Business Development Leader, Hospitality

DLR Group; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental & Vision

401(k)

Employee Stock Ownership

Bonus opportunities

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Wellness programs

Job summary

DLR Group’s Hospitality studio is seeking a Regional Business Development Leader to drive growth across our Hospitality sector in San Francisco and Los Angeles. This role focuses on identifying decision-makers, building relationships, and collaborating with designers to pursue lifestyle, luxury, and full-service projects.

You will develop a robust pipeline, engage with industry groups, coordinate with marketing for RFQ/P responses, and contribute to annual business planning.

Qualifications

• Outgoing and personable; quickly build rapport with internal and external stakeholders.
• Enthusiastic about prospecting, pursuing opportunities, and meeting deadlines.
• Polished, detail-oriented representation of the firm in marketing and communications.
• Open to feedback and committed to continuous learning.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks; leadership and team collaboration with diverse personalities.
• Motivated to work independently with minimal supervision; understand firm practices and goals.

Responsibilities

• Identify, research, and qualify pursuit leads for full-scale, lifestyle, and luxury projects.
• Focus on lifestyle, upper upscale, full service, and luxury brands and developers.
• Collaborate with Interiors and other teams to deliver integrated, client-focused solutions.
• Cultivate and manage long-term client relationships with the Hospitality Team.
• Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified opportunities.
• Engage in industry organizations and committees; learn portfolio and trends.
• Collaborate on sector marketing strategies and annual business planning; drive ROI.
• Meet or exceed growth and fee targets in coordination with Hospitality Team.
• Coordinate with Marketing for RFQ/P responses; assist with interview logistics.
• Attend industry conferences and manage related logistics and collateral.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Cold caller

Professional demeanor

Receptive & eager learner

Organizational & collaborative skills

Self-starter & knowledgeable

Education

Bachelor's degree

10+ years BD/sales experience

Tools

CRM software

Microsoft Office

Job description

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.

DLR Group’s Hospitality studio is seeking a Regional Business Development Leader, with opportunities available in multiple locations.

• San Francisco
• Los Angeles

Position Summary

We are seeking a motivated Business Development Leader to drive growth in our Hospitality Sector. This role is perfect for someone who thrives on identifying key decision‑makers and building strong, lasting relationships, while collaborating closely with a talented team of designers and leveraging a robust industry network.

The ideal candidate is socially fearless, entrepreneurial, and ready to lead initiatives to uncover new opportunities, while also nurturing existing client relationships alongside Regional Sector Leaders, Client and Design Leaders, our National Hospitality Business Development Team as well as our Hospitality Global Sector Leader. Join our employee‑owned firm and be part of a culture that values diverse design voices and a passion for impactful work both locally and globally.

The successful candidate will

• Bring A/E/C or relevant hospitality industry experience to identify, research, and qualify pursuit leads for full‑scale, lifestyle, and luxury projects, engaging stakeholders across multiple channels
• Focus on Lifestyle, Upper Upscale, Full Service and Luxury brands and developers
• Collaborate closely with other design discipline teams (such as Interiors) to deliver integrated, client‑focused solutions across all phases of pursuit and project delivery
• Cultivate and manage long‑term client relationships, partnering with the Hospitality Team to maintain engagement with current and former clients
• Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified opportunities, leading and driving business development efforts
• Actively engage in industry organizations and committees while gaining familiarity with DLR Group’s portfolio, experts, design ethos, and regional and national hospitality trends
• Collaborate on sector marketing strategies and annual business planning, driving ROI and reducing Random Acts of Marketing (RAM)
• Meet or exceed growth and fee targets in coordination with the Hospitality Team
• Attend and assist in the coordination of industry conferences, handling logistics, registrations, and collateral
• Prepare Business Development Reports, lead weekly strategy meetings, and maintain CRM and BD Tracking Report
• Coordinate with our Marketing Team for RFQ/P responses, review proposals, and assist with interview logistics, attending as needed

Required Qualifications

• Interpersonal Skills: Outgoing and personable, adept at quickly building rapport and effective relationships, both internally and externally
• Cold Caller & Resilience: Enthusiastic about reaching out to prospects and resilient in facing rejection, with a strong sense of urgency and consistency in meeting deadlines
• Professional Demeanor: Polished and capable of representing the firm at all levels, with a keen attention to detail, especially in marketing materials and communications
• Receptive & Eager Learner: Open to feedback and constructive criticism, demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning
• Organizational & Collaborative Skills: Excellent at prioritizing and managing multiple tasks efficiently; comfortable in both leadership and team‑player roles with diverse personalities
• Self‑Starter & Knowledgeable: Motivated to work independently with minimal supervision, committed to understanding the firm’s practices, services, and goals

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 10+ years of relevant business development experience and/or sales experience within the A/E/C or other relevant industries
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products and experience utilizing CRM software
• Involvement in community industry organizations
• Strong oral, written communication, meeting facilitation, and presentation skills

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

$120,000—$160,000 USD

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