Jacobs Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

As the Cities and Places Practice Leader, you will play a strategic, highly visible role focused on strengthening long-term client partnerships, shaping pursuit strategies, developing diƯerentiated value propositions, and guiding project excellence across Jacobs’ markets with a specific focus on Higher Education. You will partner closely with global market teams, regional growth and sales, and technical and operational leaders to position Jacobs as the premier consultant and delivery partner with a special focus on Higher Education institutions.

This role blends strategic market leadership, client engagement, business development, and project delivery oversight, with the overarching goal of accelerating growth, driving innovation, and securing major opportunities across the Corporate+Commercial, Health, Aviation, Science and Technology with a particular focus in the Higher Education sector.

Client & Market Leadership

• Cultivate, secure, and strengthen long-term, trust-based client partnerships by leveraging Jacobs’ global capabilities and creating valued, differentiated client propositions.

• Serve as a primary representative of Jacobs to higher education clients, demonstrating a relationship-oriented, solutions-focused approach.

• Engage C-suite and executive stakeholders using high-quality thought leadership, unique market insights, and compelling content that elevates Jacobs’ profile.

• Develop a deep understanding of client drivers, aligning Jacobs’ solutions with institutional objectives, long-range capital planning, and operational priorities.

• Represent Jacobs at key industry conferences, symposiums, workshops, and professional organizations, expanding visibility and connections within the higher education market.

• Strategic Growth & Pursuit Leadership

• Identify, assess, and prioritize business opportunities that drive sustained growth in the Higher Education practice.

• Drive achievement of defined sales targets across the West Region, with goals established and tracked in partnership with the Executive Director of Sales for each geographic market.

• Lead development of win strategies, value propositions, and capture plans for major pursuits, ensuring solutions are positioned to achieve maximum competitive advantage.

• Facilitate Go/No-Go decisions, ensuring alignment with opportunity potential, ROI, and firmwide priorities.

• Shape and manage the proposal development process, including coordination of market solutions, subject matter experts, capture teams, fee proposals, and negotiation strategy.

• Actively influence and participate in client interviews, presentations, and strategic conversations to improve win probability.

• Maintain a strong understanding of competitors, market shifts, and emerging trends to better position Jacobs for success.

Thought Leadership & Communications

• Create and disseminate thought leadership, market insights, and strategic analyses that elevate Jacobs’ expertise in higher education.

• Partner with global and regional teams to develop annual growth and marketing plans, including proactive storytelling to showcase Jacobs’ innovations and achievements.

• Contribute industry foresight to inform the development of high-value solutions, accelerators, and market differentiators.

• People Leadership, Talent Development & Culture

• Attract, develop, and retain top talent while advancing Jacobs’ Inclusion & Diversity goals.

• Actively mentor, sponsor, and coach team members to foster a supportive, growth-oriented culture.

• Participate in and contribute to global Communities of Practice, sharing lessons learned and best practices across regions.

Project Delivery Support & Oversight

• Provide leadership and oversight for strategic, complex, multi-phased projects, ensuring alignment with client objectives, budgets, schedules, safety standards, and quality expectations.

• Support Senior Project Managers in overseeing scope, cost, schedule, design, construction contracts, project controls, and information management.

• Assist with planning and facilitating meetings; prepare agendas, documentation, presentations, and meeting notes.

• Review consultant and contractor pay applications, change orders, and submittals to verify compliance and accuracy.

• Support procurement processes by compiling, submitting, and tracking purchase requisitions, change orders, and pay applications.

• Help resolve complex project-related issues, disputes, and disagreements, ensuring timely escalation and resolution.

• Contribute to successful project completion through strong coordination, communication, and alignment of multidisciplinary teams.

Collaboration & Reporting Structure

This role requires approximately 20% commitment to Regional Market Solutions Lead responsibilities, in addition to strategic project and pursuit engagement. The Higher Education Practice Leader will collaborate closely with:

• Regional Solutions Director

• West Region C&P Market Director

• Global Market Directors

• Global Solution Directors

• Americas Regional Leads

• Strong, durable client relationships at the executive level

• Clear growth in market share and strategic wins across the Higher Education portfolio

• High-quality, differentiated positioning of Jacobs in key pursuits

• Increased visibility through thought leadership and industry engagement

• Effective development and retention of top talent

• Demonstrated influence on pursuit outcomes and project execution excellence

• Corporate+Commercial, Health, Aviation, Science and Technology with a particular focus in the Higher Education sector experience

• Architect degree with 20+ years of experience

Jacobs is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, medical condition, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression and transgender status, mental disability or physical disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, low-income status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. Learn more about your rights under Federal EEO laws and supplemental language.