Business Development Manager

Corebuilt-Contracting; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

CoreBuilt is seeking a high-energy Business Development Manager in Evanston to develop new client relationships with architects, developers, franchise groups, and property managers. You will work closely with the President and operations teams to create account strategies and move opportunities through the pursuit lifecycle, aiming to establish CoreBuilt as a trusted, long-term partner.

The role emphasizes proactive outreach, strategic account planning, and cross-functional collaboration, with

Qualifications

• At least five years of successful business development, sales, or relationship-management experience.
• Commercial construction, commercial real estate, architecture, facilities, building products, property services, or related professional-services experience is strongly preferred.
• Candidates from other construction-related industries will be considered if their relationships, experience, and sales skills can translate to CoreBuilt's target markets.
• Demonstrated success personally developing client relationships, qualified opportunities, and measurable new revenue.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute CoreBuilt's overall business development strategy, including priority markets, target accounts, and relationship-development plans.
• Identify and research prospective clients, strategic accounts, and referral partners within CoreBuilt's target markets.
• Conduct consistent outbound outreach through phone, email, LinkedIn, referrals, networking, and in-person meetings.
• Develop relationships with business owners, developers, architects, franchise groups, property managers, construction managers, and other senior-level decision-makers.
• Qualify opportunities and move them from initial conversation through relationship development, pursuit planning, proposal, and transition to the appropriate CoreBuilt team members.
• Coordinate qualified introductions involving the President and other members of CoreBuilt's leadership team.
• Maintain ownership of key client relationships throughout the project lifecycle and after project completion to strengthen retention and uncover future opportunities.
• Develop deeper and broader relationships within client organizations rather than relying on a single contact.
• Create and maintain account plans for priority prospects, past clients, and existing client relationships.
• Coordinate with estimating and operations to ensure opportunities are properly qualified, pursued, and transitioned.
• Participate actively in relevant trade organizations, industry groups, networking events, and prospecting activities.
• Track all outreach, conversations, opportunities, next steps, and follow-up activity in CoreBuilt's CRM.
• Provide weekly reporting on business development activity, meetings, qualified opportunities, proposals, pipeline progress, and awarded work.

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Position Overview

CoreBuilt is seeking a high-energy, strategic Business Development Manager to develop new relationships and expand opportunities with prospective clients, architects, developers, franchise groups, property managers, and other referral partners.

This is a proactive, relationship-driven position - not simply an estimating, marketing, or proposal-management role. Working closely with the President, estimating, and operations teams, this person will develop account strategies, build senior-level relationships, move qualified opportunities forward, and remain involved throughout the pursuit and project lifecycle. The goal is to make CoreBuilt a trusted, long-term partner rather than simply another contractor submitting bids.

Key Responsibilities

• Help develop and execute CoreBuilt's overall business development strategy, including priority markets, target accounts, and relationship-development plans.
• Identify and research prospective clients, strategic accounts, and referral partners within CoreBuilt's target markets.
• Conduct consistent outbound outreach through phone, email, LinkedIn, referrals, networking, and in-person meetings.
• Develop relationships with business owners, developers, architects, franchise groups, property managers, construction managers, and other senior-level decision-makers.
• Qualify opportunities and move them from initial conversation through relationship development, pursuit planning, proposal, and transition to the appropriate CoreBuilt team members.
• Coordinate qualified introductions involving the President and other members of CoreBuilt's leadership team.
• Maintain ownership of key client relationships throughout the project lifecycle and after project completion to strengthen retention and uncover future opportunities.
• Develop deeper and broader relationships within client organizations rather than relying on a single contact.
• Create and maintain account plans for priority prospects, past clients, and existing client relationships.
• Coordinate with estimating and operations to ensure opportunities are properly qualified, pursued, and transitioned.
• Participate actively in relevant trade organizations, industry groups, networking events, and prospecting activities.
• Track all outreach, conversations, opportunities, next steps, and follow-up activity in CoreBuilt's CRM.
• Provide weekly reporting on business development activity, meetings, qualified opportunities, proposals, pipeline progress, and awarded work.

Qualifications

Experience and Background

• At least five years of successful business development, sales, or relationship-management experience.
• Commercial construction, commercial real estate, architecture, facilities, building products, property services, or related professional-services experience is strongly preferred.
• Candidates from other construction-related industries will be considered if their relationships, experience, and sales skills can translate to CoreBuilt's target markets.
• Demonstrated success personally developing client relationships, qualified opportunities, and measurable new revenue.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional experience preferred.

Professional Attributes

• Able to discuss specific accounts, opportunities, or relationships personally developed and advanced.
• Strategic and analytical, with the ability to identify new markets, develop account plans, and think creatively about business growth.
• High-energy, self-directed, persistent, and accountable for measurable activity and results.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Comfortable initiating contact, requesting meetings, and building credibility with senior-level decision-makers.
• Organized and disciplined with follow-up, pipeline management, and CRM documentation.
• Willing to participate actively in trade groups, networking, prospecting, client meetings, and company activities.

Work Environment

Evanston-based role: This is an in-person and market-facing position, not a fully remote role. Reasonable flexibility may be available as the individual becomes established and demonstrates consistent productivity, accountability, and results.

Measures of Success

• Consistent completion of agreed-upon business development and relationship-building activity.
• Development of strategic target accounts and qualified senior-level relationships.
• Growth in qualified opportunities, proposals, and self-generated project pipeline.
• Contribution to profitable awarded work and CoreBuilt's future backlog.
• Consistent, accurate, and timely CRM usage and follow-up.
• Retention and expansion of relationships with clients, past clients, and referral partners.
• Effective collaboration with the President, estimating, operations, and project-management teams.