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Business Development Leader, Higher Education

San Diego, California, United States

DLR Group is an integrated design firm with a promise to elevate the human experience through design. This fuels the work we do around the world and inspires our mission to improve the lives of our clients, our communities, and our planet. If this sparks your interest, you’re in the right place.

We are seeking a dynamic Business Development Leader to drive the growth of our Higher Education practice across California. We operate within a hybrid work model, supporting flexibility between office time and work from home.  Considering this model, this role could be based in the following cities: 

  • Los Angeles
  • San Diego

Position Summary  

The successful candidate will use their professional networks and people skills to support the DLR Group Higher Education team and identify, qualify, establish and maintain professional relationships with college and university clients. This role will create long-term positive value for our Higher Education practice. The candidate will have a proven record of successfully winning and delivering work for Higher Education projects. This is a leadership role where strong and effective verbal and written communication skills are paramount. 

We value high-energy, self-motivated, and collaborative individuals who are passionate about building relationships with potential clients. We have created an organization that welcomes and rewards an entrepreneurial spirit, outstanding performance, and a positive attitude.  

If you are a collaborative thought leader with a strategic mindset this might be the position for you. DLR Group is 100% employee owned and as such you’ll enjoy the opportunity to have ownership in the Firm. We rely on all our employee-owners to apply their financial acumen to grow the Firm profitably.  

What you will do:

  • Lead and manage business development efforts for the California Region’s Higher Education sector, providing mentorship and guidance to the team
  • Develop and implement strategies to drive growth and expand market presence
  • Stay informed on national and regional sector portfolios, market trends, key publications, and industry associations
  • Build and nurture relationships with key partners, including contractors, developers, and consultants
  • Collaborate with management and technical teams to identify new project opportunities, strengthen client relationships, and expand business connections
  • Review and enhance proposal content and marketing materials to support business development efforts
  • Work closely with global, national, and regional sector leadership to align and execute marketing and business development initiatives
  • Maintain a visible presence both internally and externally, offering thought leadership and guidance on business development and marketing
  • Lead Business Development meetings to align strategies and actions with studio and office leadership

Required Qualifications

  • 7+ years of experience in private consulting or higher education administration at the project management level, with knowledge of bidding and funding capital improvement projects on university campuses
  • Strong experience with bidding and funding capital improvement projects on university campuses
  • Proficient in business planning and presentation software (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Strong ability to collaborate with institutions, organizations, and internal project teams
  • Proven ability to collaborate with national campus planning teams to develop growth strategies
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask, prioritize, and work under pressure
  • Skilled in marketing strategy, relationship development, and business development processes
  • Self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset, able to solve problems independently

Our comprehensive Benefits at DLR Group include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401(k) plan, employee stock ownership, and bonus opportunities. Compensation considerations are based on location, experience, and skills. The suggested pay range for this position is:

Pay Range

$150,000 - $180,000 USD

DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects.

We are 100% employee-owned: every employee is literally invested in our clients’ success. At the core of our firm are interdisciplinary teams engaged in every step of project lifecycles. Our teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, shared risk and reward, value-based decision making, and proficient use of technology to deliver exceptional design. We are pursuing the goals of the 2030 Challenge, the ME2040, and the SE2050, and are an initial signatory of the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.

Through our values – commitment, creativity, environmental stewardship, fun, integrity, ownership, sharing, teamwork – we elevate the human experience through design, together.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/M/F/Veteran/Disabled employer.

 

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