Business Development Manager – Commercial Construction

Cahill Contractors • San Francisco, CA

3h • $175,000 - $250,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Business Development Manager is a senior leadership role responsible for driving sustained revenue growth through direct client and consultant engagement. This position requires a seasoned commercial construction professional with deep experience in estimating and project management, combined with a proven ability to independently originate, cultivate, and close work. The successful candidate will bring extensive, existing relationships within local markets, ideally with a focus on community projects, affordable and market-rate housing, senior housing, private schools, healthcare, public higher education, and hospitality markets and will be personally accountable for converting those relationships into awarded projects. This role is not focused on lead generation alone. The Business Development Manager must actively manage the full business development lifecycle—from relationship strategy and opportunity positioning through proposal development, interview execution, and contract award.

Requirements

• Minimum of 15 years of demonstrated success in commercial construction business development.
• Prior hands-on experience in estimating and project management for a commercial general contractor.
• Proven track record of independently generating, pursuing, and winning work.
• Extensive existing relationships with decision-makers in healthcare, public higher education, hospitality, affordable and market-rate housing, private school, and community project
• Deep understanding of delivery methods including CM at Risk, Design-Build, Design-Bid-Build, and negotiated GMP work.
• Strong financial, contractual, and construction knowledge enabling credible, executive-level client conversations.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.

Nice To Haves

• Strategic, relationship-driven mindset with a long-term view of client value.
• High level of personal accountability and follow-through.
• Ability to represent a family-owned firm with professionalism, discretion, and credibility.
• Strong alignment with values of safety, integrity, collaboration, commitment, continuous improvement and excellence.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Business Development Develop and execute market-specific business development strategies aligned with company growth objectives.
• Identify, pursue, and secure new project opportunities through direct engagement with owners, developers, and key consultants.
• Leverage existing relationships to create repeat and negotiated work opportunities.
• Client & Consultant Relationship Management Establish, maintain, and deepen trusted relationships with clients, architects, engineers, and other industry partners.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for select strategic clients from initial pursuit through project award.
• Proactively position the company for upcoming opportunities by understanding client capital plans, funding cycles, and procurement strategies.
• Opportunity Leadership & Closing Lead pursuits from initial identification through contract execution, including qualification, positioning, and win strategy development.
• Collaborate closely with estimating, preconstruction, and operations teams to develop competitive, compelling proposals.
• Participate actively in proposal writing, pricing strategy, and interview presentations, in conjunction with Cahill’s strong existing marketing team.
• Take direct ownership of closing work (in partnership with senior Cahill leadership), not simply handing off leads to others.
• Internal Collaboration & Market Intelligence Utilize hands-on experience in estimating and project management to ensure pursuits are realistic, well-scoped, and operationally sound.
• Provide market intelligence and client feedback to executive leadership to inform strategic planning.
• Mentor and collaborate with junior business development or marketing staff as appropriate

Benefits

• Full-time, direct-hire position located onsite at our office in San Francisco’s Financial District.
• Cahill covers 100% of employee premiums for medical, dental, and vision (HMO and PPO options available).
• Multiple coverage options for spouse/partner and family.
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Opportunities for mentorship and professional development within a collaborative team.
• FSA, Wellness Stipend, Commuter Benefits and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees