Business Development Leader-Airports Market (California)

ESA seeks a dynamic and experienced Business Development Leader to join our leadership team. This role will provide strategic leadership for our Airports Market in California and support ESA's national growth. The ideal candidate will have a blend of client and business development skills, project management expertise, and a passion for driving market growth. This will be a hybrid position based out of one of ESA's California offices (Los Angeles, Irvine, San Diego, Pasadena, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, Petaluma).

Who You Are

• You are a confident, approachable leader with 15 or more years of relevant professional experience who thrives on building long-term relationships with clients and colleagues.
• You value people and enjoy providing strategic advice and technical support to clients and professional mentorship to colleagues.
• You are a recognized expert in the aviation industry and have experience working on a variety of environmental projects in the aviation sector in California. You are highly skilled at implementing FAA and state regulatory guidance, preparing environmental documents, and effectively working with the FAA and Airport Sponsors on project implementation strategies. You are a creative problem solver who can adapt quickly to changes or challenges and identify a constructive path forward.
• You are a collaborative communicator who maintains high standards and sets a respectful, positive example for others. You have prepared business, strategic or capture plans, and have comprehensive knowledge of project management, financial management, and industry best practices.
• You hold a bachelor's or graduate degree in environmental, engineering, planning, aviation or a related field and a strong desire to continue to learn and grow in the aviation industry.
• Able to pass a 10-year background check for project-based assignments.
• Able to travel to client sites and to attend industry meetings.

What You Will Do for ESA

• Serve as the California Airport market sub lead, collaborating with the Market Leader (ML), Practice Leaders (PLs) and Business Group Directors (BGDs) to develop a regional growth strategy to elevate client service.
• Lead business development efforts to secure new projects, expand the client base, and build long-term partnerships.
• Cultivate and maintain strong client relationships with airport operators, public agencies, teaming partners, and private developers.
• Collaborate with marketing and proposal teams to create compelling proposals and presentations.
• Actively participate in our Airports Market Development Team meetings to advance regional and national market initiatives.
• Promote industry leadership through conference speaking opportunities, articles, and blogs.
• Identify and recruit key staff to support market growth.
• Serve as a key client manager and strategic advisor on CEQA/NEPA/regulatory permitting compliance for regional and national clients.
• Promote the full range of ESA's services to Aviation Market clients.
• Direct and support regional and national Airports projects, leveraging resources effectively.
• Ensure proactive project management, risk management, and quality control principles are implemented to optimize client service and project performance.
• Mentor and train staff to build client service and business development capacity and foster a consultancy and continual learning mindset.
• Work with ESA's senior CEQA/NEPA practitioners to share expertise and elevate ESA's CEQA/NEPA profile.

What's Special About Our Airports Team

Our Airports Practice is a nationally focused group of aviation planning and environmental specialists supporting complex, high-profile projects across the country. We work as an integrated, multidisciplinary team and place a strong emphasis on client service, collaboration, innovation, and cross-disciplinary coordination. Our clients span the public and private sectors and include airports, airlines, air cargo operators, private developers, state departments of transportation, and the FAA.

What's Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of an industry leading team of employee owners who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.

ESA provides medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you and your family), annual allocations of company shares through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.