Business Development Leader
Business Development Leader
Help Build the Relationships That Shape West Michigan
Role Overview
Every building Clark delivers starts long before the first shovel hits the ground. It starts with a conversation. Maybe it's a school board weighing a bond, a developer kicking around an idea, or an architect looking for a builder they can count on. We're looking for a Business Development Leader to have more of those conversations across West Michigan, and build upon our success in the region over the past several years.
Here's why this role matters. Winning work looks different than it did a few years ago. Owners want a partner who understands their goals early, not a contractor who shows up on bid day. So, the job is building real relationships with owners, architects, engineers, and developers well before a project goes public, and then helping figure out how we turn that relationship into a win.
You'll own the relationships and the pipeline for a set of markets and geographies. You'll work side by side with our Market Sector Leads, project teams, and Marketing team to make smart Go/No-Go calls, build pursuit strategy, and put Clark in a position to win. You might also walk K-12 and government clients through a bond campaign and help their communities make the case for the buildings they need.
This isn't a lone-wolf sales job. Business development at Clark is a team sport, and you're the one connecting the dots between what a client needs, what our people do best, and how we tell that story when it counts.
This role works out of our Grand Rapids office and supports clients all over West Michigan. Ideal candidates live in or near Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Wyoming, or surrounding areas nearby.
What You'll Do
- Build a West Michigan network of owners, developers, owner's reps, architects, and engineers who think of Clark first.
- Own your pipeline from the first coffee to the signed contract. Research targets, track opportunities, and keep things moving.
- Lead Go/No-Go conversations with solid market, client, and financial insight so we chase the right work.
- Shape pursuit strategy with our Market Sector Leads and project teams, from win themes to interview prep.
- Work with Marketing on how we position Clark, the client events we host, and the story we tell in proposals.
- Stay close to clients after the win. Keep their trust and earn the next project.
- Show up where our clients are: industry groups, conferences, and community events.
- Help set yearly business development goals for your markets, and own the results.
- Coach others at Clark as they build their own client relationships.
What Success Looks Like
You know West Michigan's key owners and design firms by name, and they know you. You have a solid pipeline, a clear plan for your markets, and a seat at the table on active pursuits. A few early wins will show the plan is working.
You're a familiar face in the West Michigan building community. Clients will call you before projects go public. You'll help grow Clark's Grand Rapids presence in new markets, mentor the next group of client-facing leaders, and have a real path toward bigger business development and market leadership roles.
What You'll Bring
- 10+ years in the architecture, engineering, or construction (AEC) world, with at least 5 in business development or another client-facing growth role.
- A robust West Michigan network you've already built with owners, developers, architects, engineers, and trade partners.
- A track record of turning relationships into won work, plus the discipline to manage a pipeline from lead to close.
- The ability to put together a business development plan, set revenue goals, and hit them.
- Comfort presenting, whether it's a one-on-one coffee or a formal project interview.
- You're a genuine listener who cares what clients need and likes working as part of a team.
- A four-year degree or equivalent industry experience.
What Makes Clark Different
Clark has been building in Michigan for more than 80 years, and a lot of our people spend their whole careers here. Leadership is easy to reach. You'll work directly with the people setting company strategy instead of waiting for decisions to trickle down.
You'll truly own your markets and relationships, with a Marketing team behind you that's a real partner on every pursuit, not just a proposal desk. We're established enough to be stable and growing enough that your work will help shape where we go next.
Benefits + Culture
Clark offers profit sharing, generous PTO, 401(k) matching, and comprehensive health coverage. We invest in your professional development, and we're a Certified Veteran Friendly Employer.
We're also an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and we mean it. Different perspectives make us better at what we do.
Ready to help shape what gets built in West Michigan? Let's talk.
Background Check Notice
All employment offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. This may include verification of employment history, education, and professional references, as well as criminal background or driving record checks, as permitted by law.
Results of the background check will be considered in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Michigan law (MCL 37.2205a), which prohibits employers from asking about or making hiring decisions based solely on certain criminal records. A prior conviction will not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment; each situation will be reviewed individually based on job-related factors.