Business Development Manager

Studios Architecture•Los Angeles, CA

1d•$130,000 - $150,000

About The Position

The Business Development Manager will drive growth for STUDIOS’ Los Angeles studio by identifying, pursuing, and winning new work. The position works directly with firm leadership and helps shape the office’s growth, while aligning Los Angeles pursuits with the firm’s West Coast strategy and supporting the San Francisco office as needed. The role combines strategic planning with hands-on execution and calls for knowledge of the Los Angeles and Southern California real estate and development market, strong client relationships, and the ability to manage multiple pursuits concurrently. The manager develops business development plans, revenue targets, and market-sector priorities; monitors market activity and qualifies opportunities; leads proposals and pursuit responses; prepares teams for shortlist interviews and client presentations; and maintains pursuit materials and CRM data. The role also builds client and industry visibility through relationship development, outreach, events, industry participation, and collaboration with the marketing team. The position supports a practice focused on sustainability, building performance, and thoughtful use of technology in design and construction. The annual salary range is $130,000 to $150,000. Final compensation depends on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable Los Angeles and California fair-chance laws.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in marketing, business, communications, architecture, or a related field.
10 or more years of business development, marketing, or client development experience in the A/E/C industry, real estate, or related professional services.
Strong knowledge of the Los Angeles and Southern California real estate and development market.
Demonstrated success managing pursuits and developing winning proposals for design or professional services firms.
Experience leading shortlist interview and client presentation preparation.
Experience managing an opportunity pipeline in a CRM, with accurate tracking of leads, pursuits, win/loss data, and client contacts.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft persuasive narratives and present confidently to senior audiences.
Proficiency with a CRM platform such as Deltek Vantagepoint or Salesforce, and Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines across concurrent pursuits.

Nice To Haves

An established network of client and industry relationships in the Los Angeles market.
Experience in a mid-size firm where the role spans strategy and hands-on execution.
Active involvement in industry organizations such as SMPS, ULI, AIA, CoreNet, or NAIOP.
Familiarity with California public agency procurement processes.

Responsibilities

Work with the LA Managing Principal and West Coast Principals to develop annual business development plans, revenue targets, and market-sector priorities for the Los Angeles office.
Partner with the Director of Business Development, West Coast, to align Los Angeles pursuits with regional strategy, share leads across offices, build the pipeline, and support the San Francisco office as needed.
Track and report business development metrics, including revenue projections, hit rate, and cost of pursuit, to firm leadership.
Keep the opportunity pipeline and CRM accurate and current, including leads, pursuits, win/loss data, and client contacts.
Monitor RFP and RFQ sources, industry publications, and market intelligence to identify opportunities early.
Research clients, competitors, and project fit to support go/no-go decisions.
Identify and qualify prospective clients and projects aligned with the practice’s areas and strategic goals.
Lead proposal, qualifications, and RFP and RFQ responses in collaboration with leadership, marketing, and technical staff.
Coordinate shortlist interview and client presentation preparation, including strategy, messaging, and rehearsals.
Maintain and improve pursuit collateral, including project sheets, resumes, boilerplate content, and case studies.
Build and steward relationships with clients, brokers, project managers, developers, contractors, consultants, and public agencies.
Plan and execute client engagement activities, including targeted outreach campaigns and firm-hosted events.
Represent STUDIOS at industry organizations and events such as CoreNet, NAIOP, ULI, and AIA, and identify sponsorship and speaking opportunities for firm leadership.
Collaborate with the marketing team on positioning, award submissions, PR opportunities, and content that supports business development goals.