DLR Group is an integrated design firm with a promise to elevate the human experience through design. This fuels the work we do around the world and inspires our mission to improve the lives of our clients, our communities, and our planet. If this sparks your interest, you’re in the right place.

Our Chicago studio has an opening for a Business Development Leader. We operate within a hybrid work model, supporting flexibility between office time and work from home. Considering this model, this role could be based in the following city:

• Chicago

Position Summary:

We are seeking a motivated Business Development Leader to drive growth in our Chicago office and the state of Illinois. This role is ideal for someone who excels at identifying decision-makers and building lasting relationships while collaborating with a talented team of designers.

The ideal candidate is socially fearless, entrepreneurial, and ready to lead initiatives to uncover new opportunities, while also nurturing existing client relationships alongside Regional Sector and Client Leaders. Join our employee-owned firm and be part of a culture that values diverse design voices and a passion for impactful work both locally and globally.

The successful candidate will:

Business Development - 

• A/E/C experience; identify, research, and qualify pursuit leads while following up with stakeholders through multiple channels.
• Cultivate and manage long-term client relationships, partnering with Regional Sector and Client Leaders to maintain connections with current and former clients.
• Develop a pipeline of qualified project leads and lead engagement in Illinois. 
• Actively participate in industry organizations and committees while familiarizing with DLR Group's portfolio, experts, design ethos, and regional trends.
• Collaborate on sector marketing strategies, annual business planning, and achieve ROI goals while minimizing Random Acts of Marketing (RAM).
• Meet or exceed growth and fee targets, working with other Business Development Leaders regionally.

Marketing - 

• Attend and coordinate industry conferences, handling logistics, registrations, and collateral.
• Prepare quarterly marketing reports, lead weekly strategy meetings, and maintain CRM and BD Tracking Report.
• Coordinate with teams for RFQ/P responses, review proposals, and assist with interview logistics, attending as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Interpersonal Skills: Outgoing and personable, adept at quickly building rapport and effective relationships, both internally and externally.
• Cold Caller & Resilience: Enthusiastic about reaching out to prospects and resilient in facing rejection, with a strong sense of urgency and consistency in meeting deadlines.
• Professional Demeanor: Polished and capable of representing the firm at all levels, with a keen attention to detail, especially in marketing materials and communications.
• Receptive & Eager Learner: Open to feedback and constructive criticism, demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning.
• Organizational & Collaborative Skills: Excellent at prioritizing and managing multiple tasks efficiently; comfortable in both leadership and team-player roles with diverse personalities.
• Self-Starter & Knowledgeable: Motivated to work independently with minimal supervision, committed to understanding the firm’s practices, services, and goals.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (A/E/C related degree preferred)
• 5+ years of relevant business development experience and/or sales experience within A/E/C industry in the Chicago market.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products and experience utilizing CRM software
• Involvement in community industry organizations
• Strong oral, written communication, meeting facilitation, and presentation skills

Our comprehensive Benefits at DLR Group include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401(k) plan, employee stock ownership, and bonus opportunities. Compensation considerations are based on location, experience, and skills. The suggested pay range for this position is:

DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects.

We are 100% employee-owned: every employee is literally invested in our clients’ success. At the core of our firm are interdisciplinary teams engaged in every step of project lifecycles. Our teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, shared risk and reward, value-based decision making, and proficient use of technology to deliver exceptional design. We are pursuing the goals of the 2030 Challenge, the ME2040, and the SE2050, and are an initial signatory of the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.

Through our values – commitment, creativity, environmental stewardship, fun, integrity, ownership, sharing, teamwork – we elevate the human experience through design, together.

DLR Group follows a four-day in-office work model, with employees having the flexibility to work somewhere other than the office on Fridays.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/M/F/Veteran/Disabled employer.