Sr. Business Development Associate

Smith Seckman Reid, Inc.; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% Employee-Owned

401(k) with company match

Health, dental, and vision plans

Flexible schedules

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. is seeking a Business Development Associate in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this role, you will support strategic pursuits and marketing initiatives at a 100% employee-owned firm. You will work cross-functionally to drive client engagement and research, aligning with SSR’s growth goals.

Responsibilities include leading business development meetings, managing BD contacts, conducting market research, and collaborating with marketing for promotional efforts. The position requires a bachelor’s degree and 5-10 years of relevant experience.

SSR offers a variety of benefits including 401(k) matching and health plans, fostering career growth and work-life balance.

Qualifications

• 5-10 years of experience in business development, marketing, or sales support.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate in developing regional business development strategies.
• Lead internal business development meetings.
• Proactively identify potential opportunities.

Skills

Business development

Marketing

Sales support

Communication skills

CRM proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM software

Job description

Be the engine behind SSR’s growth by supporting strategic pursuits and marketing efforts in a 100% employee‑owned firm making impact across infrastructure, healthcare, and more.

What You’ll Do

As a Business Development Associate at SSR, you’ll be a critical connector, helping transform prospects into partnerships. You’ll work cross-functionally with Regional Directors, Market Sector teams, CRMs, Project Managers, and Marketing to drive client engagement, research, and pursuit and strategy execution. You’ll gain exposure to SSR’s diverse markets (Healthcare, Transportation, Civic, Sports + Entertainment, etc.) and support initiatives that expand our footprint, reputation, and impact.

• Collaborate in developing and executing regional business development strategies aligned with SSR’s growth goals
• Lead internal business development meetings for the market/region or client specific efforts
• Proactively identify potential opportunities or signals (new projects, org changes, RFP alerts, etc.)
• Demonstrate consistency in moving identified opportunities forward
• Consistently generate or significantly influence new opportunities to drive pipeline growth
• Own follow-up and some external client or partner-facing relationship efforts
• Lead development of client engagement and BD efforts in the market/region supporting SSR One growth strategy
• Serve as the internal point of contact for business development for market/region
• Independently manage assigned BD contacts and activity cadence
• Lead pursuit strategy and core messaging for proposals and presentations, ensuring alignment with pursuit priorities and business development goals.
• Partner with marketing to help coordinate pursuit logistics, team contributors, timelines, and internal reviews.
• Maintain and manage data in CRM or pursuit tracking tools, producing dashboards and reports.
• Conduct market research, competitive benchmarking, and industry analysis to uncover new opportunities.
• Collaborate with Marketing to generate content, event support, and promotional materials for pursuits and region market presence.
• Represent SSR at local/regional industry events, conferences, or networking functions as needed.
• Research and identify relevant external organizations and be an engaged board member

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, Engineering, or related field
• 5-10 years of experience in business development, marketing, sales support, or proposals, preferably in architecture, engineering, consulting, or technical services
• Ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently, meet deadlines, and coordinate across teams
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with ability to turn technical content into client‑centric narratives
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with CRM or pursuit tracking systems
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities with limited supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting business development strategy in the AEC industry
• Understanding of BD metrics, KPIs, forecasting, and ROI
• Familiarity with CRM database software fam
• Exposure to client-facing activities, event planning, or conference support
• Ability to travel occasionally for meetings or events

What We Offer

• 100% Employee-Owned – Ownership stake from your first day with immediate ESOP vesting.
• Retirement Savings – 401(k) with immediate vesting and generous company match.
• Health & Wellness – Medical, dental, vision plans plus company contributions to HSA for HDHP plans.
• Company-Paid Protection – Life insurance, AD&D, and short- & long-term disability at no cost to you.
• Work–Life Balance – Flexible schedules, paid parental leave, generous PTO, and company holidays.
• Career Growth – Tuition reimbursement, mentorship, training, and a clear path toward roles in BD, marketing, or leadership.

You’ll contribute to meaningful, high-impact projects across SSR’s client sectors including hospitals, civic facilities, transportation, infrastructure, and stadiums. SSR’s mission is to make a positive difference for our clients, colleagues, and communities, and your role will fuel that mission daily.

SSR is an Equal Opportunity / Affimative Action Employer

EEO Disabled/Veterans

This job posting will remain open for a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until it is filled.

Recruiters or staffing agencies: SSR is not obligated to compensate any external recruiter or search firm who presents a candidate, their resume, or profile to an SSR employee without 1) a current, fully executed agreement on file and 2) being assigned to the open position via HR.