Client Development Manager - Engineering

As an Engineering Client Development Manager (CDM), you leverage your engineering background to serve as the technical face of Randstad’s Engineering vertical. Operating in a specialized consultative model, you bridge the gap between complex industry needs and technical talent strategy. You will partner with engineering leaders in EPC, Energy, and Advanced Manufacturing to solve their most critical workforce challenges through a value-based, proactive approach.

As a key driver of our "Split Desk" model, you own the strategic client relationship—identifying and expanding opportunities for contract, project-based, and specialized talent solutions—while partnering with a dedicated recruiting team that handles the candidate delivery. This is a pivotal role for a technical professional looking to transition their expertise into a high-impact, commercial leadership career.

This is a Chicago-based hybrid role, requiring three days in-office weekly

What you get to do:

• Solve complex workforce challenges by partnering with engineering leaders in EPC, Energy, and Manufacturing to translate their technical requirements into high-impact talent and project-based solutions
• Drive strategic account growth by acting as a technical consultant to identify and secure new business opportunities, leveraging your industry expertise to expand Randstad's footprint within key engineering verticals
• Lead the "split desk" partnership by owning the client relationship and strategy while collaborating with a dedicated recruiting team to align specialized talent pipelines with sophisticated client demands
• Manage the end-to-end negotiation of staffing contracts and rate structures to ensuring competitive, profitable, and sustainable placements for both clients and candidates
• Act as an industry Subject Matter Expert by gaining a deep understanding of client operations to provide data-driven advice on market trends, staffing strategies, and specialized project fulfillment.
• Execute business development strategies to sell end-to-end engineering staffing services, from short-term contract support to temp-to-hire transitions
• Foster strategic alliances and collaborate with internal leaders and other LOBs for cross-selling opportunities
• Use CRM tools (Salesforce, Bullhorn) to manage pipeline, forecasting, and activity tracking
• Manage the job order fulfillment process, collaborating with the Talent Manager to align job requirements with talent needs.
• Stay informed and ensure compliance with client-specific rules, regulations, and onboarding procedures.

What you need to bring:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering required, professional certifications such as PE, EIT, CMfgE, or CEPC are highly preferred to ensure immediate technical credibility with clients
• Deep technical acumen and a working knowledge of client environments within EPC, Energy, and/or Advanced Manufacturing sectors
• Demonstrated ability (or high potential) to master solution selling and value-based negotiation, focusing on solving complex client challenges rather than transactional sales
• Proficiency in using data analysis, financial modeling, and the engineering design process to develop sustainable workforce strategies and competitive talent solutions
• A self-starting, results-oriented professional with the ability to navigate a metrics-driven landscape, prioritize high-value tasks, and strategically expand key account relationships
• Proven ability to act as a strategic advisor, leveraging a consultative approach to diagnose client skill gaps and architect custom workforce solutions that align with technical project milestones and business objective
• Solid grasp of technical competence, problem-solving, and ethical governing principles, including public safety and integrity. Key principles encompass the engineering design process (safety, functionality, sustainability), teamwork, communication, and continuous learning for solution development and refinement
• Demonstrated capacity to drive market penetration and strategically expand key accounts by delivering tailored workforce solutions within a high-growth, performance-oriented landscape

This job posting is open for 4 weeks.

Randstad offers competitive pay and bonus structures. Pay offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc. Based on eligibility, a successful candidate's total compensation may include a variable pay plan including bonus(es) and/or commission(s). In setting compensation, Randstad complies with all local wage and hour laws and while the pay range listed above is an annual amount, non-exempt employees will be paid hourly and therefore receive the hourly equivalent.

In addition, Randstad, the largest global staffing leader, offers rich learning & professional development opportunities, a 401(k) plan, a stock purchase plan, an employee referral reward program, and comprehensive medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance to uniquely fit your needs. Randstad also focuses on our employees' overall wellbeing with our award-winning wellness program, employee assistance program, a generous time off policy (including at least 18 paid days off in your first full year, 1 paid volunteer day, 9 paid holidays, and 5 sick days), paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, a health and dependent care flexible spending account, Metlife home and auto insurance offerings, a Metlife legal plan offering, and offers discounts on everything from cell phone plans to car purchases.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status.

We are seeking candidates from all backgrounds and demographics and a variety of industries to join our winning team! Randstad is proud to be included in the prestigious "America's Best Employers for Women 2024" list. Randstad US has also been recognized as a 2024 Leading Disability Employer by the National Organization on Disability (NOD). At Randstad, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact [email protected] .