Assistant Manager, Business Development

Durham College•Oshawa, ON

17d•CA$77,550 - CA$96,939•Onsite

About The Position

The Digital Technology Applied Research Centres require a dedicated business development professional focused on identifying, pursuing, and securing applied research partnerships with industry, government, and not-for-profit clients at local, national, and international levels. This role will be responsible for direct engagement with prospective partners, managing the full business development lifecycle, and cultivating strategic relationships to drive sustainable revenue and research-funding growth across the three centres. Reporting to the Director of Applied Research and working closely with the broader applied research leadership team, this role will proactively engage with existing and potential industry partners, funders, and collaborators to build awareness of the centres’ full range of capabilities – including artificial intelligence development, adoption, and integration; cybersecurity solutions; and mixed reality and immersive content production. The position is accountable for stewarding a portfolio of client accounts across the engagement lifecycle – from initial conversation through advisory, custom development, and training engagements – ensuring opportunities are nurtured, converted, and grown into sustained, multi-engagement partnerships through strategic relationship management, pipeline development, and continuous client engagement.

Requirements

A minimum of a 2-year diploma/degree in a Business-related field such as Marketing, Commerce, Finance, Office Administration, or Human Resources. A diploma or degree in a related technology field (Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems) combined with relevant business experience will also be considered.
A minimum of 5 years’ progressive Business Development experience, ideally in applied research, technology services, or a related technology-driven sector.
Working-level knowledge of, and demonstrated experience with, artificial intelligence development, adoption, and integration.
Experience with immersive technologies (VR/AR/MR, game development) considered an asset.
Experience in proposal development, including RFP / RFI responses, government and industry funding applications, and the drafting and negotiation of client-facing Statements of Work (SOWs).
Demonstrated ability to customize technology and research-based solutions and to manage competitive bids end-to-end.
Ability to speak publicly and deliver engaging and informative presentations to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; familiarity with CRM platforms (Salesforce preferred).
Project management experience.
Forecasting and budgetary experience.
Exceptional time-management skills and the ability to prioritize across multiple concurrent opportunities.
Adept critical thinking and negotiating skills

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with current AI/ML tools, platforms, generative AI and mixed reality use cases, and the practical considerations of enterprise AI adoption is considered an asset.
Experience with immersive technologies (VR/AR/MR, game development) considered an asset.
Familiarity with CRM platforms (Salesforce preferred).

Responsibilities

Develop and execute an annual business development plan with measurable goals and budget recommendations covering all three Digital Technology Applied Research Centres.
Build and maintain a revenue generation stream, with annual financial and research-funding targets provided by the Senior Managers of the respective applied research centres.
Identify, prospect, and establish new client and partner relationships across the AI, cybersecurity, and immersive media sectors to expand market share and conduct sales presentations and discovery meetings with them.
Proactively engage with clients and prospects to ensure they are aware of the full range of services across the AI Hub, CCSI and MRC Studio.
Maintain and enhance relationships with strategic partners (industry associations, funding agencies, research networks) to explore joint business and research opportunities.
Manage and analyze the sales pipeline, track opportunities, and maintain visibility on revenue and funding forecasts.
Manage the sales pipeline using Salesforce CRM (or equivalent CRM platform), maintaining accurate client records, opportunity forecasts, and business development reports.
Analyze pipeline performance, client feedback, and win/loss trends to continuously improve business development strategies.
Lead the preparation of proposals, RFP/RFI responses, funding applications, and Statements of Work in collaboration with technical, finance, and project teams.
Coordinate proposal contributions from researchers, project managers, finance, and external partners to ensure timely, high-quality submissions.
Maintain a proposal library, including standard language, capability statements, past-performance examples, and budget templates to streamline future submissions.
Track proposal pipeline, hit rates, and post-award conversion to support continuous improvement of bid strategy.
Support marketing and outreach initiatives that generate qualified leads and strengthen the centres' market presence.
Develop business development tools, case studies, and sector-specific materials to support client engagement.
Identify industry events, speaking opportunities, and networking venues where the centres can enhance their market presence.
Organize and lead facility tours, small-scale events and virtual workshops for prospective clients, highlighting key offerings and capabilities of each centre.
Prepare and monitor business development budgets, revenue forecasts, and research funding performance.
Analyze market trends and sales performance to support strategic decision-making.
Participate in leadership meetings and contribute to strategic planning, business growth initiatives, and Go/No-Go decisions.
Participate in innovative conversations and ideas for growth across emerging technology domains.
Share wins with the centres and the broader Durham College community.
Organize customer and partner feedback sessions for management.
Foster collaboration across the applied research centres by sharing market intelligence, client feedback, and business development successes.