National Practice Lead - Planning & Advisory

PLANNING & ADVISORY

Michael Baker's Planning & Advisory Practice brings together the strategic thinkers, planners, economists, analysts, and advisors who help clients make some of their most important decisions. Working across the full range of markets we serve, our teams help agencies, communities, and organizations define vision, shape policy, prioritize investments, evaluate opportunities, and implement solutions that deliver lasting value. By combining integrated planning with practical advisory expertise, we help clients navigate complexity, manage risk, and turn ambitious goals into actionable strategies and achievable outcomes. This is a practice focused not only on what comes next, but on helping clients successfully get there.

DESCRIPTION

The National Practice Lead, Planning & Advisory, is a key national role for an established industry leader, responsible for advancing the growth, technical excellence, strategic direction, and long-term success of Michael Baker International's Planning & Advisory Practice. Working in partnership with National Market Leaders, Operations leadership, and Vertical leaders, the NPL develops and executes practice growth strategies, strengthens the firm's technical capabilities, supports key client and pursuit activities, and ensures the Practice remains positioned to support enterprise growth objectives.

The NPL serves as the firm's senior leader for the Planning & Advisory Practice, providing leadership to a national team of technical experts, practice leaders, and growth-focused professionals while fostering collaboration across regions, markets, and business units. The position is responsible for guiding capability development, talent strategy, innovation, technical excellence, and practice performance while supporting operational delivery through technical leadership, resource alignment, and strategic engagement on major opportunities. Through industry leadership, client engagement, and national coordination, the NPL helps drive sustainable growth and reinforces Michael Baker's reputation as a leader in Planning & Advisory services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Leadership of National Practice Team

• Will manage and direct a National Practice leadership team consisting of technical leaders, specialty practice leaders, national-level Project Managers, and growth-focused subject matter experts to advance Practice objectives and support enterprise growth.
• Coordinate deployment of national technical expertise and specialty resources to support strategic pursuits, major programs, workshare opportunities, and critical delivery needs across the enterprise
• Develop a Strategic Plan to guide both our short and long-term growth strategy in the practice. Lead organizational and cultural change to support excellence and growth of the Practice.
• Collaborate with other Markets, Practices and Operational Leaders related to practice pursuits, lending expertise and strategy, and driving multidisciplinary and cross-market synergies. 
• Maintain awareness of industry trends and developments, funding, legislation, competitor actions, and client initiatives that will impact business and use these to inform strategy development and implementation. 
• Provide Business Development and Client Engagement strategy to capture new projects and clients and services nationwide. 

Practice Growth 

• Develop a Strategic Plan to guide both our short and long-term growth strategy in the practice. Lead organizational and cultural change to support excellence and growth of the Practice.
• Collaborate with other Markets, Practices and Operational Leaders related to practice pursuits, lending expertise and strategy, and driving multidisciplinary and cross-market synergies. 
• Maintain awareness of industry trends and developments, funding, legislation, competitor actions, and client initiatives that will impact business and use these to inform strategy development and implementation. 
• Provide Business Development and Client Engagement strategy to capture new projects and clients and services nationwide.

