Be an Early Applicant
Architecture, interiors, landscape & planning studio with offices in Seattle, New York City, and Chicago.
The Role
Leads business development operations for an architecture and design practice, managing proposal and pursuit production, team workflow, pipeline visibility, CRM and BD systems, budgets, reporting, and interview preparation. Supervises and develops marketing staff, coordinates cross-functional initiatives with communications teams, supports competitive positioning, and monitors opportunities across the AEC industry. The role requires strong proposal management, writing, organizational, leadership, and AEC industry expertise.
Summary Generated by Built In
Olson Kundig is a design practice founded on the ideas that buildings can serve as a bridge between nature, culture and people, and that inspiring surroundings have a positive effect on people’s lives. The firm’s work can be found across the globe, with projects as wide-ranging as huts to high rises, homes - often for art collectors - to academic, cultural, and civic projects, museums and exhibition design, places of worship, creative production, urban design, and interior design.
We are currently seeking a Marketing Manager, Business Development (BD) who is responsible for leading the Firm’s BD function at the operational level. This role works closely with the Director of Marketing, BD, the Director of Marketing, Communications, and the Marketing Manager, Communications to coordinate pursuit production, manage team workflow, and support the Firm’s competitive positioning across a diverse range of project types and geographies. To succeed in this role, you should have strong BD instincts, deep AEC industry knowledge, and the ability to balance day-to-day execution with strategic awareness in a fast-paced environment. This role will collaborate with internal teams to deliver exceptional results within specified deadlines.
The selected candidate is expected to work regularly in Chicago, where 5% of domestic travel may be required.
Primary Responsibilities:
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Must Have:
Nice to Have:
What can you expect from us?
Equal Opportunity & Pay Transparency
Olson Kundig is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, gender, age, religion, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law. Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations at any point in the employment process.
In compliance with Washington State’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (RCW 49.58.110), Olson Kundig provides transparent compensation information in all job postings. For this position based in Chicago the annual salary is between $130,000 and $150,000. Final salary decisions are made based upon the extent and relevance of the candidate’s experience, as well as internal equity and external market factors.
In addition to a dynamic and creative culture, Olson Kundig provides a generous benefits package that includes 21 days of paid time off, paid holidays, health plan, 401k match, bonuses, profit-sharing plans for qualified positions, a monthly travel subsidy for public transportation, and more.
We are currently seeking a Marketing Manager, Business Development (BD) who is responsible for leading the Firm’s BD function at the operational level. This role works closely with the Director of Marketing, BD, the Director of Marketing, Communications, and the Marketing Manager, Communications to coordinate pursuit production, manage team workflow, and support the Firm’s competitive positioning across a diverse range of project types and geographies. To succeed in this role, you should have strong BD instincts, deep AEC industry knowledge, and the ability to balance day-to-day execution with strategic awareness in a fast-paced environment. This role will collaborate with internal teams to deliver exceptional results within specified deadlines.
The selected candidate is expected to work regularly in Chicago, where 5% of domestic travel may be required.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Team Leadership, Planning, and Workflow Management:
- Manage and mentor a team of Marketing Coordinators and Graphic Designers across proactive and inbound BD functions.
- Conduct regular team check-ins, provide performance feedback, and support professional development.
- Serve as the first point of escalation, resolving issues or elevating as needed.
- Translate BD strategy into clear assignments, timelines, and priorities.
- Oversee workflow, assign work, balance workloads, and allocate resources to ensure quality and timely delivery across short- and long-term initiatives.
- Maintain the BD planning calendar across active pursuits, pipeline activity, and team capacity.
- Align BD planning with team capacity, project milestones, and Firm priorities in collaboration with the Director of Marketing, BD, the Senior Marketing Specialist, BD, and the Marketing Manager, Communications.
- Pursuit Coordination and Production:
- Manage pursuit production across proposal types including RFQs, RFPs, SOQs, and interview packages.
- Oversee development of pursuit materials including written content, graphics coordination, and final assembly.
- Guide pursuit narrative and positioning in collaboration with the Director and relevant Shareholders.
- Manage pursuit timelines, review cycles, and submission logistics.
- Support go/no-go evaluation and internal communication.
- Facilitate interview preparation including strategy, logistics, and materials development.
- Pipeline and Opportunity Management:
- Maintain visibility across the full BD pipeline, including active pursuits, upcoming opportunities, and relationship activity.
- Facilitate or co-facilitate cross-departmental operational meetings including the weekly contracts check-in.
- Track pursuit status, contracts, LOAs, and ASRs; coordinate follow-up and accountability across the BD team.
- Support CRM development and the institutionalization of relationship tracking systems and BD best practices in support of the Senior Marketing Specialist, BD.
- Monitor industry trends and emerging opportunities in collaboration with the Director and Senior Marketing Specialist, BD.
