Business Development Director

Business Development Director

Bay Area

At Salas O'Brien we tell our clients that we're engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That's why we're committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.

Building for the long-term means that all of our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build a unique, meaningful, and high-impact career-and they'll receive great total rewards along the way.

About Us:

Founded in 1975, Salas O'Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow's requirements are today's opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.

We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.

Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.

Job Summary:

We are looking for a results-driven Business Development Director with 15+ years of experience to drive strategic growth while supporting and strengthening the traditional seller-doer model. This role will lead regional business development efforts focused on science & technology, advanced manufacturing, mission-critical facilities, higher education, and healthcare markets. Success in this role will be measured through strengthened client relationships, strategic pursuit support, expanded market visibility, and sustainable pipeline growth aligned with regional operational capacity.

Responsibilities:

Business Development Strategy & Vision

• Champion the Seller-Doer Balanced Approach while building a professional strategic business development framework that aligns with company vision and regional capacity
• Develop and execute regional business development strategy that support targeted markets, long-term client development, and sustainable growth in the Bay Area and Northern California
• Lead cross-functional collaboration between business development, operations, estimating, and technical teams to support effective pursuit planning and team coordination

Business Growth & Market Development

• Drive pipeline growth by identifying high-potential opportunities
• Monitor market trends, client activity, and competitive conditions to support business development planning and leadership decision-making.
• Prioritize and focus pursuit efforts on the highest-probability, highest-value opportunities
• Expand market presence through relationship development and early client engagement
• Partner with marketing and regional leadership to support industry visibility, client engagement, and market presence initiatives.

Client Relationship Management & Experience

• Cultivate and expand long-term client relationships across key sectors, driving repeat business and identifying expansion opportunities
• Lead client experience initiatives including stakeholder engagement, account management, and proactive relationship nurturing to enhance client satisfaction and retention
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers, design partners, and facility professionals in Northern California

Pipeline & Pursuit Leadership

• Proactively develop and manage a robust pipeline, contributing additional opportunities while securing awards in the first year of focused efforts
• Work with marketing on go/no-go decision processes in collaboration with executive leadership

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Provide strategic leadership and enablement to technical principals and seller-doer teams, enhancing their business development effectiveness
• Collaborate closely with operations, marketing, and delivery teams to ensure seamless transition from pursuit to project execution
• Foster internal staff engagement, professional development, and coordination across teams and market sectors

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelors degree in Business, Marketing or related field
• 15+ years of progressive business development, strategy, and preconstruction leadership experience in the AEC industry
• Proven track record of driving significant revenue growth and managing pipeline growth
• Experienced in science & technology, mission-critical/data centers, higher education, and healthcare markets
• Strong experience with VantagePoint and related CRM systems
• Demonstrated servant-leader approach with excellent cross-functional collaboration and team enablement skills

Travel: up to 50% locally

Compensation & Benefits:

The expected base salary range for this role is $160,000 - $190,000 USD per year. Actual compensation will be determined based on a number of factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and location.

This role is also eligible for performance-based bonuses and a comprehensive U.S. based benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Wellness programs and employee assistance resources
• Professional development support

For more information, visit our full benefits overview here.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Salas O'Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O'Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.

Third-Party Agency Notice

Salas O'Brien does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiters or agencies. We only work with approved partners engaged directly by our Talent Acquisition team for specific searches. Unsolicited submissions will not be eligible for placement fees.