Position Overview
Clark Construction is seeking a highly-motived junior level team member to serve as a Market Development Analyst. If you have considered a high-energy career in corporate consulting, investment banking, or private equity, and want the reward of seeing your creative grit turn into a high-rise construction project, this job is for you.
This role acts as the engine room for our regional growth strategy and serves as a key player supporting regional executive team with client-engagement. Working directly under the Regional Project Development Lead, you will map the competitive landscape, identify the next major high-rise likely to be built before news agencies know, and curate the strategic presence of our leadership team at key industry gatherings.
Position Mission
Expand Clark’s Chicago market share by proactively uncovering target projects ahead of the competition and cultivating relationships that directly secure $50M+ opportunities we otherwise wouldn't have won.
Location & Working Schedule
● Office Presence: In downtown Chicago office 4+ days per week.
● Market Engagement: Frequent attendance at evening industry events, networking mixers, and client engagements as needed.
Key Responsibilities
● Market Intelligence & Tracking: Maintain a "real-time" view of the regional pipeline using CRM tools, public articles, and geospatial mapping to track commercial projects. Map out all publicly known projects currently in approval, in design, and under construction.
● Public Project Tracking: Monitor public databases for upcoming public RFPs/RFQs well in advance of issuance (e.g. CDB projects, etc).
● Strategic Event & Brand Programming: Act as the regional "scout" for industry organizations and events (e.g., REIA, Bisnow, ULI, NAIOP). You will vet conferences and mixers to provide ROI-based recommendations for attendance, panel positions, sponsorship, etc. Interface with these organizations to evaluate and execute decisions made internally. Additionally, you will find unique ways to digitally strengthen Clark’s brand awareness to hyper-targeted audiences. Engage with communications team as necessary.
● The "Deep Dive" Research: Investigate potential clients, stakeholders, and design firms to identify strategic connections. You will build comprehensive profiles of potential clients, including their project histories, preferred designers, top professional concern. Monitor which events we should consider attending/sponsoring close to active/potential clients, and run lead on organizing appropriate attendees.
● Outreach & Internal Strategy: Support the regional lead in crafting creative intro strategies, actionable "Pre-Meeting Briefs," and helping develop "win strategies" for newly identified projects. Maintain a strong focus on relationship development over merely chasing immediate projects. You will "manage up" by educating senior teammates on attractive leads and ensuring proper outreach is executed.
● Relationship Management Network: Develop and maintain a matrix of relationships and regularized touchpoints, to aid senior regional management in creating a culture of client engagement first. Follow up with relationship leads to ensure touchpoints.
● Zoning, Permitting, and Code Expertise: Understand the comprehensive process of zoning and permitting approvals in Chicago by thoroughly mapping permit and zoning process nuances via detailed graphic representation/tool. Stay in the know of key code changes in the pipeline and proactively educate team members to ensure compliance and strategic advantage. Support regional leadership and project teams by conducting a ‘lunch-and-learn’ type meeting for knowledge sharing - keep key people informed with process updates.
● Business Integration: Participate in project site walks to become familiar with unique technical aspects of our work, and developers’ brand standards, to use as leverage in discussions with potential clients. You will also develop a detailed understanding of why certain projects are more attractive than others to regional leadership.
The Ideal Candidate
● Education: Recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Real Estate, Economics, Construction, Engineering, Business, Real Estate, Economics, Construction Management, or a related field.
● Self-Starter Mentality: High energy with the ability to function effectively when there is not a clearly defined organizational process for every step of a task. While this position does regularly engage with a manager, it is expected that some days may not have touchpoints and that productive advancements are made to the goal without a manager's direct involvement.
● Doggedness & Grit: An energetic researcher who uses subscription services, social media scraping, and local news alerts to find the one contact or "off-market" project others missed.
● Tools: Proficient (or soon to be proficient) in Salesforce, Google Earth/GIS mapping type-tools, and lead generation software (e.g., Dodge, Chicago Cityscape, YIMBY, Crain’s). Takes ownership of existing or potential software/subscription services.
● Automation: Find a way to automate, using AI or other means, tracking of public and project status updates regarding potential RFPs/RFQs, zoning changes, land sales, etc.
● Organization: Develop some sort of shared project interface (via Trello, Google Keep, etc.) to communicate the various efforts/progress of this position to keep leadership informed.
● Communication: Comfortable and professional when interfacing with executive-level leadership; skilled at creating and refining graphics and data for initial communication and on-going tracking. Assertively communicate when clarity or action is needed (actively "manage-up").
Clark offers a total compensation package that includes base salary, bonus potential, and a comprehensive benefits package including health/dental/vision benefits, paid time off, retirement/401k, and Company Contribution plan. Additional benefits include life insurance, commuter benefit, short & long term disability, fitness reimbursement, FSA, tuition reimbursement, back-up daycare, tutoring & family support benefits, EAP/Work-Life assistance, and a holiday contribution program. For this role the base salary range is $55,000 - $80,000. Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. Base pay is one part of the Total Compensation Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work. https://www.clarkconstruction.com/careers/clark-experience