Senior Associate, Business Development

About MaRS
MaRS Discovery District (@MaRSDD) in Toronto is the one of the world's largest urban innovation hubs.
MaRS supports promising high-growth companies to scale their businesses globally, while tackling key societal challenges in areas such as Health, Cleantech, Finance, Transportation, AI, and others. In addition to helping start-ups launch, grow and scale, the MaRS community is dedicated to cross-disciplinary collaboration, commercialization of discoveries, and driving ideas to impact.
We are a purpose-driven organization on a mission to make the world a better place through inclusive innovation. This commitment to inclusion, equity and diversity are core to who we are and what we believe and, as such, encourage applications from members of diverse identity groups, including those who have been historically excluded and marginalized. You are welcome at MaRS.
We want you to be as successful throughout our recruitment process as possible. Please get in touch with us if there's anything we can do to make your experience more accessible and inclusive, including accommodations for differing (dis)abilities.
About Business Development
The Business Development team is the relationship building arm of MaRS and works with various stakeholders across the private, public and charitable sector to establish purposeful, strategic partnerships that amplify the MaRSian mission of driving positive global impact as the partner of choice for entrepreneurs and the innovation community. Internally, the BD team works closely with Ventures & Ecosystems teams to support the adoption of innovation for all.
About The Role
The Senior Associate, Business development will lead and support the partner journey at MaRS. This role will maintain relationships with MaRS partners, lead market research activities for sourcing additional partners, and support the delivery of client's engagements. Furthermore, the role is cross-functional in nature and will play an active role in collaborating with both the startup and partner ecosystem, respectively.
Key Responsibilities
Build & Maintain Partner Relationships

• Understand partner objectives, including business challenges and new growth opportunities
• Assist business development leads in prospecting, proposal development and contracting
• Aide in partner deliveries (partnerships, sponsorships, fee-for-service engagements)
• In collaboration with business development leads, identify key performance metrics and build feedback loop for partnership engagement and management
• Build trusted relationships and liaise with partner contacts on a regular basis

Market Research & Proposal Development

• Leverage data/insights from market research and client discussions to support the development of proposals
• Provide market awareness feedback to key internal stakeholders across Venture Services & Partner Solutions
• Build monthly and/or quarterly account management and custom reports
• Source consumer, industry and competitive data to and inform go-to-market sector strategies
• Conduct market research in emerging markets and technology trends as it relates to ecosystem interests

Strategy & Data Management

• Coordinate with internal teams to develop and implement new marketing and sales strategies
• Leverage data insights to inform and adapt go-to-market partner and sector-based strategies
• Document partner interactions and prospecting discussions within CRM
• Support business development leads in developing, executing, and evaluating renewal and upsell opportunities to drive partnership sales
• Identify and qualify target customers based on internal and external market feedback

Qualifications:

• 2+ years of relevant work experience
• High degree of comfort within sector topics (including cleantech, health and/or software) as well as business concepts and issues
• Experience in working with multiple stakeholders, clients, colleagues in a fast-paced and high-pressure business environment. Superior organization and project management skills
• University degree with areas of focus that include, business and marketing
• Experience in business development (including account management) and product marketing
• Knowledge and passion for technology and impact

Salary Range: $60,900 - $76,000, up to 10% discretionary incentive, benefits and paid time-off.
Applications will close at 5pm EDT on May 26, 2023.
Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada and reside in Ontario.