Life Science Market Leader

LJC; United States; On-site; USD 250,000 - 650,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Discretionary annual bonus

Generous PTO and paid holidays

Job summary

A leading design and construction firm is seeking a Life Sciences Market Leader responsible for market P&L, strategic direction, and project development. The ideal candidate will have over 15 years of experience in EPC delivery of life sciences projects and a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams. This senior role requires strong business development skills and effective communication. Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits offered, along with opportunities for travel across the U.S.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in EPC delivery of life sciences projects.
• Proven ability to lead large, cross-functional teams.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to lead large cross-functional teams and mentor talent.
• Entrepreneurial drive with focus on business development and customer decision-making.
• Strong verbal and written communication; ability to present and build consensus.
• Ability to break down complex problems and manage multiple projects.
• Meticulous scope management and cost control.
• Demonstrated adaptability and drive to improve outcomes and client satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic business plans aligned with enterprise objectives.
• Lead client development and sales strategies to achieve goals.
• Guide project teams on maintaining efficient execution processes.
• Collaborate with senior executives across engineering, procurement, and construction.
• Provide technical assistance and industry regulatory insight for design and engineering practices.
• Own P/L results for the Market Segment and coordinate with CFO on budgets.
• Guide project teams to maintain efficient execution in a dynamic environment.
• Establish and develop third-party OEM relationships.
• Recruit and mentor Design Project Management staff.
• Lead complex project and contract negotiations including full-scope EPC services.
• Win new business, scale through acquiring customers and exploring opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Project management

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field

Job description

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $7.6 billion in revenue for 2024, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential related building projects.

About LJC

LJC Design & Engineering is a full-service architecture, engineering, and design firm committed to enhancing the quality of the human experience through integrated design. We are a team of high-energy professionals who share a passion for design, a collaborative approach, and a casual culture. We solve challenges by leveraging the collective expertise and ingenuity of the best and brightest minds across development, design, and construction.

The Role We Want You For

As Life Sciences Market Leader you will have overall responsibility for market P&L, strategic market direction, project development, sales campaigns, client relations, organizational development, and contract negotiations. This is a senior leadership role allowing you to have a real impact on shaping and transforming the life sciences market sector, by leveraging a differentiating engineering expertise to result in the develop and execute of complex EPC and design-build projects.

The Specifics of the Role

• Develop short and long-term strategic and tactical business plans in alignment with enterprise objectives.
• Develop and execute client development and sales strategy to achieve business goals. This strategy shall focus on both sourcing and building new client relationships as well as maintaining and expanding existing relationships.
• Act as a Clayco account leader, ensuring client satisfaction for future opportunities and expanded services near term. Work to resolve challenges that may arise to keep the client happy during the execution phase.
• Work closely with senior executives across engineering, procurement, and construction businesses, ensuring maximum exposure of the Company’s capabilities and the presentation of those capabilities when appropriate.
• Participate in the development of the Design & Engineering practices by providing technical assistance, subject matter expertise and industry regulatory insight to ensure client satisfaction and compliance.
• Own P/L (profit/loss) results for the Market Segment and work directly with CFO on sales projections, project forecasts and Market Segment budgets.
• Provide guidance to the project team(s) on how to maintain efficient execution processes within a dynamic and ambiguous environment, with limited information, including documenting and communicating design assumptions internally and with the client.
• Work within a matrix environment to communicate and coordinate resource needs.
• Establish and develop trusting third party OEM relationships in alignment with the Market Segment
• Recruit, Mentor, and develop Design Project Management staff fostering collaboration and proper behavior.
• Work closely with senior executives on all complex project and contract negotiations including full-scope EPC services and other Design & Engineering related services.
• Your success in this role will be measured by your ability to win new business, enhance client satisfaction, deliver outstanding project outcomes, and scale the business through acquiring new customers, expanding services, and exploring new opportunities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related Engineering discipline, Construction Management, or other related technical degree; or significant field experience that has evolved into leadership roles over time.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in EPC delivery of life sciences projects, with a strong track record managing individual projects valued at $250M or more.
• Deep understanding of construction costs and cost drivers, both at the project and unit level. Proficient in contract negotiation and administration.
• Proven ability to lead large, cross-functional teams, with a focus on mentoring and developing talent. Strong ability to navigate complex challenges, resolve conflicts, and motivate teams to achieve exceptional results.
• Entrepreneurial drive with a passion for business development, coupled with a keen understanding of customer decision-making processes.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to deliver impactful presentations and build consensus across internal and external teams.
• Ability to break down complex problems into manageable components, identify core issues, and develop innovative solutions. Skilled in prioritizing critical details and managing multiple projects concurrently.
• A meticulous approach to scope management and cost control, ensuring accuracy in all aspects of project execution.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate future trends, adapt to changing circumstances, and continuously seek ways to improve project outcomes and client satisfaction.

Some Things You Should Know

• Our clients and projects are nationwide – Travel will be required.
• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!

Why Clayco?

• 2025 Best Places to Work – St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2025 ENR Midwest – Midwest Contractor (#1).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
• 2025 ENR Top 25 Data Center Builders - Data Center Contractor (Top 3).
• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.