Director of Business Development - Construction

Friedman Real Estate; Farmington Hills (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Premier Construction & Design is seeking a Director of Business Development - Construction to lead sales efforts, build a durable pipeline, and secure new commercial work. You will prospect, nurture relationships with owners, developers, and tenants, and convert pursuits to awarded projects through strategic, consultative selling.

The role reports to leadership and collaborates with estimating, preconstruction, and project management.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in business development or sales in commercial construction or related fields.
• Proven track record generating and closing business through proactive prospecting and follow-up.
• Strong network and credibility in construction or related industries.

Responsibilities

• Own new business origination for the construction division and drive growth.
• Execute outbound prospecting to generate meetings and qualified opportunities.
• Build and advance a high-quality pipeline from lead to close.
• Develop relationships with owners, developers, occupiers, brokers, and influencers.
• Identify Build-To-Suit opportunities and stay engaged with market activity.
• Lead consultative sales conversations and align pursuits with company priorities.
• Collaborate with leadership to qualify opportunities and shape solutions.
• Prepare compelling proposals and pursuit materials with internal teams.
• Represent the firm at industry events to expand market visibility.
• Maintain CRM records, forecasts, and pipeline reporting for forward movement.
• Travel locally across Michigan and potentially broader regions as needed.

Skills

Sales leadership

Prospecting & outbound

Relationship building

Commercial construction knowledge

Forecasting & pipeline management

Negotiation & closing

Effective presentations

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/marketing/construction management

Job description

The Director of Business Development - Construction is a sales leader responsible for generating, developing, and securing new business for Premier Construction & Design. This person will actively prospect for opportunities, make cold calls, build and manage a durable pipeline, cultivate market relationships and convert qualified pursuits into profitable awarded work and long-term client partnerships.

The successful candidate is an accomplished sales professional who understands the commercial construction market, earns credibility with sophisticated clients and brings the persistence and discipline required to open doors and advance opportunities. This person will combine relationship-based selling with consistent outbound activity, consultative discovery, creative pursuit strategies and strong follow-through from first contact through contract award.

The role reports to the VP, Sales and will regularly liaise and strategize with construction division leadership and the estimating, preconstruction, project management, operations and design teams. This close partnership will ensure that pursuits align with division priorities, company capabilities, client needs and delivery expectations. The role’s title level may be calibrated to the successful candidate’s experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Own new business origination for the construction division and be accountable for sourcing, advancing and closing opportunities that support growth and profitability goals.
• Execute consistent outbound prospecting, including cold calls, targeted outreach, networking, referrals and in-person relationship building, to generate meetings and qualified opportunities.
• Build, manage and advance a high-quality pipeline from initial lead through qualification, pursuit strategy, proposal, negotiation and close.
• Develop and nurture relationships with property owners, developers, corporate occupiers, healthcare organizations, Tier 1 automotive suppliers, referral partners, brokers, architects, consultants and other decision-makers and influencers.
• Identify Build-To-Suit opportunities and stay actively engaged in the real estate market.
• Lead consultative sales conversations that uncover a client’s business objectives, challenges, decision criteria, project needs, timing and broader priorities.
• Partner regularly with construction division leadership and internal subject-matter experts to qualify opportunities, shape solutions, establish pursuit strategy, assess risk and position the firm to win.
• Prepare and deliver compelling presentations, proposals, responses to Requests for Proposals and Requests for Qualifications and other pursuit materials in coordination with estimating, project management, operations, design and marketing.
• Think creatively about new markets, partnerships, services, pursuit strategies, and business development channels; test new approaches and use results to continually refine tactics.
• Conduct market research and maintain awareness of industry trends, competitor activity, client capital plans and emerging opportunities.
• Maintain accurate and timely CRM records, sales forecasts, probability assessments, next steps and pipeline reporting; use this information to prioritize effort and maintain forward movement on key opportunities.
• Negotiate business terms and support contract development in partnership with construction leadership and other internal stakeholders.
• Represent the company at industry events, conferences, association meetings, networking functions and client activities to expand relationships and strengthen market visibility.
• Provide input into marketing strategies, campaigns, thought leadership and sales tools that support construction business development.
• Maintain and expand client relationships after award to support repeat business, referrals and additional services.
• Travel locally as needed, primarily throughout Southeast Michigan, with potential travel to West Michigan and Mid-Michigan.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of successful business development or sales experience, preferably in commercial construction, real estate or a related industry.
• Demonstrated success generating and closing business through proactive prospecting, relationship development, disciplined pipeline management, forecasting and consistent follow-up.
• Established network and market credibility within commercial construction or related industries preferred.
• Working knowledge of commercial construction delivery, estimating, preconstruction, project management and design-build capabilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, construction management or a related field.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage credibly with executive, client and technical audiences.
• Self-directed, resilient and motivated to win new business while collaborating effectively across teams.

How Success Will Be Measured

• Consistent outbound sales activity and creation of qualified opportunities.
• Quality and value of the construction opportunities added to the pipeline.
• New client relationships and strategic referral sources developed.
• Conversion of targeted pursuits into profitable awarded work.
• Pipeline accuracy, sales discipline and consistent forward movement on priority opportunities.
• Expansion of existing relationships through repeat work, referrals, and additional services.
• Contribution to stronger market insight, differentiated client solutions, and sustainable company growth.

Who We Are

Premier Construction & Design provides construction management, general contracting and design services for commercial projects, including new construction, tenant improvements, renovations, additions, adaptive reuse and specialty projects. Our team works collaboratively across business development, preconstruction, estimating, project management, operations and design to develop thoughtful solutions and deliver strong client outcomes. Our integrated capabilities, including design-build delivery where appropriate, allow us to coordinate expertise around each client’s goals and project needs.

Project Types Include

• Office (including Medical), Industrial, and Retail interior buildouts and renovations
• Ground up construction for Office, Retail, Industrial, and Multifamily
• Build-To-Suit, including hi-tech, lab, and R&D industrial facilities
• Office to Residential Conversions
• Specialty renovations (amenity centers, lobbies, fitness facilities, showrooms, automotive testing labs, and more)