Business Operations Specialist

Business Operations Specialist! This role will sit out of Tampa, FL. This Opportunity This role will support Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) leadership in advancing commercial performance, operational efficiency, and strategic initiatives. This highly collaborative role serves as a trusted partner to project managers and business leaders, with primary responsibility for client rate negotiations, pursuit and audit-package coordination, stakeholder engagement, and fleet portfolio analysis. The position combines commercial judgment, detailed execution, and cross-functional coordination to improve margin outcomes, strengthen compliance, and support sound operational decision-making. Your Impact In this role, you will lead and coordinate high-value operational activities that directly influence project profitability, client relationships, and business performance. You will shape negotiation strategies for key clients, including the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT); prepare and coordinate the supporting audit and compliance documentation; and coach project managers on negotiation practices, staffing strategy, and team composition to help maximize margin. You will also support T&I leadership in launching new initiatives and building stakeholder alignment across the business. In addition, you will advance the T&I fleet strategy through portfolio analysis, identification of unused or unbilled vehicles, resolution of client-billability gaps, and improvements to fleet utilization and cost allocation. Key Responsibilities: Lead and facilitate rate negotiations with key clients, primarily FDOT, including negotiation planning, rate strategy, supporting analysis, and coordination of required approvals and documentation. Prepare and coordinate audit packages, overhead documentation, payroll records, operating-margin justifications, lower-tier certifications, rate schedules, and other financial compliance materials required for contract negotiations and fee proposals. Coach project managers on negotiation strategy, client expectations, and the strategic formation of project teams to strengthen competitiveness and maximize project margin. Coordinate the preparation, assembly, review, and submission of proposal and pursuit documentation for transportation infrastructure contracts and continuing services agreements. Develop and maintain staffing matrices, organizational charts, personnel qualification packages, resumes, certifications, and employee credentials for project pursuits. Manage FDOT pre-qualification records, certification requests, insurance documentation, and contract compliance requirements. Coordinate with technical staff, project managers, executives, subconsultants, and external partners to gather, validate, and deliver pursuit, negotiation, and compliance information on schedule. Support fee proposal development by collecting and validating labor classifications, staffing information, audit data, and rate schedules. Maintain accurate records related to employee qualifications, certifications, Construction Training Qualification Program (CTQP) credentials, resumes, and staffing resources used in project pursuits. Track deadlines and support multiple concurrent pursuits across transportation planning, construction engineering and inspection (CEI), infrastructure hardening, materials testing, and transportation statistics contracts. Support T&I leadership in developing and implementing new operational initiatives, coordinating cross-functional participation, and building stakeholder understanding and buy-in across the business. Support the T&I fleet strategy through portfolio analysis, vehicle chargeability reviews, fleet billing inquiries, asset tracking, chargeability reconciliations, and identification of unused or unbilled vehicles. Partner with project managers and corporate fleet teams to address client-billability gaps, resolve vehicle-related operational issues, and improve fleet utilization, policy compliance, and cost allocation. Educate project managers and employees on policies and procedures related to vehicle assignments, driver authorizations, vehicle billing, and fleet asset requests. Who You Are You are an experienced operations professional with a strong background in contract and rate negotiation, client coordination, pursuit support, and process development. You bring a commercially focused perspective and understand how project management, contracts, risk, staffing decisions, and project-level financial performance align with broader business objectives. You are collaborative, analytical, detail-oriented, and confident working across functions in fast-paced, complex delivery environments. Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. 5+ years of relevant experience Demonstrated experience supporting contract or rate negotiations, proposal development, client coordination, business operations, or a related commercial function. Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the judgment and professionalism required to work effectively with project managers, business leaders, clients, and external partners. Preferred Skillsets/Qualifications: Experience working with public-sector transportation clients, particularly FDOT, or within transportation infrastructure consulting. Experience working with owners, developers, general contractors, consultants, or commercial advisory teams. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft 365 Copilot. Experience developing and reviewing RFQs, SOQs, RFPs, proposals, contract-related documents, and client correspondence. Experience developing and implementing negotiation, pricing, or contract strategies. Experience preparing audit support, rate documentation, financial compliance materials, or fee proposals. Strong analytical skills, including the ability to evaluate operational portfolios, identify utilization or billing gaps, and translate findings into practical actions. Professional presence and a customer-service mindset when interacting with clients, consultants, leadership, and stakeholders. Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team while maintaining ownership and accountability for assigned work. #LI-MC1 #J-18808-Ljbffr