Business Development Manager - General Contractors

Heavy works with architects, artists, developers, and contractors to plan and build world-class art, architecture, and placemaking features.

Our strength lies in bridging concepts and execution, taking ambitious ideas and turning them into buildable, high-quality outcomes.

While we continue to grow our early-stage Studio and developer relationships, a significant portion of our work today comes through General Contractors and Construction Managers. This role is focused on growing and owning those relationships to win work—building a strong, qualified pipeline of GC-led opportunities and positioning Heavy for more strategic involvement over time.

Role Overview

The Business Development Manager is responsible for building and owning relationships with General Contractors and Construction Managers, and for generating, qualifying, and leading the strategy behind a strong pipeline of GC-led opportunities for Heavy.

This role focuses on:

• Building and growing relationships with GC/CM leadership, preconstruction, and project teams
• Generating and qualifying a consistent pipeline of GC-led opportunities
• Winning work by owning pursuit strategy and client engagement, and coordinating the internal team
• Supporting selective early engagement opportunities where Heavy can add strategic value

This is a relationship- and strategy-led role with a strong commercial mindset, not a technical estimating or design position.

Core Responsibilities

• Own GC Relationships & Business Development
• Build and maintain relationships with General Contractors, Construction Managers, and preconstruction teams
•  Identify and pursue GC-led opportunities
• Represent Heavy at industry events, GC functions, trade shows, industry associations, and other relationship-building opportunities
• Position Heavy as a trusted, go-to partner for complex scopes
• Support marketing materials and case studies that strengthen Heavy's positioning with General Contractors

Outcome: Increased volume and quality of work secured through GC channels

Generate & Qualify Pipeline

• Identify and qualify new GC-led opportunities
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date pipeline records and forecasts
• Track win/loss trends and share learnings with leadership
• Support procurement strategy and early positioning decisions
• Improve proposal templates, pursuit tools, CRM/pipeline tracking, and business development processes

Outcome: Clear visibility into pipeline health and quality of opportunities

Lead Pursuit Strategy & Client Engagement

• Own each pursuit from qualification through to contract award
• Define win strategy, positioning, and competitive approach in partnership with leadership
• Serve as the primary point of contact with the GC/client throughout the pursuit
• Determine what information, deliverables, and touchpoints the client needs, and when
• Lead follow-up and negotiations
• Lead pursuit and preconstruction coordination meetings
• Collaborate with project managers, estimators, and leadership throughout the pursuit process

Outcome: Well-run pursuits with strong client alignment and higher win rates

Support Strategic & Signature Opportunities

• Identify opportunities for early engagement
• Support positioning on high-visibility or complex projects
• Participate in early-stage discussions where applicable
• Ensure clear handoff of scope, assumptions, client expectations, and risks to the delivery team
• Support the transition from pursuit to delivery
• Align internal teams and the client before project kickoff

Outcome: Increased early-stage involvement, stronger project handoffs, and fewer execution issues.

Who You Are

• A natural relationship builder who earns trust quickly
• Comfortable owning strategy while coordinating others to execute
• Confident representing Heavy with GC leadership and stakeholders
• Driven, competitive, and self-directed
• Organized, with strong follow-through across multiple concurrent pursuits
• Comfortable working in ambiguity and making calculated decisions
• Strong judgment on where to invest time and when to walk away
• A clear communicator who can translate between client needs and internal teams

• 7-10+ years in business development, client relations, or a similar client-facing role within construction, design-build, or related AEC environments
• Established relationships with General Contractors and Construction Managers strongly preferred
• Experience leading or coordinating cross-functional pursuit teams (estimating, design, engineering, operations)
• Working knowledge of construction delivery methods and project execution—enough to engage credibly with GC/CM teams
• Strong commercial and relationship-based acumen
• Proven track record of generating and closing new business or pipeline
• Proficiency in CRM/pipeline tools, Excel, Word, and standard business development tools