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Cahill Contractors · 11 hours ago

Emerging Market Lead – Public Higher Education Construction (Business Development & Delivery Oversight)

San Francisco, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$175K/yr - $250K/yr

10+ years exp

Cahill Contractors is a majority family- and woman-owned general contractor that specializes in the construction of various projects. The Emerging Market Lead – Public Higher Education Construction is responsible for establishing and expanding the company’s presence in the public higher education market, focusing on business development and project oversight.

Building MaterialReal Estate

Senior Management

Responsibilities

Lead the company’s strategic entry into and expansion within the public higher education construction market

Develop and execute a targeted business development strategy focused on public colleges and universities

Leverage existing relationships with university leadership, facilities departments, capital planning teams, and public-sector stakeholders to generate qualified opportunities

Actively originate, pursue, and close work; this role requires direct selling and client engagement, not simply lead generation or handoff

Navigate public procurement processes, including RFQs, RFPs, and best-value selection methods

Build a sustainable backlog of public higher education work aligned with the company’s risk profile and delivery strengths

Position the firm for repeat work through consistent client satisfaction, performance, and institutional trust

Serve as the primary relationship manager for higher education clients

Develop long-term partnerships with campus leadership, facilities teams, and capital program stakeholders

Maintain a strong understanding of institutional priorities, funding mechanisms, governance structures, and academic calendars

Foster repeat business and preferred-builder or on-call relationships where applicable

Provide executive-level oversight of public higher education projects from preconstruction through completion

Partner with estimating, preconstruction, project management, and field leadership to ensure successful project delivery

Mentor and develop internal project management and supervisory personnel to grow the firm’s higher education construction capabilities

Support the establishment of best practices related to campus construction, including occupied-campus work, phasing, safety, and coordination with academic operations

Ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with public-sector requirements

Act as the internal subject-matter expert for public higher education construction

Support go/no-go decisions for higher education pursuits

Contribute to long-range strategic planning for growth within public-sector and institutional markets

Represent the company within higher education, public-sector, and industry organizations

Qualification

Construction project managementBusiness developmentPublic procurement knowledgeClient relationship managementLeadership capabilityTeam developmentCommunication skillsNegotiation skills

Required

Minimum of 10 years of construction project management experience, preferably within public higher education or comparable public-sector institutional markets

Demonstrated success delivering higher education facilities such as academic buildings, student housing, student centers, athletic facilities, or campus infrastructure

Proven track record of business development success, including originating, selling, and closing construction work in public or institutional environments

Established relationships with public universities, campus facilities groups, or related public-sector stakeholders

Strong understanding of public procurement, contracting requirements, and compliance considerations

Ability to balance business development responsibilities with project oversight and team development

Demonstrated leadership capability and desire to grow into a broader leadership role within the organization

Excellent communication, relationship-building, and negotiation skills

Strong alignment with a long-term growth mindset and commitment to organizational stability

Preferred

The ideal candidate is a mid-career construction professional with significant experience delivering projects for public colleges and universities

This individual has successfully navigated public procurement processes, built trusted relationships with campus stakeholders, and is motivated by the opportunity to build a lasting market presence while developing internal teams and future leaders