Pour la version française, veuillez consulter
Who We Are
The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) is a national not-for-profit organization and the principal body for physical activity, health and fitness research and personal training in Canada.
• Our mission: To champion excellence in the application, certification and advancement of evidence-informed exercise science research and practice.
• Our vision: The health, fitness and athletic performance of all Canadians is optimized through the science of exercise.
Who You Are
The Director, Business Development is a strategic leadership position responsible for advancing CSEP's organizational growth, partnerships, funding opportunities, strategic initiatives, and business development activities.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director leads the identification, development, negotiation, implementation, and ongoing management of strategic partnerships and business relationships that support CSEP's mission, strategic plan, financial sustainability, member value, and national profile.
The Director leads CSEP's efforts to identify and secure diversified funding opportunities, including grants, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and other revenue-generating opportunities. The role is responsible for building relationships with government agencies, foundations, corporations, academic institutions, and other organizations to develop opportunities that advance CSEP's strategic priorities.
The Director also leads or supports the development and implementation of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), partnership agreements, funding agreements, and other strategic arrangements. The role ensures that partnerships and initiatives have clearly defined objectives, deliverables, timelines, financial considerations, and measures of success.
The Director works across the organization to translate strategic priorities into actionable initiatives and operational plans. The role provides strategic oversight of organizational analytics, business intelligence, planning, and performance reporting, using financial, membership, program, partnership, and operational data to identify trends, assess opportunities, inform decision-making, and support recommendations to the Executive Director and Board.
As part of CSEP's financial governance structure, the Director serves as an authorized signatory for financial transactions, in accordance with CSEP's approved signing authorities, policies, budgets, and financial controls; while also overseeing events and marketing/communications to ensure that there is organizational alignment and support.
The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker, relationship builder, and strong business leader who can move effectively between strategy and execution, identify and develop opportunities, build trusted partnerships, secure external funding, manage complex initiatives, and help position CSEP for long-term growth and sustainability.
Primary Responsibilities
The Director works across the organization to translate strategic priorities into actionable initiatives and operational plans, ensuring appropriate alignment of resources, timelines, responsibilities, and desired outcomes. The role also provides organizational analytics and business intelligence to support evidence-informed decision-making by the Executive Director, Leadership Team, and Board.
The Director serves as an authorized signatory for financial transactions, within delegated authority and in accordance with CSEP's approved signing authorities, financial policies, budgets, and internal controls.
Business Development, Partnerships & Revenue Growth
- Develop and implement CSEP's business development strategy in alignment with the organization's strategic plan.
- Identify and evaluate opportunities that strengthen CSEP's financial sustainability, member value, reputation, reach, and impact.
- Develop a diversified revenue strategy, beyond membership dues that includes strategic partnerships, sponsorships, grants, programs, services, licensing opportunities, and other revenue-generating activities aligned with CSEP's mandate.
- Build and maintain relationships with corporations, government organizations, academic institutions, foundations, health and fitness organizations, professional organizations, and other strategic stakeholders.
- Develop business cases, proposals, presentations, and recommendations for new business opportunities, initiatives and grants.
- Assess the strategic, operational, financial, and reputational implications of prospective opportunities.
- Represent CSEP in external meetings, negotiations, presentations, and relationship-building activities.
- Identify opportunities to leverage multiple funding and partnership sources to maximize the impact and sustainability of CSEP initiatives.
- Lead the development, review, negotiation, and renewal of MOUs, partnership agreements, funding agreements, service agreements, and other strategic arrangements.
- Lead the development and submission of grant and funding applications aligned with CSEP's strategic priorities.
- Coordinate grant deliverables, reporting requirements, funding agreements, timelines, reporting and financial obligations.
- Maintain accurate records of CSEP's partnerships, MOUs, grant applications, funding agreements, deadlines, deliverables, and outcomes.
- Monitor partnership and grant performance and identify opportunities to strengthen or expand successful relationships.
Strategic & Operational Planning
- Lead annual and multi-year operational planning processes in collaboration with the Executive Director and Leadership Team.
- Translate CSEP's strategic priorities into actionable organizational plans, projects, timelines, responsibilities, resource requirements, and desired outcomes.
- Lead or support cross-functional strategic initiatives identified through CSEP's strategic plan including coordinating initiatives across departments to ensure alignment, effective implementation, and appropriate organizational capacity.
- Identify opportunities to improve organizational processes, efficiencies, and resource allocation.
- Monitor progress against operational and strategic plans, identify barriers, and recommend adjustments.
- Prepare regular progress updates, recommendations, and decision materials for the Executive Director and Board.
