Director of Project Development Construction

Director of Project Development | Tampa, FL

What if your next role put you at the center of every major deal — the one person operations, preconstruction, and the executive team all turn to first?

Southern Search is conducting a confidential search on behalf of a well‑established industrial construction firm known for delivering large‑scale projects across manufacturing, logistics, cold storage, ecommerce, and data infrastructure nationwide. Our client is looking for a Director of Project Development to lead market expansion and win the high‑impact opportunities that shape the company's next chapter.

This is a growth‑strategy role, not a traditional sales seat. You'll be the connective tissue between clients, operations, and executive leadership — building multi‑level relationships with decision‑makers, shaping pursuit strategy, and carrying deals from first conversation through successful project delivery. Our client wants someone who can translate a developer's early‑stage vision into a fundable, buildable plan, and who thrives on managing several high‑stakes pursuits 'll have real influence here: a direct line to leadership, a voice in the company's strategic plan, and ownership over how the firm shows up in a competitive market.

• Build and maintain strong, multi‑level relationships with prospective and existing clients, engaging decision‑makers across every level of a target account
• Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and networking functions to build market presence
• Identify, qualify, and pursue high‑value opportunities within target industrial sectors
• Manage a full sales pipeline — from early pursuit through preconstruction and into production
• Lead proposal strategy, guide pursuit efforts, and support contract negotiations
• Bring market intelligence and competitive insight into every pursuit
• Contribute directly to the company's strategic growth plan
• Partner with internal teams to ensure a seamless handoff from sales into operations, and stay engaged to make sure client expectations are met through execution

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or a related field
• 10+ years of experience in commercial construction project management, preconstruction, or business development
• A track record of winning large industrial construction projects — distribution, cold storage, manufacturing, or data centers
• Solid grounding in design‑build delivery and technical project management
• The ability to turn conceptual ideas into actionable, executable plans
• Experience juggling multiple client pursuits simultaneously without losing momentum on any of them
• Strong executive presence and sharp negotiation and client‑facing communication skills
• Preferred: direct business development experience in commercial construction, and proficiency in Bluebeam, MS Project, and advanced Excel

This role offers a competitive base salary plus a performance‑based incentive structure, and comes with a comprehensive benefits package including paid time off and holidays, an employee ownership stake in the company's long‑term success, and the kind of executive‑level visibility that few Director‑level roles offer.