Market Specialist Jobs

WHY JOIN BALLARD MARINE CONSTRUCTION?

Ballard Marine Construction takes on the work others cannot or will not. As a specialty marine and underwater contractor, we solve complex problems across Power, Water/Wastewater, Industrial, Environmental, and Transportation markets throughout North America.

What makes Ballard different is the combination of technical expertise, field experience, creativity, and a willingness to take on challenging work where our capabilities truly stand out. We have built a strong reputation by solving difficult problems, earning trust, and delivering when the path forward is anything but obvious. Our culture matches that same mindset. We are competitive, accountable, relationship-driven, and protective of who we bring onto the team. We expect people to take ownership, bring ideas forward, and contribute to where Ballard goes next.

For someone joining our Business Development team, that means helping grow a company with real substance behind the story specialized capabilities, meaningful work, strong people, and plenty of opportunity still ahead.

Job Summary:

The Market Development Specialist supports Ballard’s growth strategy by identifying early-stage project opportunities, researching markets and clients, and organizing the information needed to make informed pursuit decisions.

Working across Business Development, Estimating, and Operations, this role tracks project pipelines, capital programs, procurement activity, competitors, and market trends; maintains accurate CRM data; and helps determine which opportunities best align with Ballard’s capabilities, geography, relationships, risk profile, and growth priorities.

We need someone from a construction/AEC or similar project-based environment who knows how to research markets and projects, track opportunities, understand clients and competitors, and help Ballard decide where to pursue work. This is not an IT, software development, or data engineering position.

Ideal Candidate:

Core Attributes:

• Grit and Resiliency - We dig deep to figure out how to make things happen no matter how impossible it seems. We never give up. We take on challenges that nobody else can; or will.

• Comradery and Inspirational - We are a hard-working team of likeminded individuals working toward a common goal. We regularly celebrate wins and like to have fun whether at work or at play. We come together each day looking for ways to instill life and energy into the world around us.

• Driven and Competitive - We love competition. We love to win and love to learn when we lose. Not getting the job done is not an option. We are obsessed to do our best and we do what it takes to win.

• Trustworthy and Respectful - We are passionate about honesty, authenticity and transparency. No lies. No drama. No politics. We value constructive conflict and ensure that even in conflict we treat others with respect.

• Ownership and Accountability - When something goes wrong, we first “look in the mirror” before we “look out the window”. We ask “what could I have done differently?” and then we share lessons learned. Regularly challenging ourselves and those around us to be better is a way of life. “Me first” belongs here.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, Economics, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field

• Equivalent education and relevant professional experience may be considered in place of a degree

Experience:

• 3+ years of experience in business development, market development, market research, competitive intelligence, pursuits, preconstruction, or related work

• Experience within construction, engineering, infrastructure, utilities, industrial, environmental, or another project-based industry strongly preferred

• Experience researching project pipelines, capital programs, clients, competitors, procurement activity, or emerging business opportunities preferred

• Experience using CRM and reporting tools to organize market information and support business decisions

Skills:

• Strong research, critical-thinking, and business judgment skills

• Ability to research markets, projects, clients, competitors, and industry activity and turn findings into clear recommendations and next steps

• Understanding of how opportunities move through business development, estimating, pursuit, and project delivery

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to maintain accurate CRM data, track follow-up, and manage multiple priorities

• Ability to communicate clearly and work across Business Development, Estimating, Operations, Area leadership, and technical teams

• Proficiency with Excel, CRM systems, reporting tools, and market research platforms

• Comfort using automation and AI-assisted research tools to improve efficiency while validating information for accuracy and relevance

Responsibilities:

• Identify early-stage opportunities by researching long-lead indicators, such as owner capital plans, budgets and master plans, regulatory and environmental filings, funding programs, public meeting records, consultant selections, and industrial investment activity

• Evaluate identified leads for alignment with Ballard’s markets, capabilities, geography, timing, value, delivery method, relationships, risk profile, and self-perform potential; advise when Ballard should engage, who should receive the lead, and the recommended next action

• Maintain accurate, decision-useful lead and opportunity data in Dynamics 365; route qualified intelligence to the appropriate Business Development, Area, or technical teams and track follow-up

• Analyze pipeline and market activity, including source effectiveness, lead quality, aging, conversion, client and competitor activity, and how early opportunities are identified, and communicate findings through concise dashboards and reports

• Create a feedback loop between Business Development, Estimating, and Operations using win/loss reasons, pricing and estimate accuracy, delivery lessons, margin, risk, and capability fit to improve lead scoring, Go/No-Go decisions, positioning, and resource allocation

• Improve and document Ballard's lead-development process, including research criteria, CRM terminology and data standards, reporting, workflows, and approved data sources

• Help define, test, and monitor automation and AI-assisted research tools; validate outputs for relevance, duplicates, false positives, and missed opportunities

• Conduct targeted geographic and market research using Ballard’s CRM, pipeline, historical project data, and external industry sources to estimate opportunity volume, type, value, and timing

• Prepare concise market assessments identifying key clients, engineers, contractors, competitors, procurement patterns, and barriers to entry, and provide recommendations to support decisions about entering, expanding within, or prioritizing a market

• Support Anchor Project identification, pursuit prioritization, strategic research, and other Business Development initiatives as assigned

Physical Demands Working Environment:

• Work is primarily performed in an office environment

• Ability to remain seated and work at a computer for extended periods

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and move between work areas as needed

• Ability to frequently use a keyboard, mouse, and other standard office equipment

• Ability to communicate and exchange information in person, by phone, and through virtual platforms

• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull items weighing up to 20 pounds

Benefits:

Ballard offers a comprehensive benefits package and provides a culture that values opportunity for growth, development, and internal promotion. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, LTD, STD, PTO, 401K Plan with employer match, paid holidays, and so much more!!

Salary Range:

• $90K - $120K

• Pay is commensurate with experience and qualifications.

EEO Statement:

Ballard Marine Construction, LLC. is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Reasonable accommodation will be considered for qualified individuals with a disability if it does not create undue hardship for the Company, consistent with the ADA as amended.