Business Development Specialist

Overview

Bennett & Pless has been a growing leader in structural engineering for more than 60 years, delivering specialized expertise across the markets we serve. We have been nominated 9 consecutive years as a best firm to work for and have offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Dallas, Knoxville, Loudoun, Nashville, Orlando, Raleigh, and Sarasota. Our projects range from simple site inspections to the design of new facilities, and we work at each stage – feasibility studies, conceptual design, detailed design, and construction administration.

Together, our 10 offices have created an energized engineering powerhouse offering enhanced capabilities to our ever-growing client base.

We have an opportunity for a Business Development Specialist to support and drive growth within assigned regional markets. This role is responsible for identifying, developing, and securing new business opportunities while building strong relationships with clients, industry partners, and internal stakeholders. The Business Development Specialist will execute a targeted business development strategy aligned with firm goals and help position Bennett & Pless as a trusted structural engineering partner across commercial and strategic growth sectors.

• Market Development & Strategy
• Execute a targeted regional business development strategy aligned with firm goals.
• Develop a strong understanding of assigned regional markets, including current and emerging opportunities.
• Review and analyze market intelligence to identify potential leads, clients, and growth areas.
• Collaborate with Regional Leaders, Department Managers, Market Sector Leaders, and Marketing to align local market efforts with firm-wide initiatives.

• Client & Industry Engagement
• Build, maintain, and evolve strong relationships with developers, architects, contractors, and other key industry stakeholders.
• Establish and sustain a robust network of industry and market partners, including firms across the AEC industry.
• Represent Bennett & Pless at approved industry events, conferences, and networking forums within the assigned region.
• Connect and introduce appropriate Bennett & Pless technical and leadership resources to partners and prospective clients at the right time.
• Assist in enhancing the firm’s brand visibility and positioning Bennett & Pless as a trusted advisor for structural engineering solutions in the region.

• Lead, Opportunity & Proposal Support
• Identify and develop qualified leads and business opportunities with new and existing clients.
• Maintain and manage a project pipeline of leads and future opportunities.
• Position technical teams with clients to secure proposal and bid opportunities; technical teams will lead proposal preparation.
• Collaborate with local leadership to ensure a smooth handoff from lead and opportunity development to proposal execution.
• Track proposal outcomes, including wins and losses, to inform and refine future business strategies.

• Performance Tracking & Reporting
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in the firm’s CRM system for leads, opportunities, and pursuits.
• Provide regular updates to leadership on pipeline activity, opportunities, and outcomes.
• Prepare monthly progress reports outlining leads, opportunities, proposal activity, and client engagement.
• Establish measurable goals for revenue growth, client acquisition, and market penetration in collaboration with leadership.
• Ensure all contacts, client information, and business development data are documented and maintained according to company standards.

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or a related field; relevant experience may be substituted for a degree.
• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant business development experience.
• Previous experience in the A/E/C or related industry preferred.
• Established involvement in the regional market with an existing network of relevant partners and potential clients.
• Experience supporting proposal positioning and pursuit strategies in collaboration with technical teams.

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the…