K-12 Education Business Development Leader

DLR Group; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

DLR Group in Washington, DC leads a strategic K-12 Business Development role across the DMV region, shaping growth and client engagement through cross-disciplinary collaboration.

You will partner with Global, Regional, and Local leadership to uncover opportunities, cultivate educator relationships, and position our integrated design teams for market leadership. Be empowered to pursue new ideas and drive long-term growth.

Qualifications

• Six or more years in business development or client development.
• Established knowledge of key relationships within the DMV K-12 education market.
• Ability to translate market opportunities into meaningful pursuits.
• Experience with public procurement processes and pursuit materials.
• Strong collaboration across global, regional, and local leaders and external partners.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute business development strategies with Global, Regional, and Local K-12 leadership.
• Collaborate with local studio and design leadership to set market priorities and target clients.
• Lead BD efforts for K-12 in DC, MD, and VA to grow presence and visibility.
• Identify opportunities, untapped relationships, and strategic partnerships for long-term growth.
• Build and maintain relationships with school districts, education leaders, public agencies, and partners.
• Review proposals, presentations, and marketing materials to ensure persuasive storytelling.

Skills

BD experience

DMV relationships

Strategic planning

Proposals & pitches

Communication

Collaboration

Job description

K-12 Education Business Development Leader

Washington, D.C.

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.

We are seeking a strategic and entrepreneurial K-12 Business Development Leader to drive growth for our K-12Education practice across the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia markets.

Position Summary

As the K-12 Business Development Leader, you will shape and execute the growth strategy for DLR Group’s K-12 Education practice across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Based in Washington, D.C., you will partner across all levels of the firm, from Global K-12 leadership and regional sector leadership to local leaders, to identify market opportunities, strengthen client relationships, position our integrated design teams, and expand our presence throughout the DMV market.

You will join one of the most respected education design practices in the industry. DLR Group was recently recognized as the #1EducationDesignFirm in the world in Building Design’s 2026 WA100 rankings, reflecting the depth of our resources, expertise, and commitment to creating environments that support students, educators, and communities and an opportunity for a strategic, relationship-driven, and entrepreneurial business development professional who can translate firmwide priorities into local action. You will be empowered to pursue new ideas, uncover untapped opportunities, and develop creative approaches to growth while collaborating closely with leaders, designers, architects, engineers, planners, and marketing professionals across the firm.

What you will do:

• Partner with Global, Regional, and Local K-12 leadership to develop and execute business development strategies aligned with the firm’s broader business plan and growth objectives.
• Collaborate with local studio and design leadership to establish market priorities, identify target clients, and build actionable client and pursuit strategies.
• Lead business development efforts for the K-12 Education practice in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia to strengthen the firm’s presence and visibility throughout the market.
• Identify emerging opportunities, untapped relationships, and strategic partnerships that position DLR Group for long-term growth.
• Build, cultivate, and maintain trusted relationships with school districts, education leaders, public agencies, community organizations, contractors, developers, consultants, and other industry partners.
• Collaborate with integrated design, marketing, and technical teams to identify opportunities, develop pursuit strategies, and strengthen client engagement.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and business development guidance to members of the integrated design team.
• Lead business development meetings that align strategy, priorities, responsibilities, and next steps across sector, studio, and office leadership.
• Review and enhance proposals, presentations, and marketing materials to ensure persuasive storytelling and alignment with client needs.
• Maintain a strong understanding of national and regional K-12 portfolios, market trends, funding priorities, public procurement processes, industry publications, and professional associations.
• Serve as a visible representative of DLR Group in the market while providing internal thought leadership on business development, relationship management, and growth strategy.

Required Qualifications:

• Six or more years of business development, client development, or related experience, preferably within education, architecture, engineering, construction, economic development, or another professional-services environment.
• Established knowledge of key relationships within the K-12 education market in the DMV area.
• Demonstrated ability to develop business strategies, cultivate executive-level relationships, and convert market opportunities into meaningful pursuits.
• Experience with public procurement processes and the preparation of proposals, presentations, and pursuit materials featuring tailored messaging and persuasive storytelling.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to build alignment among global, regional, and local leaders, integrated project teams, and external partners.
• Excellent communication, presentation, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and operate effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

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

$130,000 - $160,000 USD

DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects.

We are 100% employee-owned: every employee is literally invested in our clients’ success. At the core of our firm are interdisciplinary teams engaged in every step of project lifecycles. Our teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, shared risk and reward, value-based decision making, and proficient use of technology to deliver exceptional design. We are pursuing the goals of the 2030 Challenge, the ME2040, and the SE2050, and are an initial signatory of the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.

Through our values – commitment, creativity, environmental stewardship, fun, integrity, ownership, sharing, teamwork – we elevate the human experience through design, together.

DLR Group follows a four-day in-office work model, with employees having the flexibility to work somewhere other than the office on Fridays.

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