Business Development Lead

Are you looking for a business development role that puts you at the cutting edge of innovation and applied research in a collaborative working environment? NAIT Industry Solutions is a $40+ million per year business unit with over 250 employees that provides applied research, corporate training and continuing education for partners from industry, government and other post secondary institutions nationally and internationally. The Business Development Team is accountable for providing development and sales support for NAIT Industry Solutions. We are currently seeking a passionate and experienced Business Development Lead to support and grow Applied Research Chairs, Centres, and Teams in the Agri-Food sector.

Reporting to the Director of Business Development and Sales - Applied Research, the Business Development Lead will be responsible for business development activities supporting the growth of the Agri-Food Applied Research portfolio. They will use their industry expertise and experience to engage with existing and new partners to support the growth of the applied research Centres, Chairs and Teams within the portfolio. While primarily focused on the Agri-Food sector, this the lead will also closely support Centre for Culinary Innovation and work with other Applied Research groups like the Clean Technologies Team and the Centre for Sensors and System Integration. The role also involves the identification and development of new product and service offerings based on input from our industry partners. In addition, the Business Development Lead will develop and implement portfolio-specific strategies and contribute to broader business development and sales operational policies and procedures.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Build and maintain strong customer (internal and external) relationships
- Develop the strategic plan for their portfolio to ensure that new and existing opportunities for revenue growth are maximized
- Identify and develop new products or opportunities that serve the needs of industry
- Lead government liaison activities, industry consultation, deal flow, proposal writing negotiations as well as contract review
- Represent Industry Solutions on various industry-relevant task groups, working groups or associations within their Portfolio

**Skills & Abilities**:

- Experience in customer and business development activities will be considered an asset
- Demonstrated experience in building financially sustainable enterprises and business lines is critical
- An aptitude for recognizing and responding to opportunities for new value creation
- Experience in navigating the funding environment available to post-secondary institutions
- Proven ability to work in a dynamic environment with a wide range of clients
- Technical sales experience is an asset

**Qualifications**:

- Business Degree or Diploma, or equivalent business experience and education
- Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in business development and sales
- Experience in the Agri-Food sector is an asset

**Remuneration**:$104,322.66- $138,212.62 annually, plus a comprehensive benefits package.

**Please submit a resume and cover letter to be considered for this opportunity.**

**About NAIT**

At NAIT, people matter.

We’re proud to have been named one of Alberta’s Top Employers for 12 consecutive years. Developing an engaging, supportive, and rewarding work culture is something we take seriously. We know that people are our biggest asset - they are what makes NAIT a great place to work.

**What we offer**

We’ve created a benefits package that focuses on health and wellness, professional and personal growth, recognition, and work-life balance.

NAIT is a flexible workplace and depending on the nature of your role, you may request flexible work arrangements with respect to where and when you work, including being on-campus full-time, working off-site, or a combination of the two.

Employees also have access to excellent vacation time, paid time off between Christmas and New Year's, a strong recognition program, learning opportunities, 2 annual all-staff professional development days and so much more.

**Health and safety**

You can find the latest information on NAIT’s response to COVID-19 at nait.ca/covid19.

**Additional requirements**

Applicants with education credentials earned outside of Canada who have not had them previously assessed should have their credentials evaluated by World Education Services or the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)

**Accommodations