Business Development Manager (Agriculture)

Employment term: Initial one-year contract, with the opportunity to transition to permanent full-time employment based on performance and business needs

Salary: $80,000+

Work Arrangement: In office

About the Role

AdvancedAg is seeking a results-driven Business Development Manager to identify, develop, and execute opportunities that support revenue growth, commercialization, and expansion into new markets.

This role connects business strategy with practical execution. Working closely with the CEO, Director of Sales, and other departments, the Business Development Manager will develop strategic partnerships, pursue funding, strengthen commercial programs and sales channels, and help bring new products and market opportunities to commercial success.

The successful candidate will bring a documented record of helping businesses scale, sound commercial judgment, and the ability to move opportunities from initial research through implementation and measurable results.

Key Responsibilities:

Business Growth and Strategy

• Develop and execute business growth plans with clear priorities, financial objectives, timelines, and key performance indicators.
• Identify and evaluate new markets, customer segments, revenue streams, and business opportunities.
• Prepare business cases, financial assessments, and recommendations to support investment and resource decisions.
• Track progress against growth objectives and provide leadership with actionable reporting and recommendations.

Commercialization and Market Development

• Lead or coordinate the commercialization of new products, services, and programs, working across research, operations, marketing, and sales.
• Develop go-to-market plans that address customer needs, competitive positioning, pricing, distribution, and adoption.
• Build and expand commercial programs and sales channels, including distributor, dealer, and other channel partnerships.
• Assess international expansion opportunities and develop market-entry plans that consider commercial viability, local partnerships, operational requirements, and regulatory considerations.

Sales Strategy and Support

• Provide market intelligence, competitive analysis, customer insights, and sales data to support the Director of Sales and inform sales strategy.
• Collaborate with the sales team to identify priority accounts, strengthen value propositions, and pursue strategic opportunities.
• Support proposals, presentations, commercial negotiations, and partnership agreements.
• Help develop sales tools, supporting evidence, and commercial resources that improve the team’s ability to win and retain business.

Funding, Research, and Innovation

• Identify relevant grants, funding programs, incentives, and collaborative investment opportunities.
• Lead or coordinate funding applications, including business cases, supporting documentation, budgets, submissions, and reporting requirements.
• Develop relationships with research institutions, industry organizations, government agencies, and potential innovation partners.
• Identify collaborative research, field demonstration, and product development opportunities with a clear path to commercial value.

Strategic Partnerships and External Relations

• Identify, develop, and manage strategic partnerships that support revenue, market access, innovation, and long-term growth.
• Build productive relationships with government representatives, regulatory bodies, and industry associations.
• Monitor policy, regulatory, and industry developments that could affect growth opportunities, coordinating with appropriate internal or external specialists.
• Represent AdvancedAg professionally in business development discussions, industry forums, and partnership negotiations.

Speaking Engagements and Events

• Identify and secure relevant speaking engagements, conferences, trade shows, and industry events for the CEO, Director of Sales, and Business Development Manager.
• Coordinate participation objectives, presentation development, meeting opportunities, and follow-up.
• Deliver presentations and represent AdvancedAg at selected events.
• Evaluate event participation based on strategic relationships, qualified opportunities, and commercial outcomes.

Cross-Departmental Leadership

• Coordinate growth initiatives across sales, marketing, research, operations, and finance.
• Establish clear responsibilities, milestones, and follow-through for shared projects.
• Build internal alignment and maintain momentum on initiatives involving multiple teams.
• Carry out other related responsibilities that support AdvancedAg’s business development objectives.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Proven business development and commercialization experience, with a documented record of helping businesses scale.
• Demonstrated material contribution to business growth exceeding $10 million in revenue, with clear examples of personal responsibility, timeframe, and results.
• Experience developing and executing growth strategies, commercial programs, and sales channels.
• Demonstrated success establishing strategic partnerships and converting opportunities into measurable business outcomes.
• Experience identifying funding opportunities and preparing or coordinating funding applications.
• Experience evaluating or developing international markets.
• Strong analytical skills, including market research, business case development, financial assessment, and KPI reporting.
• Strong communication, presentation, relationship-building, and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-departmental initiatives and influence outcomes without relying on direct reporting authority.
• Ability to prioritize competing opportunities and independently manage projects through completion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in agriculture, biological products, agricultural inputs, or another science-based industry.
• Experience working with government agencies, regulatory organizations, research institutions, and industry associations.
• Relevant education in business, commerce, agriculture, science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Entrepreneurial experience, including building, operating, or scaling a business, is an asset but is not mandatory.

First-Year Performance Expectations

Specific targets will be established with leadership at the beginning of the contract. Performance will be evaluated against agreed measures, including:

• Delivery and execution of a prioritized business growth strategy.
• Qualified opportunities developed and converted into revenue or signed commercial agreements.
• Strategic partnerships and commercial channels established or expanded.
• Progress against product commercialization and market-entry milestones.
• Funding applications submitted and funding secured.
• Contribution to sales strategy through useful market intelligence and analysis.
• Speaking engagements and events that generate relevant relationships and business opportunities.
• Effective cross-departmental execution and consistent KPI reporting.

The opportunity to transition to permanent full-time employment will depend on demonstrated performance, delivery against agreed objectives, and business needs.