Business Development Role

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects•Ambler, PA

About The Position

The Business Development Role develops markets and relationships that create future opportunities for Cuhaci & Peterson (CP). It builds a credible market presence, creates shared value in relationships, gathers business intelligence, and advances developing leads until there is enough information for a productive scope conversation with a Business Unit Director (BUD). The role operates strategically within an assigned geography, market, or relationship portfolio. It independently develops relationships and produces measurable lead-development outcomes, serving as CP’s market-facing source of insight on clients, competitors, partners, and industry conditions. It uses CRM to record relationship intelligence, activity, lead readiness, and next actions, and partners with BUDs to transition leads into technical qualification, pursuits, proposals, and commitments. The role does not independently make technical commitments, define final scope, price services, or close work. The Manager partners with BUDs, Principals, and technical leaders to turn relationship access and lead intelligence into qualified opportunities CP can pursue and deliver successfully. Business Development owns market and relationship development, early lead discovery, Lead Development Management, CRM relationship information, and the quality of the handoff to the BUD. BUDs own technical qualification, scope definition, go/no-go decisions, pursuit and proposal leadership, fee strategy, client commitments, and conversion to backlog and revenue. Marketing owns enterprise brand, content, campaigns, digital experience, and marketing-led market intelligence; Development Operations owns enterprise CRM intelligence, analytics, reporting, process governance, and development systems. The role is expected to be Responsible for core business development craft within an assigned region or relationship portfolio, independently producing outcomes while partnering with BUDs on technical qualification and closing commitments. Success includes useful and timely lead handoffs, expanded priority relationships, relevant outcomes from events and regional activity, accurate and useful records, actionable market intelligence reaching appropriate CP leaders, and progress against approved plans. The position is based in a normal office environment and requires travel, described as mid to heavy as needed. It may involve long hours and overtime of 40 or more hours as needed, as well as prolonged sitting and/or standing, stressful situations, multitasking, and working within time constraints. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities. The job description states that it does not create an employment contract beyond an at-will relationship.

Responsibilities

Build and execute an assigned regional or market-development plan, prioritizing organizations, relationships, associations, events, and activities aligned with CP strategy.
Initiate, nurture, and influence relationships by creating value, facilitating connections, and maintaining credible long-term engagement.
Identify needs and gather business drivers, stakeholders, timing, decision processes, and available budget context; maintain momentum toward the appropriate BUD conversation.
Engage the correct BUD early enough to support specific scope dialogue, provide clear context, and remain involved through BUD-led qualification and pursuit activity.
Maintain useful relationship, activity, lead-stage, and follow-up information; support clean records and consistent team visibility.
Interpret and communicate market conditions, client needs, competitive movement, partner feedback, and emerging opportunities.
Represent CP through associations, conferences, events, introductions, speaking opportunities, and regional engagement.
Coordinate with Marketing, Development Operations, Principals, BUDs, technical leaders, and office leadership to support an integrated growth system.
Influence peers, model standards, support junior team members, and begin contributing beyond assigned relationships and markets.
Develop leads to the point that they reach BUD conversations with useful information and a clear next step.
Support timely, well-prepared lead handoffs and pursuit activity aligned with the correct business unit.
Progress priority activities, relationships, and investments against the approved plan.