Dowds is a long established, multidisciplinary engineering and construction Building Services Engineering company headquartered in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. Founded in 1978, our expertise spans the full lifecycle of complex-built environments from initial design and systems integration through to installation, commissioning, and handover. Across specific sectors: life science, commercial, education and healthcare. 

Operating at a gold standard for best managed company and investors in people, our vision is to set the standard for excellence, driving progress, responsibility, and lasting impact. While keeping our clients and our people at the heart of what we do.  

We are seeking

Dowds are seeking a Business Development Executive to join our Business Development & Sales team. This is a proactive, outward‑facing role focused on building relationships, opening doors, and developing a strong pipeline of future opportunities within the construction and MEP market.

You will work closely with senior leaders, pre‑construction and delivery teams to position Dowds early, build market intelligence, and convert conversations into future tender opportunities. This role offers clear progression for someone who is motivated, commercially aware, and keen to build a long‑term career in business development.

What you'll be responsible for

• Identifying and targeting new clients, consultants, developers, and strategic partners.

• Building strong professional relationships through meetings, networking, and industry events.

• Generating and developing early‑stage opportunities and feeding them into the sales and pre‑construction pipeline.

• Building market, competitor, and client intelligence to support strategic decision‑making.

• Managing and maintaining a structured pipeline of prospects and opportunities.

• Coordinating with bid, estimating, and pre‑construction teams as opportunities mature.

• Acting as a positive brand ambassador for Dowds in the external market.

• Managing your own diary, activity levels, and business development priorities.

What we are looking for

Essential

• Experience in a business development, sales, or client‑facing role, ideally within construction, engineering, or a related sector.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build rapport and credibility.

• A proactive, self‑motivated approach with the confidence to open doors and initiate conversations.

• Commercial awareness and an understanding of relationship‑led sales.

• Willingness to travel and represent the business at meetings and industry events.

Desirable

• Exposure to the MEP, construction, consultancy, or supplier market.

• An existing network or “black book” within relevant sectors or regions.

• Experience feeding opportunities into bid or tendering processes.

• Understanding professional services or project‑based sales cycles.

Why Join Dowds

• 41 Days Holiday

• Early Finish Fridays

• Private Medical

• Bonus

• Wellbeing Initiatives 

• Pension

• Work from home

• Plus, many more