Vice President, Business Development

Exponent•Menlo Park, CA

17h•Onsite

About The Position

Exponent is seeking a Vice President of Business Development to provide firm-wide leadership for our global business development strategy and organization. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role is based at Exponent’s headquarters in Menlo Park, CA, and will partner with leadership across all practices and geographies. At Exponent, our consultants are our primary business developers, bringing technical credibility, judgment, and trusted client relationships to the market. This role is designed to amplify and complement that model. The Vice President of Business Development will serve as a senior, market-facing partner to Exponent’s leadership and consulting teams, helping to create opportunities, open doors to new client relationships, and strengthen the firm’s presence with senior buyers in our core markets, while also leading and strengthening the firm’s business development and marketing teams. This leader will combine external credibility, sound judgment, and a strong executive network with the ability to shape and execute a cohesive, firm-wide business development strategy. Working in close partnership with the CEO, President, Group Vice Presidents, Practice Directors, and Office Directors, the Vice President will strengthen Exponent’s global client ecosystem, support consultants as they go to market, and drive sustained, high-quality growth—both within and complementary to Exponent’s seller/doer consulting paradigm. As a visible ambassador for the firm, the Vice President of Business Development will represent Exponent in premium, high-stakes environments where scientific rigor, independence, and credibility matter most, while ensuring the firm’s business development and marketing efforts operate as a disciplined, integrated engine aligned with Exponent’s long-term strategy, culture, and values.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, marketing, or another relevant discipline
Technical fluency and the ability to understand, synthesize, and clearly communicate the breadth of Exponent’s engineering and scientific work—and to translate that capability into trusted client relationships and growth opportunities
Ten or more years of experience leading business development within a high-end professional services firm, with demonstrated success supporting complex, expertise-driven offerings
A strong, established network of senior-level relationships within the corporate, legal, and/or regulatory communities, with credibility among decision-makers, influencers, and buying audiences in Exponent’s core markets
Demonstrated experience engaging with legal, regulatory, and risk-informed buyers, including the ability to navigate sophisticated client environments where independence, judgment, and scientific rigor are critical
Proven ability to partner effectively with senior executives, practice leaders, and multidisciplinary technical teams in a collaborative, consultant-centric environment
Demonstrated success building, mentoring, and leading high-performing business development and/or marketing teams that operate with discipline, accountability, and impact
Strong strategic, analytical, and interpersonal skills, coupled with sound judgment and executive presence in premium, high-stakes client environments
Leadership approach aligned with Exponent’s core values of technical rigor, objectivity, respect, collaborative diversity, and meaningful impact

Responsibilities

Developing and executing a firm-wide business development strategy that drives sustainable revenue growth, profitability, and long-term global market positioning
Leading Exponent’s internal business development and marketing functions, ensuring an integrated, disciplined approach that supports consultant-led client development
Serving as a senior, market-facing partner to firm leadership and consulting teams—helping to create opportunities, open doors to new and expanded client relationships, and strengthen engagement with senior corporate, legal, and regulatory buyers
Monitoring market, industry, legal, and regulatory trends to identify emerging opportunities and inform the firm’s growth priorities
Partnering closely with the CEO, President, Group Vice Presidents, Practice Directors, Office Directors, and consultants to develop new and differentiated service offerings and enhance cross-practice collaboration
Strengthening Exponent’s brand, market presence, and reputation as a premier engineering and scientific consulting firm known for rigor, independence, and sound judgment
Creating platforms and events to accelerate the business development capabilities and market connections of next-generation consultants
Attracting, developing, and leading a high-performing business development and marketing organization, fostering a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative culture
Building and sustaining strong internal and external relationships that advance the firm’s strategy and deliver meaningful value to clients and communities