Senior Business Development Professional
Company : Gilbane
Location : Houston, TX, 77002
Job Type : Full Time
Date Posted : 8 January 2026
Overview
Are you looking for a highly rewarding opportunity that provides extensive career growth opportunity? Gilbane is seeking a Sr. Business Development Professional to be responsible for delivering new clients, new and repeat business, and leading the business development lifecycle, including: opportunity/client sourcing, positioning, risk analysis, business proposal strategy, competitor analysis, deliverables, negotiation and securing award.
Who are we?
As a Top-10 ENR Contractor, Gilbane is a family-owned business with 45 offices that has been shaping communities since 1870. Consistently recognized as one of the most reputable construction management firms in the country, Gilbane is committed to delivering projects safely and on-time. You will have the opportunity to build schools, labs, hospitals, corporate offices, sports arenas and more!
We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Who are you?
You are someone who acts inclusively, showing empathy and treating others with respect and dignity in order to uphold Gilbane’s core value of Caring and “People First” workplace culture. You seek to listen in order to understand and can convey information clearly. You’re a strong problem solver who can identify, prioritize, and implement alternatives for solutions, and you demonstrate adaptability by collaborating with others and supporting team members to achieve excellence. A self-starter who shows passion, commitment, and ownership all while delivering on business outcomes and driving results. You’re someone who identifies opportunities for new and improved ways of doing things that result in value-add solutions.
Your core values match Gilbane’s: Integrity, Caring, Teamwork, Toughmindedness, Dedication to Excellence, Discipline, Loyalty, and Entrepreneurship.
What’s in it for you?
Gilbane offers employees multi-dimensional training opportunities through a number of resources. While managing your responsibilities to projects, you will be able to enroll in trainings through our award-winning Gilbane University to build leadership and technical skills. In addition, you would work with an experienced team which provides you with the opportunity to learn new industry skills every day. You will protect and promote the interests of both Gilbane and the client in all matters as well as demonstrating the personal characteristics of a developing leader.
Responsibilities
- Consistently delivers and books an annual average total anticipated fee in alignment with gross profit targets on new sales in alignment with Business Unit goals
- Develops and executes a Business Development (BD) plan/pipeline with limited consultation and guidance from Director/Senior Director of Business Development, including: Individual BD Roadmap, Market Sector and Profit Lever Analysis, Focus/Must Win/Strategic/Strategic Few, Expected Hit Ratio aligned with BL market mix
- Serves as partner to operational counterparts to develop business plan aligned with growth and profitability goals
- Maintains benchmark of 8-10 focus prospects in CRM at all times, reflecting a mix of clients aligned with BU goals and action to advance our position monthly on at least 3 per month
- Demonstrates a mix of new and residual sales
- Creates and articulates capture and differentiation strategy for each focus pursuit
- Develops champions on pursuits and completes majority of pre-sell steps regularly
- Knows competitors – national and regional – that Gilbane encounters in the market, as well as basic competitive profile
- Demonstrates the ability to articulate the principal Gilbane differentiators versus competitors
- Demonstrates acumen in legal and risk review and participates with Project Executives (PXs) in contract negotiations
- Manages L1/L2/L3/ERR process and documentation for pursuits
- Guides, informs, and is actively engaged in commercial strategy for pursuits including fee, general conditions, profit levers and enhancements that commercially competitive
- Manages and directs sales deliverables to support pursuits including planning and communications with operations, and sales and marketing support.
- Creates suitable technical content and manages operations partners effectively in developing project-specific operations input to proposals/ presentations
- Obtains debriefs on all wins and losses, and posts information to the competitive intelligence database
- Maintains ongoing client relationships after project start-up
- Participates with PIC/PX in client satisfaction process
- Operates as local industry leader in suitable professional political, community organizations, with an increasing focus on client/market organizations
- Maintains a strong network within local Architect, Engineer, Construction (A/E/C) community
- Engages operations personnel and subject matter experts throughout the sales process
- Coaches, mentors, trains Operations partners on matters related to business development?
- Maintains CRM and personal roadmap regularly and accurately
- Reports forecast and current sales activity
- Coaches and mentors less experienced team members
- Supports a positive and inclusive work environment
Qualifications
EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Business, Marketing, or related industry experience
- 8+ years of business development experience within the A/E/C industry
- Or equivalent combination of education and experience
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to shape impactful client-facing deliverables
- Closing and Negotiation skills
- Ability to maintain long-term client relationships
- Understanding of project financials and project risk
Gilbane offers an excellent total compensation package which includes competitive health and welfare benefits and a generous profit-sharing/401k plan. We invest in our employees’ education and have built Gilbane University into a top training organization in the construction industry. Qualified applicants who are offered a position must pass a pre-employment substance abuse test.
Gilbane is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or disability status.
Note to Recruiters, Placement Agencies, and Similar Organizations: Gilbane does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Please do not forward unsolicited agency resumes to our jobs alias, website, or to any Gilbane employee. Gilbane will not pay fees to any third party agency or firm and will not be responsible for any agency fees associated with unsolicited resumes. Unsolicited resumes received will be considered property of Gilbane and will be processed accordingly.
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Frequently asked questions
In Houston's competitive architecture, engineering, and construction market, senior business development professionals excel by mastering client relationship cultivation, risk assessment, contract negotiation, and strategic market positioning, ensuring alignment with local industry trends and Gilbane’s high standards for business growth.
Advancement typically involves expanding responsibilities from client sourcing to leading complex negotiations and managing multi-million dollar proposals. Professionals gain expertise in financial risk analysis and competitive intelligence, positioning themselves for senior leadership roles in firms like Gilbane.
Navigating Houston’s dynamic construction market demands adaptability to fluctuating client needs, local regulatory conditions, and regional competition. Balancing proposal development with stakeholder collaboration and maintaining a robust CRM pipeline are ongoing challenges that require strategic foresight.
Gilbane’s emphasis on integrity, teamwork, and a people-first culture shapes a collaborative approach to business development. Professionals are expected to mentor peers, engage in inclusive leadership, and uphold company values while driving sales and client satisfaction.
Gilbane offers unparalleled training through Gilbane University, fostering leadership and technical skills development. The company’s long-standing reputation and diverse project portfolio in Houston provide a unique environment for professionals to influence major community infrastructure projects.
Houston’s booming construction industry creates strong demand for seasoned business developers, but competition remains high due to the city's concentration of top contractors. Success hinges on proven client acquisition skills, local network strength, and familiarity with regional market dynamics.
Certifications such as Certified Professional in Business Development (CPBD) and active involvement in local A/E/C organizations enhance credibility. Houston-based firms value candidates connected to community and industry groups, which aids in client relationship building and market insight.
Salaries typically range between $110,000 and $145,000 annually, influenced by experience, negotiation skills, and project portfolio. Total compensation often includes bonuses linked to sales targets, reflecting the strategic impact of the role on company profitability.
At Gilbane, senior professionals collaborate closely with project executives from opportunity sourcing through contract negotiation to post-award client engagement, ensuring cohesive strategy execution and alignment with operational goals throughout the project lifecycle.
Gilbane values candidates demonstrating strategic pipeline management, competitive analysis expertise, and the ability to mentor teams. Effective communication, local market knowledge, and a passion for fostering inclusive workplace culture are also key hiring priorities.