates across the business to drive innovation, synergies, partnerships, and knowledge sharing.
• Manage
  • Set the strategic direction and actively manage the performance for all work produced by team members and contributors to ensure successful business outcomes. Provide inspirational and inclusive team leadership, contribute to workplace culture, and take responsibility for attracting, developing, engaging and retaining talent.
• Grow
  • Think strategically about current and emerging trends or issues and lead in implementing actions to proactively address market, business, regulatory and/or economic issues. Align market trends and client/business needs through thought leadership.
  • Serve as a champion for innovation and transformation and influence others to demonstrate a growth-mindset.

Client & Project Focus:

• Exceeding client expectations through strong account management across the BC and personally leading accounts for major clients in the BC.
• Lead and participate in pursuits and campaigns for major BC opportunities.
• Lead delivery of significant BC project pursuits.
• Drive client relationship strategy in partnership with the Principal leadership team.
• Actively contribute to written content in major projects.
• Oversee risk management of projects and pursuits, including review of contracts, fees, proposals on large pursuits, in partnership with our risk management team.

Business Development & Collaboration:

• Actively contribute to win strategies and successful project execution through being hands-on in key pursuits, client management and project management.
• Lead growth of the BC through developing and leading the business development, key pursuit and sales strategy.
• Through our Principal leaders, expand our reach and client base using strong marketing, business development, sales account management plans.
• Develop and manage the marketing and business development (M&BD) plan for the BC including cross selling.
• Increase visibility of Stantec, to enhance our reputation and drive revenue, by sharing our knowledge and innovation story at key client engagements.
• Partner with other BCPLs and leaders to drive collaboration on pursuits across geographies and business lines.

Practice: 

• Inspire, motivate, and hold the team accountable for the delivery of innovative design solutions.
• Drive project excellence.
• Leads or assigns responsibility to manage project delivery, QAQC, discipline excellence and technical quality, documents quality and best practices in the execution of work.
• Leads or assigns responsibility for design excellence in all disciplines present in BC to foster innovation, sustainable design principles and use of technology.
• Responsible for compliance with ISO-certified Integrated management System and Project management (PM) Frameworks.
• Leads or assigns responsibility for management, needs assessment and provision of digital practice, tools and applications in support of BC to deliver work.

People Leadership:

• Support BCOL with developing, attracting, engaging and retaining top talent.
• Establish employee connectedness to leadership by interfacing frequently with employees.
• Partner with BCOL by conducting BC-wide meetings to communicate the vision, business strategy and progress against applicable action plans.
• Support the overall talent management lifecycle including career development, employee engagement, succession planning, coaching and mentoring, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development for the BC.

Business and Financial Management:

• Support BCOL with the annual budget for the BC, outlining the vision, focus, priorities for implementation, and setting specific goals for business performance.
• Accountable for top line revenue growth, the BCPL also supports the BCOL in meeting established targets net revenue, gross margin, SG&A, and operating income target in the BC.
• Responsible for net revenue forecasts by period, quarter and year end.