Grand Rapids, MI- Construction Business Development Manager

MISSION

Guided by partnership, we are determined to build the best experience. 

VALUES

Choosing what’s right, every time.

A can-do attitude.

A personal sense of responsibility.

People who value people.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Business Development Manager (Non-K12) provides market development expertise for O-A-K’s Non-K-12 sectors in West Michigan – Aviation, Government, Higher Education, and Community driven construction. The Business Development Manager strengthens O-A-K’s presence with existing and potential clients by building relationships and positioning O-A-K to effectively pursue and win future work in core market segments.  Reporting to Director of Preconstruction, this position implements O-A-K’s diversification market strategy, ensuring disciplined growth, exceptional client experiences, and strong market positioning across West Michigan.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

General Duties

• Industry Engagement: Represent O-A-K at industry specific events, conferences, and networking functions, as well as community events at large.
• Pipeline Management: Utilize CRM tools to track leads, forecast revenue, and manage the full B2B sales lifecycle.
• Coordinates regularly with Chief Strategy Officer to ensure business development strategy aligns with corporate strategies.
• Relationship Management: Transition “win” projects to the operations team smoothly while maintaining a long-term "trusted advisor" status with the client for future work. 
• Track market share, pipeline activity, and success rates to ensure O-A-K maintains a leadership position in the markets served.

Business Development & Market Positioning

• Direct business development efforts by identifying opportunities, participating in go/no-go decision discussions and partnering with leaders, project teams, and business development staff.
• Build and sustain O-A-K’s reputation as a trusted advisor to clients through proactive outreach, attendance at industry and community events, consistent visibility, and delivery of value-focused insights.
• Represent O-A-K in relevant associations, conferences, and forums.

Strategic Client Account Management

• Develop and execute key account management strategy that ensures strong, long-lasting relationships with clients before, during, and after projects.
• Maintain a structured annual engagement plan that includes touchpoints, follow-up activities, and relationship-building strategies tailored to each market segment/client.
• Support client satisfaction initiatives and ensure communication remains proactive, aligned, and responsive.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with operations, project management, estimating, and corporate leadership to align market strategy with service delivery capabilities.
• Ensure that internal teams understand upcoming opportunities, client expectations, and campaign requirements.
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing across regions and maintain consistent communication with Michigan leadership regarding market trends, performance, risks, and emerging opportunities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Moderate Supervision.  Operates with regular scheduled check-ins with their supervisor. Independently manages workload, makes decisions, and consults with leadership on a scheduled basis or to report on key pursuits.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• A bachelor’s degree or experience in a related field is highly preferred.

OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Market Experience: Five+ years of B2B business development or professional service sales experience, preferably within construction, A/E/C, real estate development, or professional services industries.
• Technical Skills: Understanding of commercial construction procurement process including CMAR (Construction Manager at Risk) and Design Build.
• Market Familiarity: Ability to qualify leads and projects to ensure O-A-K has a warm start and is pursuing the best fit opportunities.
  
• Relationship Building: Skilled in fostering and maintaining productive relationships with stakeholders, clients, and team members to enhance collaboration and trust.
• Collaboration: Skilled at fostering teamwork across functions and levels to deliver successful outcomes.

• Communication: Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills for engaging clients, teams, and executives.

• Accountability: A strong sense of responsibility and ownership for decisions, actions, and outcomes, ensuring commitments are met with integrity and excellence.
• Community Engagement: Demonstrated ability to represent the company in public forums and industry associations to advance market presence.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS

Activity

Frequency

Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods

☐Occasionally              ☐Frequently     ☒Regularly

Moving about work area to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another

☐Occasionally              ☐Frequently     ☒Regularly

Adjusting, moving or lifting objects up to 25 pounds

☒Occasionally              ☐Frequently     ☐Regularly

Observe with close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, and depth perception

☐Occasionally              ☐Frequently     ☒Regularly

Drive or Travel for work assignments

☐Occasionally              ☐Frequently     ☒Regularly

Use hands and fingers to use, handle or feel objects, tools, computers and office equipment

☐Occasionally              ☐Frequently     ☒Regularly

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Condition

Frequency

Office environment with no exposure to extreme heat, cold, noise, chemicals/hazardous equipment

☐Occasionally              ☐Frequently            ☒Regularly

Exposure to constant or intermittent extreme sounds

☒Occasionally              ☐Frequently            ☐Regularly

Exposure to extreme heat or cold either indoors or outside

☒Occasionally              ☐Frequently            ☐Regularly

Exposure to dust, oil, various chemicals, solvents, or fumes

☒Occasionally              ☐Frequently            ☐Regularly

O-A-K is an equal opportunity, at-will employer, and will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment. O-A-K does not discriminate based on race, including but not limited to hair texture; culture, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, height, weight, marital status, veteran status, socio-economic status, disability, or other legally protected characteristics as required by law.

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. This job description does not list all duties of the job. Employees may be asked by management to perform other duties as needed. O-A-K reserves the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not an employment contract and does not infringe upon the O-A-K’s at-will employment status.