Municipal Business Development Manager

Job description

Valdes is seeking a Municipal Business Development Manager to promote and expand our multidisciplinary services—focusing on municipal government buildings and municipal engineering projects—in Lombard, IL (with hybrid or remote options available). This role will prioritize building strategic relationships with fire/police chiefs, public works directors, village engineers, and village managers to secure projects in public works infrastructure, including municipal facilities (public works buildings, vehicle maintenance, fire/police stations, village halls), transportation (roads, bridges), and water/wastewater (treatment plants, stormwater). The ideal candidate will bring 10+ years of municipal buildings and infrastructure engineering experience, with a proven ability to engage municipal clients and promote Valdes’ full suite of services. This position offers significant growth potential within a stable, well-established firm committed to expanding its municipal market presence. ### Responsibilities - Develop and execute a business development strategy to grow Valdes’ project pipeline with municipal clients, targeting municipal government leaders across the Chicagoland area, and with selective outreach in Wisconsin and Indiana - Identify and pursue project opportunities in municipal buildings and infrastructure engineering, including municipal facilities (e.g., public works buildings, vehicle maintenance facilities, fire/police stations, village/city halls), roadway and bridge improvements, and water/wastewater infrastructure, stormwater management - Leverage existing relationships and build new ones with key municipal stakeholders to position Valdes early for upcoming projects, ensuring alignment with client needs and funding cycles (e.g., MFT, state/federal grants) - Collaborate with the Vice President-Buildings, Director of Transportation, and Director of Utilities-Water/Wastewater to align business development efforts with Valdes’ strategic goals for delivering quality architecture and engineering services to the municipal sector - Maintain a deep understanding of the Chicagoland municipal market, including public works priorities, procurement processes, and regulatory requirements (e.g., IDOT, IEPA, MWRD) - Work with the marketing team to create tailored materials (proposals, presentations, brochures) that highlight Valdes’ municipal buildings and infrastructure engineering capabilities - Represent Valdes at municipal-focused events, such as village board meetings, public hearings, and industry gatherings, often requiring evening availability - Actively participate in industry organizations (e.g., IACP, IFCA, APWA, ASCE, American Public Works Association, Illinois Municipal League) to enhance Valdes’ visibility and network with municipal decision-makers - Track and report on business development metrics, including client interactions, project opportunities, and win rates, to support strategic growth ### Qualifications - 10+ years of experience in municipal building design and infrastructure engineering, with a focus on projects involving Chicagoland municipalities or similar clients - Demonstrated experience engaging with public works directors, fire/police chiefs, village engineers, village managers, or similar municipal stakeholders to secure design for public works projects - Strong understanding of municipal project workflows, including design, permitting, funding (e.g., MFT, TIF, grants), and construction for buildings, transportation, and water/wastewater projects - Proven track record in business development or sales within the architecture, engineering, or public works sector, with the ability to promote multidisciplinary services - Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills to build trust and maintain relationships with municipal clients - Willingness to attend evening public meetings, hearings, or industry events as needed to engage with municipal stakeholders. - Must possess exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills - Must be able to work in the US without sponsorship now or in the future