Jobs and Careers

Director of Higher Education | Senior Designer

Grand Rapids, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 13 Jan 2026

About the role

TowerPinkster is an innovative architecture, engineering, and interior design firm based in the Midwest with offices in Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky. This position description is for a talented leader and senior designer (architect, interior designer, planner, or landscape architect) for the Higher Education market sector to plan, cultivate, lead, and grow the vision for business development and client relations, and design expertise in this sector. This position includes identifying and developing client and community contacts with long-term impact for the future success of the firm. It is also to listen and collaborate with clients to develop planning, programming, and/or design concepts that bring creativity and innovation. The candidate will have a strong ability to work with and mentor younger designers and provide insights and guidance to the design team. Areas of design specialty will be higher education and as a diverse practice will include any of TowerPinkster’s five core market sectors, as well as any advanced certifications or training. This position favors an experienced, strategic professional with drive, initiative, and strong interpersonal skills with the desire to work in a collaborative environment with our team.

Responsibilities include positioning the firm to cultivate opportunities, lead and respond to requests for proposals, and direct pursuits with clients to remain competitive in the market and enhance our current market practice. It also includes collaborating to develop a strategic business development and marketing plan that guides the Higher Education market to consistently meet and exceed the Firm’s established financial goals. This role also includes developing and growing your professional network and capabilities to ensure maximum effectiveness and enhancement of client satisfaction. In addition, we promote collaborating with team members who have talent and expertise to enhance relationships with current and future clients.

Given the role and responsibilities of this position, the intent is to split time between business development activities and additional responsibilities in the firm, which may include project planning, programming, design, project management, or other key roles depending on skills and expertise of the individual.

Position responsibilities + EXPECTATIONS

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Lead business development efforts in the Higher Education market sector and participate in other sectors based on past and current relationships and business network.
Dedicate time each week to active business development tasks (calls, prospective client meetings, potential project pursuits, community events, etc), which shall include after-hours events.
Develop letter proposals and work with the Business Development and Marketing teams to lead development of RFQ/P proposal responses for various project pursuits, which include content development. Lead and provide strategy and direction for interview presentations, as required.
Identify annual sales capture within the market sector and set annual sales goals for the market.
Author the market plan for the Higher Education market sector, including project pursuits, advancing expertise, strengthening our reputation in sector, and defining advertisements / sponsorships / PR opportunities. Develop and manage the market sector budget including related labor and expenses.
Establish and maintain positive relationships with current/past clients, various higher education institutions (public Universities, Community Colleges, Private Colleges) and other related organizations, and other higher education organizations in our geographic markets.
Identify potential community engagement opportunities to enhance your profile in the community.
Update marketing contacts weekly and attend Business Development meetings and others as needed.
Strive to be a higher education expert and create content for publication on blog, website, newsletter, and/or other media platforms. Participate in speaking engagements and writing articles that promote the Firm as an industry expert in the market sector.
Mentor/develop other team members in business development roles and activities.
Attend industry/market sector conferences for professional growth, networking, and promotion of our services.
Develop white papers, speaking engagements and web content to support Higher Education expertise.
Report to the Director of Business Development on the Higher Education market sector activities and interface with the Manager of Marketing + Communications on various initiatives to