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Business Unit Leader Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Trilon Group

$150K - $200K/yr

AEC Business Unit Leader - South Region Department: Operations Employment Type: Full Time Location: East Peoria, IL Compensation: $150,000 - $200,000 / year Description Trilon is a holding company ...

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How much do business unit leader jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for business unit leader in the United States is $41.58, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $35.82 and $43.27 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Business Unit Leader typically interact with other departments to achieve organizational goals?

A Business Unit Leader frequently collaborates with leaders from departments such as finance, marketing, operations, and human resources to ensure alignment with the organization's overall strategy. This role often requires cross-functional meetings to coordinate initiatives, share resources, and address challenges proactively. Effective communication and negotiation skills are essential, as Business Unit Leaders must balance the needs of their unit with broader company objectives. Building strong interdepartmental relationships is key to driving performance and delivering results.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Business Unit Leader, and why are they important?

To excel as a Business Unit Leader, you need strong business acumen, strategic planning abilities, and leadership experience, often supported by a degree in business or a related field. Familiarity with financial management tools, performance tracking systems, and CRM platforms is typically required. Exceptional communication, decision-making, and team-building skills help drive engagement and align teams with organizational objectives. These competencies are vital for achieving business goals, fostering innovation, and ensuring sustained growth within the business unit.

What Is a Business Unit Leader?

A business unit leader is the manager of a specific department of a company. As a unit leader, your duties include overseeing the daily operations of the unit, training new staff, and ensuring that the unit is meeting its goals. You should have frequent contact with executives and report on the efficiency and productivity of your group. Qualifications for this job include a mix of experience, skills, and education. You should have a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related subject. An MBA may also be useful for career advancement. Typically, business unit leaders have experience in the department that they manage. Working your way up through a unit to a manager role is a common route. A keen eye for organization, leadership qualities, and strong written and verbal communication are necessary as well.

What is the difference between Business Unit Leader vs Department Manager?

AspectBusiness Unit LeaderDepartment Manager
CredentialsOften requires leadership experience, industry-specific knowledge, and sometimes advanced degreesTypically requires a bachelor's degree; management experience preferred
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple teams or functions within a business unit, strategic focusManages a specific department or team, operational focus
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in large corporations across industries like manufacturing, tech, and financeFound in various industries, often in corporate or organizational settings

The Business Unit Leader generally has broader responsibilities, overseeing multiple departments or functions within a business unit, focusing on strategic growth. In contrast, a Department Manager manages a specific department's daily operations. Both roles require leadership skills, but the scope and strategic level differ significantly.

What are Business Unit Leaders?

Business Unit Leaders are executives responsible for overseeing a specific division or unit within a larger organization. They manage the unit's operations, set strategic goals, and ensure alignment with the company's overall objectives. Their role includes leadership of teams, budget management, and driving growth and profitability within their unit. Business Unit Leaders often report to senior executives and play a key role in decision-making and organizational success.
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Business Unit Leader jobs near you
Infographic showing various Business Unit Leader job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,494 per year, or $41.6 per hour.
Business Unit Leader - South Region

Business Unit Leader - South Region

Trilon Group

Saint Louis, MO • On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday

Job description

Business Unit Leader - South Region
Department: Operations
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: St. Louis, MO
Compensation: $150,000 - $200,000 / year
Description
Trilon is a holding company that buys and builds market-leading engineering services companies organized through different platform end markets and geographies. Trilon Partner Business Unit VPs are responsible for the overall outcome of their respective business unit by driving internal collaboration, hiring / mentoring / retaining all-star leaders, and owning organic growth - all in partnership with the other Partner Business Units, Partner President and the Platform Team.
The Business Unit VP is responsible for the financial performance, strategic direction, and operational execution of the business unit. The business unit leader drives growth, ensures technical excellence, and develops talent within their business unit while also working collaboratively within their broader Platform Partner and Platform to grow backlog, revenue, EBITDA, and other key financial metrics. Additionally, this key role is responsible for creating and sustaining Trilon's People First culture and is responsible for hiring, organizational health, employee development, and other key talent related metrics. The Business Unit VP is a key member of the senior leadership team and will play a pivotal role in scaling the firm through sound management of people, projects, and processes.
What's in it for you?
We offer an exciting and engaging work environment where every day brings new challenges and opportunities. At Fehr Graham, we don't just manage projects - we bring them to life! This position will put you in the driver's seat to steer our transportation projects to success. If you have a passion for transforming concepts into tangible achievements and hope to accelerate your career, we want you on our team.
Where you'll work
The position is based in any of our 12 offices in Illinois, Iowa or Wisconsin. At Fehr Graham, we pride ourselves on delivering personalized attention and building trust with our clients. We believe in the power of skilled professionals who provide exceptional service. We also believe in work-life balance, and that includes injecting a healthy dose of fun into everything we do. It's even part of our Core Values! We celebrate milestones and enjoy friendly team-building activities and office outings after work. A happy and engaged work team is a successful one. Each of our offices brings an environment filled with positive energy and enthusiasm. We encourage our teams to connect on multiple levels and support each other's personal and professional growth.
What you'll getYou'll have plenty of opportunities to grow professionally at our progressive firm, which started in 1973. Our people-first organization is focused on giving our employees the opportunity for growth. In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer:
  • Medical/dental/vision
  • Life insurance
  • Disability insurance
  • 401K Retirement Plan
  • Profit-sharing bonus plan
  • Paid time off
  • An awesome work environment.

