Marketing Manager

Mussett, Nicholas and Associates, Inc.; North Carolina; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity opportunity

Greenfield growth

Job summary

Mussett Nicholas Associates (MNA) seeks a Marketing Manager to lead marketing and business development, driving growth for an engineering/architecture practice. You will build the in-house function, set strategy, hire and develop staff, and manage executive-level client relationships to scale across multiple offices.

The role emphasizes leadership, market strategy, branding, and measurable results in a technically demanding environment, with long sales cycles and relationship-driven markets.

Qualifications

• AEC/technical professional services experience is essential.
• 8–12+ years of progressive marketing and BD in AEC/engineering or closely related sector.
• Experience building or growing a marketing/BD function inside a professional services firm.
• Proven ability to lead multi-level client relationships with executives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own the annual marketing and business development strategy aligned with the firm’s growth goal to 300+ staff.
• Build and manage a structured BD pipeline across multiple offices in coordination with ownership.
• Lead market analysis, identify sector trends, whitespace opportunities, and client needs in pharma/biotech/industrial markets.
• Define go-to-market approaches for new geographies, services, or client segments.
• Set and report on marketing metrics: pipeline value, win rate, client retention, and brand reach.
• Own multi-level client relationship management across key accounts with structured touchpoints.
• Attend client events, facility visits, and strategic planning sessions as a senior relationship lead.
• Develop a client satisfaction/retention program and identify at-risk relationships.
• Build relationships with prospective clients through research, introductions, and long-cycle development.
• Lead external brand/content strategy: social media, video, articles, conferences, events.
• Represent the firm at industry conferences and speaking engagements.
• Oversee production of client-facing materials: proposals, statements, write-ups, presentations.
• Plan and execute MNA-sponsored events: Tech Days, client forums, professional development.

Skills

BD strategy

Marketing leadership

Client relationships

Proposal leadership

Brand management

Content strategy

Public speaking

Team management

CRM expertise

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications

Tools

CRM platforms

Deltek

Adobe InDesign

Job description

About MNA

Mussett Nicholas Associates (MNA) is a specialized engineering and architecture firm delivering MEP design and commissioning services for pharmaceutical, biotech, industrial facilities, and more. With offices in Indianapolis IN, Raleigh NC, and Louisville KY, MNA serves a technically demanding client base that values precision, reliability, and deep expertise. We are growing — and this role helps drive that growth.

Position Summary

The Marketing Manager is a senior leadership role responsible for building and executing the external growth strategy of a firm that is ready to scale from 120 to 300+ engineers. You will partner directly with the six-owner leadership group to create market visibility, deepen client relationships, and systematize the business development activity that will unlock MNA's next phase of growth.

This is not a traditional marketing manager role. MNA has no incumbent marketing infrastructure — you will build it. You will set strategy, hire and develop staff, manage client relationships at the executive level, and represent the firm externally. The ownership group brings deep technical credibility and strong client loyalty; you bring the business development acumen and market strategy to convert that foundation into sustained, scalable growth.

The right candidate has done this before in an AEC or technical professional services context. They understand long sales cycles, relationship-driven markets, and the particular dynamics of a firm where every client interaction also involves a licensed engineer. A formal degree matters far less than a track record of results in this industry.

Core Responsibilities

Growth Strategy & Business Development

• Develop and own MNA's annual marketing and business development strategy, aligned with MNA's Strategic Plan and the firm's goal of 300+ staff
• Build and manage a structured BD pipeline — tracking pursuits, client activity, and win rates across all three offices in coordination with the ownership group
• Lead market analysis and competitive intelligence: identify sector trends, whitespace opportunities, and emerging client needs in pharmaceutical, biotech, and industrial markets
• Define and execute MNA's go-to-market approach for new geographies, services, or client segments
• Set and report on key marketing metrics: pipeline value, win rate, client retention, and brand reach

Client Relationship Management

• Own multi-level client relationship management across MNA's key accounts — structured touchpoints, executive meetings, and proactive outreach that spans project managers, principals, and ownership
• Serve as a senior relationship lead with key clients; attend client events, facility visits, and strategic planning sessions
• Develop and execute a client satisfaction and retention program; identify at-risk relationships and lead recovery efforts
• Build relationships with prospective clients — research, introductions, and long-cycle relationship development in target sectors

Market Presence & Content

• Lead MNA's external brand and content strategy: social media, video, journal articles, conference participation, and event programming
• Represent MNA at industry conferences, association events, and speaking engagements
• Oversee production of all client-facing materials: proposals, capability statements, project write-ups, and presentations
• Plan and execute MNA-sponsored events: Tech Days, client forums, and professional development programming

Team & Operations

• Recruit, develop, and manage the marketing team (Coordinator and Specialist levels)
• Build the marketing infrastructure: CRM adoption, asset management, proposal processes, and reporting systems
• Collaborate with the Manager of Professional Operations and HR Manager on BD-aligned hiring strategy
• Provide quarterly marketing and pipeline reports to the ownership group

What We’re Looking For

AEC or technical professional services experience is essential — not preferred. We are not in a position to train someone on the dynamics of this industry while also asking them to lead our growth. Candidates without meaningful AEC market experience will not be considered, regardless of marketing credentials.

8–12+ years of progressive marketing and business development experience, with the majority in AEC, engineering, construction, owner's representation, or a closely related technical services sector

Demonstrated track record of building or significantly growing a marketing and BD function inside a professional services firm

Experience managing multi-level client relationships in a B2B professional services context — you have sat across the table from facility managers, capital project directors, and C-suite owners

Proven ability to lead proposal efforts on complex, competitive pursuits

Strong executive-level communication skills — written, verbal, and in-person presentation

Experience hiring and developing marketing staff

Familiarity with CRM platforms; Deltek or similar AEC business development tools a significant plus

Proficiency in or working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign primary); able to direct design work and maintain brand standards

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field is preferred — a demonstrable record of results in AEC business development carries equal or greater weight

Why MNA?

• A seat at the leadership table — you report to and work alongside the six owners of the firm
• Greenfield opportunity: MNA has no marketing infrastructure in place, which means no legacy systems to fight and full latitude to build it right
• Clients who are loyal and eager to grow with the firm — the relationship foundation is already there
• A technically excellent firm with a strong reputation in a defensible market niche
• Meaningful equity or compensation upside as the firm scales — structure to be discussed with qualified candidates
• The chance to build something: a marketing function, a team, and a growth trajectory that did not exist before you arrived

*This position could be located in Indianapolis, IN or Raleigh, NC, based upon the location of the candidate.