- Cross-Functional Coordination and Operations:
- Serve as a primary coordination point between the BD and Communications teams.
- Collaborate with the Marketing Manager, Communications on awards, events, and shared initiatives.
- Support coordination of lectures, juries, and presentations in partnership with Directors and Communications leadership as needed.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of BD systems, templates, and operational infrastructure in support of the Senior Marketing Specialist, BD.
- Budget and Reporting:
- Track BD budgets, including pursuit and interview costs, monitor spend, and align resources with pursuit priorities.
- Maintain monthly reporting on BD activities, pipeline, and pursuit outcomes.
- Additional duties and projects:
- As assigned or necessary.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge:
- Knowledge of BD processes, pursuit strategy and proposal development within the AEC industry.
- Knowledge of CRM platforms, pipeline management, and pursuit management tools.
- Knowledge of architecture, engineering, construction, design practice operations, and industry trends.
- Skills:
- Strong team leadership and workflow management skills.
- Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills with close attention to detail.
- Strong BD, proposal management, and pursuit coordination skills.
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills with the ability to dependably manage multiple active pursuits simultaneously.
- Abilities:
- Ability to manage multiple competing priorities while balancing strategic and operational responsibilities.
- Ability to mentor, coach, and develop Marketing and BD staff.
- Ability to foster a collaborative, constructive, and solutions-focused team culture
Must Have:
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Architecture, or closely related field.
- Experience: Minimum 8-10 years of relevant experience working in the AEC industry (architecture, engineering, and construction).
- Advanced proficiency in BD operations, pursuit management, proposal development, team leadership, and workflow coordination.
- Digital Literacy: Intermediate proficiency in MS Word, MS Outlook, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Teams, Web Browser, ERP (Deltek), Digital File Organization, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign.
Nice to Have:
- Interest in architecture, design, and the built environment.
- Experience with CRM platforms and pursuit management tools.
- Experience developing team members and fostering collaborative team cultures.
What can you expect from us?
- A creative work environment and colleagues who are collaborative, creative, and challenging
- Opportunity to grow professionally
- Check our culture page to learn about life at Olson Kundig
Equal Opportunity & Pay Transparency
Olson Kundig is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, gender, age, religion, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law. Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations at any point in the employment process.
In compliance with Washington State’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (RCW 49.58.110), Olson Kundig provides transparent compensation information in all job postings. For this position based in Chicago the annual salary is between $130,000 and $150,000. Final salary decisions are made based upon the extent and relevance of the candidate’s experience, as well as internal equity and external market factors.
In addition to a dynamic and creative culture, Olson Kundig provides a generous benefits package that includes 21 days of paid time off, paid holidays, health plan, 401k match, bonuses, profit-sharing plans for qualified positions, a monthly travel subsidy for public transportation, and more.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Architecture, or a closely related field
- 8-10 years of relevant experience in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry
- Advanced proficiency in business development operations, pursuit management, proposal development, team leadership, and workflow coordination
- Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams, web browsers, Deltek ERP, digital file organization, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign
- Interest in architecture, design, and the built environment
- Experience with CRM platforms and pursuit management tools
- Experience developing team members and fostering collaborative team cultures
Am I A Good Fit?
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.
Success! Refresh the page to see how your skills align with this role.
The Company
What We Do
Now in its sixth decade of practice, Olson Kundig is a collaborative design practice led by 13 principal/owners whose work includes cultural and museum projects, exhibition design, commercial and mixed-use design (including wineries and sports facilities), private and multi-family residential, hospitality projects, places of worship, interior design, product design and landscape design. With deep roots in the Pacific Northwest, the firm and its team of over 350 work with clients around the world. The firm began its creative existence in 1966 with the architect Jim Olson, whose work at that time centered on explorations of the relationship between dwellings and the landscapes in which they inhabit. Olson started the firm based on the essential ideas that buildings can serve as a bridge between nature, culture, histories, and people, and that inspiring surroundings have a positive effect on people’s lives. Among the firm’s accolades are the 2009 National AIA Architecture Firm Award (as Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects), national and regional design awards from the American Institute of Architects, Jim Olson’s 2007 Seattle Medal of Honor and Tom Kundig’s National Design Award from the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt and his Academy Award in Architecture from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Books on the firm’s work include Tom Kundig: Working Title (Princeton Architectural Press, 2020); Jim Olson: Building • Nature • Art (Thames & Hudson, 2018); Tom Kundig: Works (Princeton Architectural Press, 2015); Jim Olson: Art and Architecture (August Editions, 2013); Tom Kundig: Houses 2 (Princeton Architectural Press, 2011); Jim Olson Houses (The Monacelli Press, 2009); and Tom Kundig: Houses (Princeton Architectural Press, originally published in 2006 and re-released in 2021).
