Director of Senior Living - Business Development & Preconstruction

Wohlsen Construction Company; Clark (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction firm is seeking a Director of Senior Living – Business Development & Preconstruction to drive growth in the senior living market. The successful candidate will develop client relationships and lead business development efforts while overseeing preconstruction strategies. This role requires 15+ years of experience, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of the senior living market. The company values equal opportunity and diversity in hiring practices.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in construction, development, or senior living environments.
• Proven success in business development and client relationship management.
• Deep understanding of the senior living market preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own and grow the senior living market strategy.
• Lead business development efforts and client outreach.
• Oversee preconstruction strategy for senior living pursuits.

Skills

Business development

Client relationship management

Market sector leadership

Strategic planning

Strong executive presence

Job description

Director of Senior Living – Business Development & Preconstruction

We are seeking a senior‑level relationship builder and market leader to drive growth in our senior living market sector. In this client‑facing, outward‑focused role you will develop new client relationships, expand market presence, and position our firm as the preferred construction partner for owners, developers, architects, and consultants in the senior living space. This position blends strategic business‑development leadership with oversight of preconstruction efforts, ensuring client visions are translated into executable project plans.

Core Responsibilities

Business Development & Market Growth (Primary Focus)

• Own and grow the senior living market strategy.
• Actively develop new client relationships with:
  • Owners
  • Developers
  • Operators
  • Architects
  • Owner’s reps and consultants
• Lead business development efforts including:
  • Strategic pursuit planning
  • Client outreach
  • Industry event and tradeshow participation
  • Proposal strategy and presentations
• Build and manage a visible, healthy pipeline of opportunities.
• Strengthen and expand relationships with repeat and target clients.
• Position the company as a trusted partner in the senior living space.

Preconstruction & Project Strategy (Supporting Focus)

• Oversee preconstruction strategy for senior living pursuits.
• Provide conceptual, schematic, and design development input to support client decision‑making.
• Collaborate with estimating teams to ensure:
  • Owner budgets are aligned
  • Risks are identified early
  • Value‑driven solutions are developed
• Lead value engineering discussions with clients and design teams.
• Serve as the primary client‑facing leader during preconstruction to ensure confidence and clarity.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Work directly with internal teams to align business development efforts with operational delivery.
• Coordinate with estimating, project executives, and operations to ensure smooth handoff from preconstruction to execution.
• Maintain consistent, high‑level communication with clients and internal leadership.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in construction, development, or senior living environments.
• Proven success in business development, client relationship management, and market sector leadership.
• Deep understanding of the senior living market strongly preferred.
• Experience working on or around ground‑up construction, renovations, capital planning, and preconstruction processes.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to lead presentations, pursuits, and strategy discussions.

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Expanded market visibility and positioning in senior living.
• Growth in qualified opportunities and client relationships.
• Strong client confidence throughout the preconstruction and pursuit process.
• Repeat business and long‑term partnerships.

Note to recruiters, placement agencies, and similar organizations: Wohlsen does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Please do not forward unsolicited agency resumes to our website, locations, or to any Wohlsen team member. Wohlsen will not pay fees to any third‑party agency or firm and will not be responsible for any agency fees associated with unsolicited resumes. Unsolicited resumes received will be considered property of Wohlsen and will be processed accordingly.

It is the policy of Wohlsen Construction to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. This policy relates to all phases of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, employment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, reduction of workforce and termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, the use of all facilities, and participation in all company‑sponsored employee activities.

The information contained herein is not intended to be an all‑inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor are they intended to be an all‑inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. This job description does not constitute a contract of employment and Wohlsen Construction may exercise its employment at‑will rights at any time.