Business Development Leader, Justice+Civic

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.

DLR Group’s Justice+Civic studio is seeking a Regional Business Development Leader, with opportunities available in multiple locations in California:

• Los Angeles

• Riverside

• San Diego

Position Summary

We are seeking a motivated Business Development Leader to drive growth in our Justice + Civic sector, with a strong focus on projects such as public safety, civic facilities, and community-based behavioral and mental health centers, as well as courthouses, detention, corrections, and rehabilitation. This role is ideal for someone who excels at identifying decision-makers and building lasting relationships while collaborating with a talented team of architects, designers, and planners.

The ideal candidate is confident, entrepreneurial, and eager to lead initiatives that uncover new opportunities while strengthening existing client relationships in collaboration with Regional, Design, and Client Leaders, as well as our Global Justice + Civic and Global Business Development Leaders. Join our employee-owned firm and experience a culture that celebrates diverse design perspectives and a shared passion for creating impactful work locally and globally.

The successful candidate will

• Bring A/E/C Business Development experience to proactively identify, research, and qualify pursuit leads, following up with stakeholders across multiple channels, product types and regions

• Cultivate and manage long-term client relationships, partnering with Regional, Design, Client and fellow Business Development Leaders to maintain engagement with current and former clients

• Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified opportunities, leading and driving business development efforts

• Actively engage in industry organizations and committees while gaining familiarity with DLR Group’s portfolio, experts, design ethos, and regional trends

• Collaborate on sector marketing strategies and annual business planning, driving ROI and reducing Random Acts of Marketing (RAM)

• Meet or exceed growth and fee targets in coordination with the Justice+Civic Team

• Attend and coordinate industry conferences, handling logistics, client outreach and engagement, and collateral

• Prepare Business Development 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

• Industry Proficiency: Experience with public procurement processes (RFQ/P, interviews) and/or alternative delivery methods (design-build, progressive design-build, P3).

• 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

• 5+ years of relevant business development experience and/or relevant experience within the A/E/C industry (public projects)

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products and experience utilizing CRM software

• Involvement in industry organizations such as DBIA, CMAA, or other relevant government related 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:

Pay Range
$120,000—$160,000 USD

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.