Analytics, Business Intelligence & Organizational Reporting
- Develop and maintain organizational reporting processes that support evidence informed decision making
- Analyze membership, financial, partnership, grant, program, event, certification, and operational data to identify trends, opportunities, risks, and areas for improvement.
- Develop dashboards, reports, and other tools to communicate organizational performance and business insights.
- Establish appropriate measures to assess the performance and impact of strategic initiatives, partnerships, grants, and other business development activities.
- Support Board reporting through concise analysis, trends, business cases, and recommendations.
- Identify opportunities to improve data collection, reporting, systems integration, and organizational intelligence.
Financial Planning, Oversight & Signing Authority
- Support the Executive Director in the development of annual budgets and longer-term financial plans related to business development, partnerships, grants and strategic initiatives.
- Assess the financial viability, risks, opportunities, and potential return of new initiatives and partnerships.
- Monitor budgets associated with assigned programs, projects, partnerships, grants, and strategic initiatives.
- Ensure grant funded expenditures and activities are aligned with approved funding agreements, budgets, and organizational policies.
- Support financial tracking, documentation, reporting, and accountability for funded initiatives and strategic projects.
- Serve as an authorized financial signatory for CSEP transactions, within the authority delegated to the position and in accordance with CSEP's approved financial policies, signing authorities, budgets, and internal controls.
Organizational Leadership & Stakeholder Relations
- Represent Business Development on the Leadership Team
- Work collaboratively with all departments to advance organizational priorities and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Support the Executive Director and Leadership Team on organizational priorities, special projects, and emerging opportunities.
- Monitor developments in the exercise science, health, fitness, education, government, and broader professional landscape that may affect CSEP.
- Represent CSEP professionally with members, partners, funders, stakeholders, and external organizations.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.
Capability Requirements – Education, Skills & Experience
Education & Experience
- Postsecondary degree in business administration, commerce, management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Possessing an MBA would be considered an asset.
- Progressive experience in business development, strategic partnerships, organizational planning, strategy, operations, or a related leadership role.
- Demonstrated experience developing and managing strategic partnerships and business relationships.
- Experience negotiating and managing contracts, MOUs, partnership agreements, funding agreements, or similar arrangements.
- Demonstrated experience identifying, developing, and managing grant and funding opportunities.
- Experience developing and implementing strategic or operational plans.
- Experience managing cross-functional projects and organizational initiatives.
- Experience working with financial information, budgets, funding agreements, and business analysis.
- Experience developing reports, dashboards, or other analytical tools is considered an asset.
- Experience working within a professional association, not-for-profit, health, fitness, academic, or membership-based organization is considered an asset.
Business & Analytical Skills
- Strong business acumen and ability to assess opportunities from strategic, operational, financial, and organizational perspectives.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to interpret financial, membership, operational, partnership, and grant data and translate findings into clear recommendations.
- Strong project management and organizational planning skills.
- Ability to develop business cases, proposals, funding applications, agreements, and strategic recommendations.
- Strong negotiation and relationship management skills.
- Experience using the MacOS operating system and Google Workspace (Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Drive, etc.) are considered an asset
- Experience with CRM or membership systems is considered an asset.
- Ability to evaluate the financial and organizational implications of new opportunities and initiatives.
Strategic Leadership
- Ability to think strategically while maintaining a strong focus on execution.
- Ability to identify opportunities and translate ideas into practical, sustainable initiatives.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex priorities and competing deadlines.
- Strong decision-making, judgment, and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to work effectively with senior leaders, Board members, staff, partners, funders, and external stakeholders.
- Strong written, verbal, negotiation, and presentation skills in English (French is an asset)
- High degree of professionalism, discretion, integrity, and accountability.
- Strong financial literacy
- Commitment to organizational sustainability, continuous improvement, and service excellence.
- Experience managing and mentoring staff
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
CSEP is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All applicants will
receive consideration for employment regardless of their citizenship, race, place of origin, ethnic
origin, colour, ancestry, disability, age, creed, sex/pregnancy, family status, marital status, sexual
orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other protected ground under Human Rights.
If you require any accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know
and we will be happy to assist you.
Does working from home fit your lifestyle?
This is a hybrid position with occasional in-person work based at our Ottawa office. While very infrequent, occasional evening work may also be required when assisting with CSEP events. What we offer...
- A fair salary and competitive vacation package
- An attractive benefits package paid entirely by CSEP
- A comprehensive leave policy including an annual holiday closure
- A flexible hybrid work environment
- Matching RRSP contributions
- A commitment to ongoing professional development
Ready to apply?
Please use this link to apply with both a cover letter and resume. Should you require accommodation
or support, please include this in your cover letter.
Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm on Sunday, October 4th, 2026.
