Have you had a long career in administration or facilities management in Higher Education? Or maybe your career as an architectural designer, contractor, or project manager has instilled a love for educational spaces and cultivated a desire to turn blueprints into thriving partnerships. Is building a strong network of contacts and clients a challenge you’re ready to take on? Do you have a knack for finding new opportunities and closing deals? If you see business development on the horizon of your career path, we encourage you to read on.
To manage the alignment of Paragon Architecture’s services with the trends, needs, and competitive landscape of the education market, and to ensure a viable and profitable outlook, we are looking to employ a Higher Education Market Sector Leader.
By combining your unique expertise and strategic thinking, you will drive growth, expand our portfolio, and play a pivotal role in shaping our firm’s success. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with potential and existing clients, identifying their needs and preferences, and proposing solutions that match our expertise and vision. As the Market Sector Leader, you will be extensively involved in the delivery of Higher Education design projects. The right candidate will be the subject matter expert — with experience and involvement in projects from design through construction — that our team will look to for oversight and support for successful project execution.

EXPERIENCE

• A bachelor’s degree is required; A master’s degree or professional registration is preferred but not required
• At least 5 years of experience in business development, including networking, driving revenue, customer and community relations, and communications
• 10 years of experience in one or more of the following disciplines:
• Higher Education administration
• Higher Education facilities management
• Architectural designer, contractor, or project manager of higher education project typology
• Or a combination of relevant experience

WHO WE ARE

Paragon Architecture is an architecture and interior design firm built on the foundation of FAMILY, RELATIONSHIPS, COMMUNITY, INTEGRITY, and SERVICE. We strive to make a positive impact in our communities on and off the clock. With nearly 15 years since Paragon got our start, we’ve built a reputation for having a service inclination, generating repeat clients, delivering effective design solutions, and cultivating one of the best companies and teams to work for in the region.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Team Leadership and Design Expertise: Leverage your extensive experience across all project phases — from conceptual design to construction administration — to ensure exceptional project delivery. Provide strong leadership, guidance, coaching, and mentorship to design team members. As a recognized subject matter expert, you will serve as an advisor on best practices for space planning and the unique specifications required for educational environments. You should possess a broad understanding of specialized topics with in-depth expertise in several of these key areas: Master Planning, Residence Life, Athletic Facilities, Libraries, Building Envelope, Safety and Security, and Sustainability.
• Strategic Planning: Collaborate with firm leadership to develop and execute business development strategies aligned with our long-term goals. Establish annual market sector targets based on tracked revenue within the sector.
• Lead Generation: Develop a strong network of clients and colleagues within the market sector, identifying and pursuing new business opportunities through networking, industry events, and targeted outreach. Keep the Business Development Dashboard updated with client info and outreach efforts.
• Client Engagement: Cultivate and maintain relationships with existing clients, ensuring exceptional service and identifying opportunities for additional projects. Attend site visits, and targeted conferences, tradeshows, and special events.
• Proposal Development: Work closely with Marketing and Business Development teams to review and participate in developing compelling proposals, presentations, and pitches. Assist in developing marketing materials specific to the market in question (email campaigns, print brochures, etc.)
• Market Research: Pursue continuing education efforts to support specialization and knowledge leadership within the market sector, staying informed about industry trends, challenges, opportunities, competitor activities, and potential clients.
• Financial Analysis: Assess risks, analyze financial data, and contribute to pricing strategies. Track performance of targets and adjust based on overall financial goals of the firm.

OPPORTUNITY FOR ROLE EXPANSION

This role is designed as a part-time position. If you are looking for a full-time position with additional responsibilities and bring experience in one or more of the following areas, this role may be expanded:

• Project Management and Design
• Business Operations
• Billing and Financial Management
• Marketing

We value candidates with a versatile skill set who are eager to contribute to multiple facets of our practice. This flexibility allows us to tailor the role to align with both your expertise and our firm’s evolving needs.