Senior Client Advisor/ Local Agency Program Lead

GFT is seeking a highly experienced transportation leader to serve as a Senior Client Advisor and Local Agency Programs Leader. This role is ideal for an experienced AEC professional with deep expertise in local agency transportation programs, funding strategies, and interagency coordination.

In this role, you will help strengthen GFT's presence across Northeastern Illinois by serving as a trusted advisor to counties, municipalities, and partner agencies. You will focus on building relationships, guiding program strategy, and supporting business development, while providing valuable insight to internal teams based on real-world public agency leadership experience.

What you'll be challenged to do:

In this highly strategic role, you will serve as a senior advisor to both clients and internal teams -helping shape transportation programs, guide funding strategies, and support successful project delivery. This position focuses on leadership and advisory contributions rather than day-to-day project or staff management.

In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

Client Leadership & Relationship Management

• Serve as a key client lead for county and municipal transportation agencies
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local agencies, elected officials, and key stakeholders
• Act as a trusted liaison between client organizations and GFT teams to ensure alignment with client priorities

Program Strategy & Advisory

• Provide strategic guidance on capital programs, project scoping, and prioritization
• Advise on Phase I and Phase II engineering, public engagement, and stakeholder coordination
• Guide clients through IDOT BLR/BDE processes and federal-aid project requirements
• Support clients in identifying and pursuing funding
• Advise on project packaging, timing, and positioning to maximize funding success

Local Agency Program Management Support

• Support the growth of GFT's Local Agency Program Management services as an extension of client staff
• Provide guidance on program delivery, documentation, and coordination to help accelerate project timelines
• Assist in developing scalable solutions for agencies facing staffing and delivery challenges

Business Development & Market Growth

• Support and lead pursuit strategies for local agency clients across the region for all GFT business groups
• Contribute to proposals, scope development, and client presentations
• Identify upcoming opportunities by tracking capital programs, budgets, and funding cycles
• Strengthen GFT's presence and reputation in the local agency transportation market
• Work across business group to assist in aligning GFT growth areas with pursuits for local agency clients
• Engage with industry organizations such as ACEC and IRTBA

Internal Advisory & Collaboration

• Provide strategic and technical advisory support across projects and pursuits
• Mentor teams by sharing public-sector insight on risk, coordination, and stakeholder expectations
• Support development of best practices and client delivery strategies
• Collaborate with planning and engineering teams to align solutions with client needs

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships - that's why we're the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry's brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century's experience, together we're building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.

GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans' status or other characteristics protected by law.

Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property GFT.

GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.

Location: Greater Chicago Area
Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Employment Status: Full-Time

Applicants in the County of Los Angeles-Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Applicants in the City of San Francisco- Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Applicants in the State of California-Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.

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