Assistant Manager, Business Development
Digital Technology Applied Research
Centres
COMPETITION NO. AD26-24
Band 9: $77,550 - $96,939
About
Durham College:
Durham College (DC) is a leading post-secondary institution that
supports students to develop career-ready skills for the ever-changing job
market. With a focus on experiential learning, led by expert faculty, through
field placements, applied research, co-ops and other hands-on opportunities, DC
grads are known for having the skills and knowledge they need to adapt to the
ever-changing workforce.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Durham College offers a wide range of market-driven programs across multiple disciplines, including culinary management, farming and horticulture, business, IT, construction and trades, science and technology, health care, engineering, social and community services, media, art and design.
Our modern campuses in Oshawa and Whitby offer 145 programs – including six bachelor’s degrees and 11 apprenticeship programs – to more than 11,000 full-time post-secondary and nearly 3,000 apprenticeship students. In addition, we have more than 16,000 student registrations in professional and part-time learning. More than 120,000 alumni represent the college, both locally and around the world.
DC has an estimated annual economic impact of more than $913 million on Durham Region and is proud to be an active and engaged member of the communities we serve by contributing resources and expertise to enhance social and economic well-being through partnerships, investments and collaboration.
About
the Digital Technology Applied Research Centres:
Durham
College’s Digital Technology Applied Research Centres are a portfolio
of industry-facing applied research centres advancing emerging
technology adoption and innovation in Durham Region and
beyond through workforce development, business and technical services and
applied research services.
- The AI Hub - operating as a
Technology Access Centre, the AI Hub enables companies to leverage the
full potential of artificial intelligence to improve productivity and
business outcomes and/or take new commercial AI applications to
market. We offer training, advisory
and custom development to help companies adopt AI safely and
effectively.
- Mixed Reality Capture (MRC)
Studio –The MRC Studio develops experiential applications that
integrate motion capture, virtual reality, augmented reality, virtual
production, and training simulation, creating solutions that
increase an organization’s productivity and growth.
- Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation
(CCSI) – empowers companies to strengthen their cyber resilience.
CCSI offers access to applied research services and leading-edge education
in cybersecurity to prepare for the ever-changing and complex threat
landscape.
Duties and Responsibilities:
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.
Business
Development:
- 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.
Proposal Development:
- 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.
Strategic Market Engagement:
- 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.
Budgeting:
- Prepare and monitor business
development budgets, revenue forecasts, and research funding performance.
- Analyze market trends and sales
performance to support strategic decision-making.
Leadership and Strategic Contribution:
- 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.
Qualifications:
- 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. 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.
- 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
Please note this posting is for a new
vacancy.
Please apply below
by submitting your cover letter and resume to the online portal. Job Competition closes at 7:00 p.m. EST on October 16, 2026. Competition number AD26-24.
Contact Us T:905.721.3073 HumanResources@durhamcollege.ca
C Wing, Second Floor - 2000 Simcoe St. N. Oshawa, ON
Durham College invites applications from all qualified individuals. Durham is committed to fostering workplace diversity, and, provides accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout our hiring process. If you require this information in alternate format; require communication supports; an accommodation in applying for a posting and/or if you are selected for an interview, please contact our Human Resources (HR) department and an HR assistant will work with you to meet your needs.
We thank you for your interest in employment with Durham College however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Land Acknowledgement
Durham College is situated on the traditional lands of the First Peoples of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. These lands are covered under the Williams Treaties and rest within the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to the Indigenous Peoples who care for and, through the treaty process, share the lands on which we live, learn, teach and prosper today.
