Area Business Development Manager

HDR, Inc.; Bismarck (ND); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR, Inc. is seeking an Area Business Development Manager to drive client relationships and market growth across four water sectors. You will lead pursuit teams, develop strategic plans, and manage budgets while coordinating with regional leaders.

The role requires a minimum of 10 years in the industry, strong communication and negotiation skills, and the ability to travel. HDR offers a collaborative, inclusive environment and opportunities for leadership in a national water market.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of relevant industry experience.
• Self-starter with a history of completing projects with limited oversight.
• Deep knowledge of A/E/C industry's procurement of professional services.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel and engage with others in-person.
• Proven ability to motivate and inspire teams.

Responsibilities

• Identify and qualify leads to outline paths to annual Net Fee Booked goals.
• Achieve area and market sector Net Fee Booked goals.
• Manage budgets for area business development and marketing.
• Maintain client relationships and financial reporting dashboards.
• Develop annual and long-term strategic plans with growth initiatives.
• Lead pursuit teams with winning strategies and persuasive proposals.
• Coach interview teams for effective presentations and messaging.
• Direct content marketing to strengthen HDR's brand and visibility.

Skills

Self-starter

Written communication

Verbal communication

Negotiation skills

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Engineering registration or certificate

Tools

MS Office

Job description

At HDR, we specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists. That's why we believe diversity is our greatest strength. HDR is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer.

We believe water is more than a resource, it's a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you’ll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience. We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. This isn’t just a job, it's a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.

Watch Our Story: https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story

We believe that the way we work can add meaning and value to the world. That ideas inspire positive change. That coloring outside the lines can illuminate fresh perspectives. And that small details yield important realizations. Above all, we believe that collaboration is the best way forward.

In the role of Area Business Development Manager, we'll count on you to:

This role will be working closely with the Dakotas/Wyoming Water Business Group Manager, the Regional Business Development Leaders, and Regional Market Sector Leads. This position is responsible for identifying, developing, and directing clients’ business opportunities across our four market sectors: including Drinking Water, Wastewater, Federal Water, and Water Resource Management in Missouri/Kansas. Duties include maintaining and expanding existing client relationships, identifying, establishing, and nurturing relationships with new target clients, developing market networks, forecasting and positioning the firm for project pursuits that result in selection and award, as well as leading project pursuits including the development of winning strategies, preparation of proposals and presentations, quality review, and coaching presentation teams. The Water Business Development Manager is also responsible for market analysis and strategic plan development. The selected candidate will need excellent writing, presentation, and speaking skills.

Specific duties and responsibilities:

• Identify and qualify leads that outline a path to achieving annual area and market sector Net Fee Booked (NFB) goals
• Achieve area and market sector NFB goals
• Manage area business development and marketing budgets
• Manage client relationship management and financial systems to inform reporting metrics and dashboards
• Maintain a strong understanding of the market trends and drivers impacting our clients
• Develop annual and long-term strategic plans within established company direction and goals, including creating growth initiatives and prioritizing strategic investments
• Implement key growth initiatives and investments as defined in annual and long-term strategic plans
• Serve as a Client Manager (for assigned accounts), which includes maintaining strong client relationships and a deep understanding of the client’s organization, trends/drivers, and upcoming opportunities.
• Develop and implement client plans, including long-term strategies to capture market share, as assigned Develop business relationships with teaming partners
• Implement go/no-go decision process in accordance with HDR’s Matrix of Authority
• Lead pursuit teams in creating and implementing effective win strategies (capture planning)
• Engage the appropriate project management and technical talent in pursuit of teams
• Participate in pursuit teams to develop persuasive proposals and interview materials
• Participate in quality reviews of the proposal and interview materials
• Coach interview teams to be effective at delivering key messages during interview presentations
• Facilitate debriefs to identify improvement opportunities and to measure overall competitiveness
• Recognize and celebrate the pursuit of successes and milestones
• Direct content marketing campaigns to strengthen our brand, increase our visibility, and showcase our thought leaders.
• Retain, develop, and supervise business development and marketing employees, as assigned
• Identify candidates to fill management, technical, business development and marketing positions
• Train and mentor employees on business development and marketing best practices
• Solicit and act on formal and informal client feedback
• Understand and apply HDR’s risk management approach when pursuing new business opportunities
• Actively participate in professional associations to elevate HDR’s brand in target markets
• Articulate HDR’s capabilities and competitive advantages

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field
• Maintain a professional or engineering registration or certificate or have related technical experience

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years relevant industry experience
• Demonstrated "self-starter" with a history of completing projects with limited oversight
• Deep knowledge of the A/E/C industry's standard approach to procurement of professional services
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and inspire others
• Demonstrated ability to build a network of clients and industry partners
• Experience in sales and developing effective win strategies
• Strong financial acumen and negotiation skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability and desire to travel and engage with others in-person
• Demonstrated experience in writing compelling content based on information from technical staff

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location:United States-South Dakota-Sioux Falls Other Locations:United States-North Dakota-Bismarck, United States-Wyoming-Gillette, United States-North Dakota-Fargo, United States-South Dakota-Rapid City, United States-Wyoming-Lander, United States-Wyoming-Cheyenne Industry:Water Schedule:Full-time Employee Status:Regular BusinessClass:WW Treatment and Effluent Mgmt Job Posting:Oct 26, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affiliation A and Equal O? (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.