Small Business Development Manager
13 days ago
Tacoma
Job DescriptionSalary: $80,000.00 - $120,000.00 Celebrating 85 Years of Building With Purpose At Absher Construction, were proud to celebrate over 85 years as one of the Pacific Northwests most respected general contractors. As a 100% employee-owned company, we believe our people are our greatest assetand we invest in them like it. From fully paid medical premiums for employees, to a generous PTO policy, 401(k) and ESOP retirement benefits, we offer a total rewards package that reflects the pride and ownership we bring to every project. Job Overview The Small Business Development Manager plays a critical, hands-on role in executing and promoting Absher Constructions established strategies for supplier and small business inclusion. This position is responsible for advancing the companys outreach, compliance, and reporting efforts related to small business participation on construction projects many of which include formal requirements tied to public funding or client-specific goals. Acting as a bridge between Abshers project teams and small business partners, this manager supports ongoing programs that help qualified firms navigate the unique demands of construction subcontracting. This includes identifying capable small businesses, removing participation barriers, and working closely with internal teams (e.g., estimating, procurement, operations) to align opportunities with contractual goals. This is a roll-up-your-sleeves, team-of-one role ideal for someone who thrives in the field and is motivated by results, not just strategy. What You'll Do • Advance and promote established small business strategies by engaging internal teams and external partners to drive project-specific goals and long-term partnerships, • Serve as Abshers primary representative at outreach events including small business fairs, educational forums, community gatherings, and industry advisory board meetings in a consistently public-facing role that requires strong public speaking and stakeholder engagement skills, • Build strong working relationships with small, minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned firms to increase subcontractor participation, • Act as a liaison between small business partners and project teams, identifying barriers to entry and working collaboratively (e.g., with estimating, compliance, or field teams) to find practical solutions, • Report and track small business participation requirements across multiple public and private projects, including data entry, analysis, and timely documentation, • Be familiar with compliance tracking and documentation requirements on publicly funded projects, including use of tools such as B2GNow, LCPTracker, and the federal governments electronic subcontracting reporting system (e.g., ESRS), • Document and communicate program performance using clear metrics, project summaries, and impact reports, • Collaborate with marketing and community engagement teams to share outreach efforts and highlight small business success stories Why You'll Be Successful • 5+ years of relevant experience in construction, public works, or supplier-focused roles, • Working knowledge of local, state, and federal certification programs (i.e., OMWBE, King County SCS, and similar), • Direct experience with subcontracting processes on publicly funded construction projects, • Strong data management and reporting skills experience with B2GNow, LCPTracker, or ESRS preferred, • Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across all levels from field crews to community stakeholders, • Self-starter comfortable managing competing priorities and independently moving work forward Preferred • Bachelors degree in Public Administration, Communications, Construction Management, or a related field, • Familiarity with local, state, and federal small business compliance programs, • Experience navigating PLA, CWA, TERO, or HUD Section 3 requirements Physical Requirements • Frequent travel to jobsites and community events, • Occasional evening or weekend availability for outreach events, • Ability to lift up to 25lbs for event setup and materials transport Why Youll Love Abshers Culture Absher is one of the oldest and most respected General Contractors in the Pacific Northwest. For over 85 years, weve built schools, hospitals, senior living facilities, transportation hubs, DoD projects, and more. What sets us apart? Our people and our values: • Build Security As employee-owners, our team shares a collective drive to support one another and succeed together. No stock purchase requiredjust sign on and grow your future with us., • Build Your Career We invest in the development of our people through training, mentorship, and stretch opportunities. Whether youre learning or leading, youll be supported here., • Build Community Were deeply rooted in giving back, celebrating our people, and creating spaces where everyone belongs., • Build Values Our decisions are guided by people-first core values:, • We Care About People, • We Are Servant Leaders, • We Do Things Right, • We Do Right Things Why Youll Love Abshers Benefits We believe in leading with value. Thats why Absher pays 100% of your monthly medical insurance premiums and a large portion of dependent coverage. Other benefits include: Company Benefits • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), • Discretionary, performance-based bonus, • 401(k) profit-sharing match, • 3 weeks of paid vacation, • 8 paid holidays + 2 floating holidays, • 7 days of paid sick time, • Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance, • Life Insurance and AD&D, • Long-Term Disability, • Tuition Reimbursement, • FSA & HSA Options, • Employee Assistance Program (EAP), • Voluntary Benefits: critical illness, accident, voluntary life, and more Salary & Location The salary range for this position is $80,000 $120,000, with average offers typically placed in the 40th percentile to ensure a thoughtful, equitable fit based on experience and growth potential. The role is based in Puyallup, WA, with regular travel to job sites and community events. Abshers Commitment: Our Pledge to EEOC At Absher, we are committed to building a culture where everyone can thrive. We welcome diverse voices, perspectives, and experiencesand we believe our work is stronger because of them. No employee or applicant will face discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class. Notice to Staffing Agencies Please note: We are not accepting unsolicited resumes or inquiries from staffing agencies at this time. Absher employees are not authorized to bind the company to any third-party recruitment agreements.