Market Development Analyst

Clark Construction | Chicago, IL

Clark Construction is seeking an ambitious, high-performing Market Development Analyst to help drive regional growth across the greater Chicago market. If you have considered a high-energy career in corporate consulting, commercial real estate, or private equity, and want the reward of seeing your creative grit turn into a high-rise construction project, this job is for you.

Acting as a core intelligence engine for our regional leadership, you will analyze emerging market opportunities, evaluate early-stage development pipelines, and support executive client-engagement strategies while transforming qualitative and quantitative market data into client development and project pursuit efforts.

This role requires the ability to figure things out without a playbook. In return, you’ll work directly alongside leadership and operate within the front end strategy of the business at a pace you simply won’t find elsewhere early in your career. 

Apply here: https://clark.wd503.myworkdayjobs.com/ClarkExternal/job/Chicago-IL/Market-Development-Analyst_R5025052

Location, Working Schedule, Team

Typical Office Presence: In the downtown Chicago office 4+ days per week.

• External Engagement: Attendance at evening industry/client events several times per month.
• Travel: Limited, beyond the Chicago area.
• Reporting To: Private Development Preconstruction Lead, while supporting the northern regional executive team.

Key Responsibilities

• Market Intelligence & Pipeline Tracking: Build and maintain comprehensive visibility into the regional development pipeline (both private and public). Monitor commercial real estate activity, capital investments, and upcoming public-sector solicitations across conceptual, planning, and design phases. 
• Stakeholder & Account Mapping: Conduct targeted deep-dive research into key developers, capital, and design firms. Synthesize historical project data, key executive relationships, and client priorities into actionable intelligence profiles. 
• Strategic Industry Engagement: Serve as the regional scout for industry forums and professional associations. Vet events to deliver clear ROI recommendations for leadership attendance, sponsorships, and panel presence, coordinating Clark’s visibility across high-impact circles.
• Executive Briefing & Strategy Support: Equip executive leadership with comprehensive pre-meeting briefs, relationship matrices, and strategic talking points ahead of key client interactions. Actively track follow-ups to maintain consistent client touchpoints. Make recommendations on where we should be deploying our resources when appropriate.
• Regulatory & Planning Analysis: Track municipal planning trends, zoning updates, and city council approval pipelines across the Chicago area to identify development momentum early. Translate regulatory changes into strategic insights for internal teams.
• Operational Integration: Collaborate closely with project delivery and estimating teams, participating in project walk-throughs to translate technical differentiators into compelling business development narratives.
• Pricing Data Ownership: Ensure our budget data is maintained, organized, and ready to leverage for ongoing preconstruction efforts.
• Preconstruction Support: Occasionally participate in preconstruction efforts, vetting new subcontractors, soliciting/leveling bids, assisting with budget development, getting subcontractors under contract, and related duties. 
• Owner Contract Support: Occasionally support owner contract review, exhibit development, and related duties, as we transition from preconstruction to the delivery phase.  

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience: Approximately 2-5 yrs in professional environments, will consider notable coursework and internship experience. 
• Education: Bachelor’s (or higher) degree in Business, Real Estate, Economics, Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related experience. 
• Creative Resourcefulness: An energetic, inquisitive researcher adept at leveraging open-source intelligence, public filings, paid subscription services, and local market indicators to surface off-market leads and non-obvious stakeholder connections.
• Self-Starter Mentality: High initiative with the ability to thrive in an autonomous, fluid environment. Comfortable setting priorities and driving projects forward with minimal day-to-day oversight.
• Analytical & Technical Aptitude: Proficient (or capable of becoming proficient quickly) with modern CRM systems, geospatial/mapping tools, and commercial market intelligence databases. Eager to optimize automation and AI-driven workflows to streamline data aggregation and maintenance.
• Executive Presence & Communication: Confident, polished, and capable of synthesizing complex data into clear visual formats along with written/verbal executive summaries for senior leadership. Skilled at "managing up" to maintain alignment and momentum across client/project development efforts.

Clark offers a total compensation package that includes base salary, bonus potential, and a comprehensive benefits package including health/dental/vision benefits, paid time off, retirement/401k, and Company Contribution plan. Additional benefits include life insurance, commuter benefit, short & long term disability, fitness reimbursement, FSA, tuition reimbursement, back-up daycare, tutoring & family support benefits, EAP/Work-Life assistance, and a holiday contribution program. For this role the base salary range is $80,000 - $100,000 Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. Base pay is one part of the Total Compensation Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work. https://www.clarkconstruction.com/careers/clark-experience