California Science Market Leader

NBBJ is an award-winning design firm recognized as a TIME100 Most Influential Company, a Fast Company Most Innovative Architecture Firm and a two-time 2025 AIA National Honor Award recipient. These recognitions reflect our purpose-driven approach that, fueled by ideas and a culture of collaboration, creates healthy buildings, strong communities and a resilient environment. That’s where you come in. With leading clients, diverse colleagues and offices in creative capitals around the globe, a career at NBBJ will inspire you to be extraordinary. You can learn more about our firm, see what it’s like to work here and explore recent projects and ideas at NBBJ.com. Join us to make an impact today! 

The role at a glance:

NBBJ California is seeking a Science Market Leader. We are seeking a leader who will bring their expertise and passion to build upon our California Science Practice. The Market Leader is a business builder and industry-facing expert who is motivated to win new work, nurture client relationships and pursue new opportunities that elevate the science practice. They are eager to be a valued expert in NBBJ’s networked ecosystem of science leaders. This role can be based in either our Los Angeles or San Francisco office. We are also open to talent that is located in other major California regions.

Market Leaders shape NBBJ’s global practice at the regional, national, and international levels, advancing our commitment to innovation and design excellence. Adept at building long-term strategic relationships, marketing complex projects, and playing a leadership role on business development and projects, this role will work closely with the firm’s Science Practice Leadership team and Marketing Department to build the business, identify new business opportunities, as well as develop client acquisition and retention strategies to grow the practice throughout California. The ideal candidate for this role can work both collaboratively and independently, is proactive in delivering success, is able to positively influence others — and can thrive in the face of changing conditions.

In your new role, you will:

• Grow the Science practice: develop and execute new and existing client relationships through a deep understanding of client enterprise and needs
• Work closely with the Science Practice Leadership Team, Client Development Manager and Market Manager to continually identify and generate business opportunities that broaden the Science practice in a way that is aligned with the practice’s and NBBJ’s firm wide strategic vision
• Assist in the development of marketing content that strengthens the Science practice image, value propositions and POV
• Provide strategy and vision for proposals and interviews with prospective clients to increase win rate
• Generate a strong pipeline — leads and prospects — to increase the Science practice’s reach and influence
• Ensure practice profitability for the Science studio, including the meeting of annual sales goals and revenue targets, while also meeting marketing budgets
• Advance the Science practice’s reputation through conference presentations, journal articles and social media communications
• Have proven success in planning and developing new projects as well as the ability to motivate and inspire teams, both internally and externally.
• Experience in the design and planning of complex science projects at various scales, and an interest in helping to shape a growing science practice.
• Be part of a fully integrated design studio and a team member on major science projects 
• Be a leader in marketing, a trusted advisor to clients, a team member on projects, and a role model and a mentor for all staff.

What you will need to succeed:

• Must be an expert in Science design with a deep understanding of NBBJ’s work
• Proven ability to build business and deliver complex Science projects – both interior and core-and-shell design projects, at all scales
• Skilled at viewing the world through the client’s lens
• A great communicator and storyteller with an engaging and energetic personality
• Strong relationships and connections with Science clients across the Western United States
• Ability to work both independently and in a collaborative, open environment
• Results-oriented: ability to independently analyze, synthesize information and take action
• Must generate leads early in the sales cycle and work collaboratively with the studio/practice team to develop strategies and relationships that convert them into prospects
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and collaborative environment and capable of bringing together a diverse team of leaders, unifying diverse marketing mindsets, approaches, and capabilities into a cohesive team
• Bringing rigor, coordination, and increased communication to our marketing process
• 15+ years of experience in the design profession with a focus in Science
• Licensure or equivalent professional certification encouraged
• LEED Accreditation, encouraged

The annual base pay range for this role is anticipated to be between $150,000 and $180,000. Actual compensation for successful candidates will be carefully determined based on a number of factors, including their skills, qualifications and experience.

This role requires the individual to be based in the United States. 

Why choose NBBJ?

We believe that all NBBJ employees should love their work. This means not only loving what you do but having pride in your workplace. We strive to be that irresistible place to work by enhancing your employee experience with customized programs and comprehensive benefits. In addition to 100% covered employee healthcare costs and 401k contributions, we offer unique professional development opportunities, volunteer opportunities and access to leading technology and resources to further help you love your work and advance your career.

• NBBJ has been named three times by Fast Company as one of the most innovative architecture firms.
• Founded in 1943, our first office opened over 75 years ago in Seattle, Washington. We now have over 10 office locations around the globe.
• We are a transdisciplinary, cross-practice focused firm with a deep portfolio of Civic & Cultural, Commercial, Corporate, Healthcare, Higher Education, Science and Technology, Sports, and Urban Environment projects. We also have several areas of service expertise including: Architecture, Environmental Graphic Design, Interior Design, Lighting Design, Workplace Consulting and more.
• In the past decade, NBBJ has received more than 300 awards from leading global, national and regional award programs across the business, real estate and design communities.
• We work with 5 of the top global high-tech companies, 14 of the U.S. News and World Report Top Hospitals, and 4 of the top 10 highest-ranked learning institutions.
• Our clients include institutional leaders such as Cambridge University, Google, Samsung, Cleveland Clinic, Tencent, and Stanford University.

NBBJ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F Disabled and Vet EEO/AA Employer.

NBBJ does not accept unsolicited resumes or similar submissions from third party recruiters or employment agencies. Any unsolicited materials received by NBBJ from a source other than an individual candidate will be considered NBBJ property and NBBJ reserves the right to pursue and hire candidates referred to us without any financial obligation to the third party in question. If you are interested in becoming an approved NBBJ external recruiter, please contact a member of the NBBJ Talent Acquisition Team.