Business Development Specialist

Clark is seeking a highly skilled and strategic Business Development Specialist to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for developing and cultivating strong client relationships and strategic partnerships within the Los Angeles, Orange County, and Inland Empire markets. Your primary goal will be to position Clark as the premier General Contractor in the region by understanding client needs, identifying opportunities, and facilitating successful project acquisition. This role requires a proactive and relationship-driven individual who excels at long-term engagement and strategic thinking. You will work closely with Clark leadership, marketing, and operations to drive growth and ensure exceptional client service.

Location: This role will split time between our DTLA and Costa Mesa offices, with travel throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire. Occasional travel to other regions may be required.

Responsibilities

Client Engagement & Relationship Management

• Facilitate and execute client engagement strategies and drive business growth by cultivating new and strengthening existing relationships with clients and partners (end-users, developers, owners, architects, engineers, and consultants)

• Lead business development efforts across the assigned local region, with support to national operations as well

• Represent Clark at key industry and community events, enhancing brand recognition and expanding our network and business

• Meet and introduce Clark to potential clients by growing, maintaining, and leveraging your network. Cold and warm call as appropriate within market or geographic area to build a robust pipeline of opportunities

• Build a robust pipeline of new project opportunities through prospecting, networking, and direct outreach to key decision-makers and stay engaged from initial contact through award

Proposal Development / Pursuit Planning

• Strategize and secure new business by deeply understanding client values and priorities

• Work with leadership and marketing team members to develop winning proposals and pursuit plans to include participating in developing interview materials and customized marketing materials for new pursuits (written proposals, RFP responses, and graphical presentations)

• Develop strong working relationships with subject matter experts (SMEs) across the organization

Market Research & Intelligence

• Utilize technology and all available public sources of information to maximize Clark’s knowledge of general market dynamics and current and future project opportunities

• Prepare and maintain project pipeline reports. Maintain current contact lists and project/owner information using Clark’s CRM tools including Salesforce

• Represent Clark at industry and community engagement events in Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire and the broader Western South Region - to enhance existing relationships and build new ones, remain informed of market conditions, and competition awareness and industry trends

Qualifications

• 4-8+ years of Business Development/Sales experience within the Commercial Real Estate, Architecture/Engineering/Construction, and/or Construction Management industries with a focus on selling services

• College degree preferred – focus on communications, marketing, data science, finance or economics is a plus

• Possesses a network of existing relationships with facilities and planning officials, architects, engineers, real estate developers, and construction managers

• A strategic relationship-building style, valuing a listening and consultative sales approach based on understanding and problem-solving

• Experienced at managing long sales cycles

• Experience with canvassing, cold calling, and networking to meet goals within a territory

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present information effectively and respond to inquiries efficiently

• Technologically proficient in the use of cloud-based market information systems, public websites for project tracking, and CRM systems. Salesforce experience is a plus, utilization of AI tools is also a plus

• Alignment to Clark Standards of Excellence: self-motivated, results-oriented, adaptable, team player, accountable, ethical, innovative, resilient, builds relationships, builds people/teams and followership, sets direction, and executes

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