Business Development Manager - Studio inHaus

Job Description

Business Development Manager

Company: Studio inHaus

Location: Chicago (Hybrid preferred)

Type: Full-time

Reports to: Ownership

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About Studio inHaus

Studio inHaus is a high-end architectural visualization studio producing cinematic stills, films, and immersive visual experiences for architects, developers, and design-driven real estate teams.

We are not a commodity rendering shop. Our work sits at the intersection of architecture, storytelling, and marketing, and our clients engage us when projects matter — financially, culturally, and publicly.

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The Role (Read This Carefully)

This is not a traditional sales role.

We are hiring a Business Development Manager to help Studio inHaus get into the right conversations at the right moment — typically during planning, zoning, investor presentations, or pre-marketing phases.

You will open doors, manage relationships, and build pipeline. Final scoping, pricing, and creative direction will initially remain with studio leadership.

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Core Responsibilities

Pipeline & Opportunity Development

Identify developers, architects, and interior designers with active or proposed projects

Track projects in planning, zoning, or early design phases

Maintain a living pipeline of leads, contacts, and project intelligence

Monitor public filings, press, and industry news for early indicators of opportunity

Outreach & Relationship Building

Conduct thoughtful, personalized outreach (email, LinkedIn, warm intros)

Position Studio inHaus as a strategic visualization partner, not a vendor

Secure introductory calls, portfolio reviews, and early RFP participation

Build long-term relationships with repeat clients and referral partners

Internal Coordination

Prepare leadership for sales conversations with relevant context

Track follow-ups, next steps, and decision timelines

Hand off qualified opportunities for scoping and pricing

Support proposal coordination as needed

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What You Will Not Be Doing (At First)

Cold-calling random lists

Quoting projects independently

Closing large campaigns without leadership involvement

Selling “renderings” as a commodity

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Ideal Background

We are open on titles — we care about industry fluency.

Strong candidates often come from:

Architecture firm marketing or business development

Real estate development or owner-side marketing

Creative agency producer or account manager roles

Architectural visualization studios (producer or BD)

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Required Skills & Traits

Deep comfort in AEC / real estate conversations

Excellent written communication (emails matter here)

Strong organizational and follow-up discipline

Ability to work patiently with long sales cycles

Good judgment — knowing when to push and when to wait

Comfort operating without a rigid script or CRM hand-holding

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Red Flags (We’ll Be Direct)

This role is not a fit if you:

Rely on high-volume cold calling

Expect to “close fast” on transactional deals

Need a tightly scripted sales process

Have no experience in architecture, real estate, or creative services

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Compensation

Base Salary: ~ $70,000 (DOE)

Bonus / Commission: Percentage of work originated and delivered (neg.)

Commission Timing: Paid after client payment

Ramp Expectation: 3–6 months before consistent revenue contribution

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Growth Path

As trust and experience grow, this role can evolve into:

Lead business development

Strategic partnerships

Pricing and scoping authority on defined project types

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How to Apply

Candidates should submit:

Resume

Short cover note explaining why Studio inHaus (not generic sales language)

Optional: examples of deals, partnerships, or relationships you’ve helped develop