Technical Excellence & Quality

• Establish and champion Practice-wide technical excellence strategies, standards, innovation initiatives, professional development programs, and knowledge-sharing efforts.
• Provide advice and guidance to staff; provide industry leadership and technical best practice for Michael Baker clients and stakeholders
• Assist in the development of firm-wide talent through coaching and mentoring and identification of technical resources within area of subject matter expertise.
• Partner with Operations leadership to support project delivery excellence through technical oversight, resource deployment, quality initiatives, risk mitigation, workshare coordination, and practice performance improvement efforts.
• Foster resource leveling to enhance project delivery and quality, optimize efficiency and utilization, develop scalable expertise, and support individual talent professional / career development. 
• Seek opportunities to create visibility through presentations at relevant conferences/meetings; actively participate in planning committees for trade organizations and conferences. 
• Build and maintain effective relationships across Michael Baker offices, external organizations, and potential teaming partners to foster cooperation across relevant fields, including with the design-build community. 
• Lead, manage, evaluate, budget, recruit, and build the National Practice team. 
• Develop and maintain a Practice Growth Strategy aligned with Growth Market priorities, enterprise strategy, and the long-term advancement of Practice capabilities, services, and talent.
• Maintain and grow the MSIS funnel for Tier 1 or otherwise key or strategic practice pursuits.
• Identify and attract key talent to MBI within the practice. Interview candidates for key positions. 
• Decrease turnover within the Practice via engagement with key leaders identified in the Talent Management process.
• Partner with Regional Practice Leads and Department Managers companywide to mentor, guide, and help them to grow including client engagement, pursuit strategy, growth strategy, and talent management. 
• Support Growth Market strategies through client engagement, strategic pursuits, and advancement of Practice capabilities in partnership with National Market Leaders, Operations leadership, and pursuit teams.
• Build practice team via Talent Management process, helping organize teams appropriately, seeding new service lines in new markets, and having the Practice approach opportunities nationally. 
• Guide/Lead Strategic Investment decisions for the practice companywide.
• Partner across Verticals to act as One Baker.  Look for opportunities to connect dots and expand opportunities for each.
• Partner with Operations and other Practice Leadership to balance investments and engagement priorities and timing to support Operational Excellence while driving Growth.
• Grow MBI’s profile via engagement and presentations at key Industry Events.

Talent Development & Succession

• Assist in the development of firm-wide talent through coaching and mentoring and identification of technical resources within area of subject matter expertise.

Operational Excellence Support

• Partner with Operations leadership to support project delivery excellence through technical oversight, resource deployment, quality initiatives, risk mitigation, workshare coordination, and practice performance improvement efforts.
• Foster resource leveling to enhance project delivery and quality, optimize efficiency and utilization, develop scalable expertise, and support individual talent professional / career development. 

Industry Leadership 

• Seek opportunities to create visibility through presentations at relevant conferences/meetings; actively participate in planning committees for trade organizations and conferences. 
• Build and maintain effective relationships across Michael Baker offices, external organizations, and potential teaming partners to foster cooperation across relevant fields, including with the design-build community. 

SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES

• Lead, manage, evaluate, budget, recruit, and build the National Practice team. 
• Develop and maintain a Practice Growth Strategy aligned with Growth Market priorities, enterprise strategy, and the long-term advancement of Practice capabilities, services, and talent.
• Maintain and grow the MSIS funnel for Tier 1 or otherwise key or strategic practice pursuits.
• Identify and attract key talent to MBI within the practice. Interview candidates for key positions. 
• Decrease turnover within the Practice via engagement with key leaders identified in the Talent Management process.
• Partner with Regional Practice Leads and Department Managers companywide to mentor, guide, and help them to grow including client engagement, pursuit strategy, growth strategy, and talent management. 
• Support Growth Market strategies through client engagement, strategic pursuits, and advancement of Practice capabilities in partnership with National Market Leaders, Operations leadership, and pursuit teams.
• Build practice team via Talent Management process, helping organize teams appropriately, seeding new service lines in new markets, and having the Practice approach opportunities nationally. 
• Guide/Lead Strategic Investment decisions for the practice companywide.
• Partner across Verticals to act as One Baker.  Look for opportunities to connect dots and expand opportunities for each.
• Partner with Operations and other Practice Leadership to balance investments and engagement priorities and timing to support Operational Excellence while driving Growth.
• Grow MBI’s profile via engagement and presentations at key Industry Events.

REQUIREMENTS

• 15+ years of relevant experience
• BS degree required; Master’s degree or above preferred
• Proper license or certificate for particular discipline strongly preferred

COMPENSATION

The approximate base compensation range for this position is $250K-$329K and is bonus eligible. This compensation range is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting.  Actual compensation is dependent upon factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and physical work location.  

BENEFITS​

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:   ​

• Medical, dental, vision insurance   ​
• 401 (k) Retirement Plan   ​
• Health Savings Account (HSA)   ​
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)   ​
• Life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability   ​
• Professional and personal development   ​
• Generous paid time off​
• Commuter and wellness benefits 

#LI-TS2 #LI-HYBRID 

THIS POSTING IS FOR A CURRENT VACANCY AND MICHAEL BAKER INTENDS TO FILL THIS POSITION NO SOONER THAN DECEMBER 2026.