Nichols Consulting Engineers, Chtd.
Director of Business Development and Marketing
Be an Early Applicant
Leads business development and marketing strategy for an AEC firm across California and Nevada. Oversees client growth, market positioning, capture strategy, proposals, branding, digital outreach, market intelligence, CRM operations, performance reporting, and team leadership. Builds public and private sector relationships, coordinates major pursuits, coaches technical staff, and aligns growth initiatives with company objectives. Frequent travel between offices, client sites, conferences, and business meetings is required.
The Director of Business Development and Marketing is responsible for leading NCE’s business development strategy, client growth efforts, market positioning and marketing and communications functions that support business growth. This role is accountable for strengthening client relationships, expanding opportunities with public and private sector clients, guiding capture strategy, managing the marketing and business development teams, overseeing the proposal process, and elevating the firm’s reputation in the civil engineering and environmental space across California and Nevada. You will work closely with the firm’s operation’s leadership, including key technical staff and project managers, to ensure business development and marketing priorities and pursuit decisions align with the firm’s strategies, philosophies, and goals.
Reporting directly to the President and CEO, this position may be based in NCE’s Sacramento, Richmond, Oakland, or Anaheim, California office, or our Reno or So. Lake Tahoe, Nevada office.
Core Responsibilities:
- Business Development Strategy: Develop and manage annual business development plans and growth priorities focused on the firm’s key service areas, target clients, geographic regions, and revenue objectives, with supporting marketing plans and budgets aligned to those priorities.
- Market Positioning and Branding Strategy: Manage the firm’s market positioning, visual identity, website, social media presence, and external communications to ensure consistent messaging that supports client development, strategic pursuits, and business growth.
- Capture and Proposal Strategy: Lead pursuit strategy, positioning, messaging, proposal development, and interview preparation for public and private sector projects, ensuring each pursuit reflects client intelligence, competitive differentiation, and a clear path to winning. This role should elevate NCE’s proposal practices to the next level while managing the proposal team’s execution and quality.
- AI and Digital Business Development: Stay abreast of and implement the use of AI tools, CRM data, and digital marketing strategies to improve client insight, opportunity tracking, pursuit readiness, and targeted outreach.
- Market Intelligence: Track industry trends, competitor activities, agency priorities, upcoming project leads, and client opportunities in the California and Nevada infrastructure and environmental markets. Responsible for Client Management System which tracks client/opportunity leads and RFP Go-No Go decisions, pursuit progress, and maintenance of NCE’s CMS database.
- Growth Performance Reporting: Keep leadership informed of business development progress, pursuit activity, proposal win rates, client engagement, and progress towards annual orders goals using clear and actionable metrics.
- Strategic Business Development: Develop and lead NCE’s business development vision for federal, state and local agencies and key private sector clients, including client account planning, relationship development, pursuit positioning, teaming strategy, and coordination with technical leadership on growth priorities.
- Business Development Leadership: Lead and coach technical staff in identifying new client opportunities, maintaining and expanding clients and partner relationships, preparing for strategic meetings, and ensuring business development activities are focused, coordinated, measurable, and effective.
- Industry Visibility and Client Engagement: Ensure engagement at tradeshows, industry events, and key associations is strategic, client-focused, and tied to measurable relationship-building and opportunity development outcomes.
Over-Arching Requirements:
- Team Leadership: Hire, train, and mentor both marketing and business development staff, ensuring deadlines are met and business development activities are effective
- Orders Goals: Meet year over year orders goals as set by the annual business plan.
Qualifications (Must Have):
- Experience: 10-15 years of business development, client development, capture strategy, and marketing leadership experience within the Architecture, Engineering, or Construction (AEC) industry, with demonstrated success supporting public sector clients and procurement processes. Experience with capital improvement programs, infrastructure funding, strategic account planning, major pursuits, and leadership of major proposals ($1m+ fee) is required.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Journalism, (specify targeted technical degrees) or a related technical field.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency with CRM and client management systems, Microsoft Office and digital tools that support pursuit management, proposal development, and client outreach. Knowledge of Ajera and Adobe Creative Suite a plus.
- Soft Skills:
- Strong interpersonal skills, collaborative, organized and responsive.
- Strong writing and editing skills; ability to manage multiple deadlines and work with various personalities.
- Ability to balance competing demands for proposal resources, priorities, and deadlines.
- Big-picture thinker with the judgment to challenge assumptions, improve established processes, and adjust the status quo when needed.
- Regional Knowledge: Strong understanding of California and Nevada public works procurement, infrastructure funding, public agency priorities, and regional industry organizations like APWA and CSAC/CalCities. Established networking, client development, and sales experience in this region required.
- Travel to and active participation in all offices is required.
- Travel to with extended stays at locations in various cities in California, Nevada, Arizona, and other states as needed to attend conferences and business meetings.
Physical Requirements:
- Office Environment: Ability to work in a professional office setting with a moderate noise level, including sitting for long periods and using a computer, keyboard, and phone for much of the workday. Occasional visits to client offices and public agency meetings are required.
- Communication: Ability to communicate clearly in person, by phone, and virtually, including leading presentations, client meetings, and proposal interviews.
- Travel: Ability to travel often between NCE offices in California and Nevada, and to client sites, conferences, and business meetings in other states. This includes extended stays as needed. Travel may be by car or air. A valid driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record are required.
- Events and Conferences: Ability to stand and walk for long periods at conferences and networking events. Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds, such as booth displays and marketing materials.
- Schedule Flexibility: Ability to occasionally work outside normal business hours to meet proposal deadlines and attend industry events.
Estimated Salary & Benefits (2026):
- California: Typical range between $160K to $200K.
- Nevada: Typical range $150K to $180K.
NCE is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. NCE is committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Applicants who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruitment process may contact Human Resources.
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