Learn more about Fehr Graham's people, culture and projects on our website.
Responsibility/Accountability
Strategic Leadership: understand and lead in alignment with the vision of the Platform Partner.
  • Along with Partner President, set direction of business unit through development, execution and leadership of a 3-year One-Page Plan.
  • Enlist and align Business Unit team in strategic, operational, people, and financial targets for the Platform Partner.
  • Actively lead and grow the Business Unit while collaborating with and supporting other Business Units, the [Platform Partner] and the [Platform].
  • Ensures projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to quality standards
  • Optimizes utilization and billability across technical teams
  • Drive integration and actionable growth plans for Add-On M&A opportunities that reside within their Business Unit
  • Leverages extraordinary communication skills and executive presence to align, motivate, and inform talent throughout the business unit.

Fiscal Management: ensure the business exceeds or meets annual and quarterly financial targets.
  • Demonstrate a strong understanding of relevant financial metrics and KPIs with an emphasis on achieving Net Service Revenue and EBITDA growth targets.
  • Drive a culture of strong fiscal and business acumen that empowers the team to seek continuous improvement in core smart metrics of book-to-burn, revenue factor, overhead rate and net DSO.
  • Play an active role in the annual budgeting process.
  • Directly supervise and evaluate Business Unit staff and the financial and operational performance of projects within their business unit.
  • Own financial and key non-financial performance areas such as safety, client engagement, staff development and retention, and cross-business collaboration.
  • Maintain ~30-50% UTE levels primarily through project reviews and / or the management of larger projects

Business Development: maintain clear alignment with the strategic direction of the Platform Partner in pursuit of strategic clients, wallet share expansion, application of technology, and cross-selling.
  • Prioritize business development toward markets, clients and projects that present greatest potential for sustainable growth in revenue, earnings and talent for the Business Unit and Platform Partner.
  • Challenge and focus business development professionals to pursue larger opportunities that reflect the size and collective strength of all of Trilon (without diluting the core and highly profitable repeat smaller projects for clients).
  • Drive long-term organic growth in backlog, revenue, and earnings.
  • Bring strong community advocacy for sustainable infrastructure development and ensure the team is active in client engagement, industry participation, and thought leadership.

Company and Culture Champion: maintain high engagement and eNPS scores across the Business Unit.
  • Build followership and create a positive culture in the Business Unit by listening to employees and supporting an environment of belonging and equity.
  • Actively engaged with the Platform Partner President and management team to establish and achieve key people metrics such as headcount growth, eNPS/employee engagement, development & acceleration of careers, and best in class employee retention.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration and consistently promote cross-functional work in partnership with the Trilon family of firms

Requirements/Attributes
  • Bachelor's degree required in a technical discipline (Engineering, Science, Planning, Landscape Architecture).
  • Extensive professional experience including at least 10 years leading an engineering or science- based organization that offers diverse services (environmental, facilities, transportation, water, etc.); or an operational or business development unit within such an organization is required.
  • Demonstrated track record of business success based on recognized industry metrics.
  • Excellent managerial and financial skills and the ability to take ownership over business unit while leading with a People First mindset.
  • Superlative communication skills, especially the ability to communicate as a leader with internal and external stakeholders, political leaders, regulators, and the media.
  • Highly developed strategic thinking, financial, analytical, and problem-solving skills; financially disciplined and metrics driven.
  • Demonstrated history of successfully managing a P&L, leading a division, and/or multiple large projects and programs. and understand the levers for profitable growth.
  • Uses data plus operational and financial KPIs to inform decision-making.
  • Coachable, low-ego, and receptive to feedback.
  • High level of self-awareness.

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