Municipal Business Development Manager

Valdes Architecture & Engineering; Lombard (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

401K

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

AD&D Insurance

Pet Insurance

Gym membership

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Valdes Architecture & Engineering in Lombard, IL is seeking a Municipal Business Development Manager to lead growth in our municipal buildings and infrastructure practice. You will cultivate relationships with fire/police chiefs, public works directors, village engineers, and managers to secure public works assignments.

This role emphasizes strategic outreach across Chicagoland with selective opportunities in WI and IN, aligning proposals, managing funding cycles, and representing Valdes at

Qualifications

• 10+ years of municipal building design and infrastructure engineering experience
• Experience engaging with public works directors, fire/police chiefs, village engineers, village managers to secure design for public works projects
• Strong understanding of municipal project workflows, including design, permitting, funding (e.g., MFT, TIF, grants), and construction for buildings, transportation, and water/wastewater projects
• Proven track record in business development or sales within the architecture, engineering, or public works sector
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills to build trust and maintain relationships with municipal clients
• Willingness to attend evening public meetings, hearings, or industry events as needed to engage with municipal stakeholders
• Must possess exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills
• Must be able to work in the US without sponsorship now or in the future

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a business development strategy to grow Valdes’ project pipeline with municipal clients, targeting municipal government leaders across the Chicagoland area, and with selective outreach in Wisconsin and Indiana
• Identify and pursue project opportunities in municipal buildings and infrastructure engineering, including municipal facilities (e.g., public works buildings, vehicle maintenance facilities, fire/police stations, village/city halls), roadway and bridge improvements, and water/wastewater infrastructure, stormwater management
• Leverage existing relationships and build new ones with key municipal stakeholders to position Valdes early for upcoming projects, ensuring alignment with client needs and funding cycles (e.g., MFT, state/federal grants)
• Collaborate with the Vice President-Buildings, Director of Transportation, and Director of Utilities-Water/Wastewater to align business development efforts with Valdes’ strategic goals for delivering quality architecture and engineering services to the municipal sector
• Maintain a deep understanding of the Chicagoland municipal market, including public works priorities, procurement processes, and regulatory requirements (e.g., IDOT, IEPA, MWRD)
• Work with the marketing team to create tailored materials (proposals, presentations, brochures) that highlight Valdes’ municipal buildings and infrastructure engineering capabilities
• Represent Valdes at municipal-focused events, such as village board meetings, public hearings, and industry gatherings, often requiring evening availability
• Actively participate in industry organizations (e.g., IACP, IFCA, APWA, ASCE, American Public Works Association, Illinois Municipal League) to enhance Valdes’ visibility and network with municipal decision-makers
• Track and report on business development metrics, including client interactions, project opportunities, and win rates, to support strategic growth.

Skills

Municipal relationship building

Strategic business development

Public sector sales

Proposal development

Job description

Valdes is seeking a Municipal Business Development Manager to promote and expand our multidisciplinary services—focusing on municipal government buildings and municipal engineering projects—in Lombard, IL (with hybrid or remote options available). This role will prioritize building strategic relationships with fire/police chiefs, public works directors, village engineers, and village managers to secure projects in public works infrastructure, including municipal facilities (public works buildings, vehicle maintenance, fire/police stations, village halls), transportation (roads, bridges), and water/wastewater (treatment plants, stormwater). The ideal candidate will bring 10+ years of municipal buildings and infrastructure engineering experience, with a proven ability to engage municipal clients and promote Valdes’ full suite of services. This position offers significant growth potential within a stable, well-established firm committed to expanding its municipal market presence.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a business development strategy to grow Valdes’ project pipeline with municipal clients, targeting municipal government leaders across the Chicagoland area, and with selective outreach in Wisconsin and Indiana
• Identify and pursue project opportunities in municipal buildings and infrastructure engineering, including municipal facilities (e.g., public works buildings, vehicle maintenance facilities, fire/police stations, village/city halls), roadway and bridge improvements, and water/wastewater infrastructure, stormwater management
• Leverage existing relationships and build new ones with key municipal stakeholders to position Valdes early for upcoming projects, ensuring alignment with client needs and funding cycles (e.g., MFT, state/federal grants)
• Collaborate with the Vice President-Buildings, Director of Transportation, and Director of Utilities-Water/Wastewater to align business development efforts with Valdes’ strategic goals for delivering quality architecture and engineering services to the municipal sector
• Maintain a deep understanding of the Chicagoland municipal market, including public works priorities, procurement processes, and regulatory requirements (e.g., IDOT, IEPA, MWRD)
• Work with the marketing team to create tailored materials (proposals, presentations, brochures) that highlight Valdes’ municipal buildings and infrastructure engineering capabilities
• Represent Valdes at municipal-focused events, such as village board meetings, public hearings, and industry gatherings, often requiring evening availability
• Actively participate in industry organizations (e.g., IACP, IFCA, APWA, ASCE, American Public Works Association, Illinois Municipal League) to enhance Valdes’ visibility and network with municipal decision-makers
• Track and report on business development metrics, including client interactions, project opportunities, and win rates, to support strategic growth.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in municipal building design and infrastructure engineering, with a focus on projects involving Chicagoland municipalities or similar clients
• Demonstrated experience engaging with public works directors, fire/police chiefs, village engineers, village managers, or similar municipal stakeholders to secure design for public works projects
• Strong understanding of municipal project workflows, including design, permitting, funding (e.g., MFT, TIF, grants), and construction for buildings, transportation, and water/wastewater projects
• Proven track record in business development or sales within the architecture, engineering, or public works sector, with the ability to promote multidisciplinary services
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills to build trust and maintain relationships with municipal clients
• Willingness to attend evening public meetings, hearings, or industry events as needed to engage with municipal stakeholders.
• Must possess exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills
• Must be able to work in the US without sponsorship now or in the future

$70,000 - $130,000 a year

Salaries for all positions are based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, total years of experience in the industry, education, skills, and qualifications. Compensation may vary depending on the candidate's individual background and expertise. Salaries are subject to fluctuation outside of the given range. The indicated range is not a commitment and meant as a guideline. All compensation, exempt or non-exempt status, and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

Valdes Architecture & Engineering Company is looking for bright and talented people that want to take their career to the next level. We offer many rewarding career paths to challenge and engage our employees at all phases of their careers. Our office provides a team environment, and excellent working conditions, which allow individuals to maximize their potential. Valdes Architecture & Engineering offers an outstanding benefits package including Medical, Dental, 401K plan, Company paid Long Term and Short Term Disability Insurance, Company paid Life and AD&D Insurance, Pet Insurance, a discounted gym membership and tuition reimbursement.

EEO/AAE

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.