Business Development Manager

Ottawa Tourism; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bilingual (English and French)

Job summary

Ottawa Tourism is seeking a seasoned Manager, Business Events based in Ottawa. You will lead a full lifecycle of business events sales, manage client accounts, and advance brand awareness for the destination.

The role requires strategic thinking, strong relationship building, and the ability to work in a hybrid office environment. You will collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders, travel internationally as needed, and contribute to quarterly and annual sales goals through

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in a relevant discipline.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM platforms.
• Excellent written and verbal interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work with limited supervision, multi-task and meet sales targets.
• Commitment to personal professional development.
• Team player with collaborative mindset.
• Proven ability to build partnerships and long-term relationships.
• Experience in sales in Canadian, US, or international markets.
• Willingness to travel internationally and work outside normal hours.
• Experience overseeing projects through full lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Generate and manage leads; foster relationships with potential clients.
• Develop, cultivate, and manage client accounts to convert relationships into outcomes.
• Assist Business Events and Marketing teams to build brand awareness for Ottawa as a top Business Events destination.
• Identify accounts and opportunities; maintain relations to understand needs and value propositions.
• Prepare customized bid proposals and conduct bid presentations; liaison with stakeholders.
• Plan and host client site inspections and Familiarization tours.
• Provide feedback on quarterly and annual sales goals.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in assigned markets.
• Collaborate with Ottawa Tourism team and external partners; manage stakeholder relations.
• Leverage AI and emerging tech to enhance market research, prospecting, and development.

Skills

Organizational skills

Administrative skills

Communication skills

Verbal & written communication

Sales targets

Team player

Project management

Travel readiness

Bilingual (English/French)

Cross-cultural communication

Education

Post-secondary education in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications or Finance

Tools

CRM platforms

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

Ottawa Tourism’s vision is to be one of Canada’s most visited, sustainable, vibrant, and valued urban destinations and the tourism authority for key economic development and city-building decisions in Ottawa. Ottawa Tourism's mission is to market and sell Ottawa as a compelling leisure and business destination and lead or participate in initiatives that improve Ottawa’s visitor experience. We contribute to the broader economic development objectives of the city and the success of our stakeholders and, by doing so, enrich the quality of life for all Ottawa residents.

Reporting to the Director Sales, Business & Major Events the incumbent is responsible for building and maintaining a full roster of clients and potential clients. To be successful in this role, the incumbent should possess confidence and a positive attitude, and should have a strong history of demonstrating talent, creativity and success in a rapid sales cycle environment. With a passion for the small meetings market and a commitment to building Ottawa’s reputation as a destination of choice within this market, the incumbent must be a strategic and operational thinker as well as a client manager who is able to convert relationships and client interest into the successful realization of business objectives. As a key position within the Business Events Department, the Manager, Business Events contributes to the overall organizational mission and vision by bringing excellence to the critical field of business events sales.

This position is based out of the Ottawa Tourism offices in beautiful downtown Ottawa. Ottawa Tourism employs a hybrid work model, with some ability for all employees to work remotely. In some cases, certain positions will have an ongoing requirement to maintain a physical presence in the office. Such details will be discussed during the application process.

Key Competencies

• Understanding of and appreciation for the general scope of the sales role within a destination marketing context, with particular focus on business events
• Managerial-level communication and presentation skills
• Strong ability to prioritize, manage and complete projects, and think strategically
• Willingness to act as a key contributor in a fast-paced organization
• Ability to accept direct responsibility for initiatives and concerns that are vital to the organizational success of the business events sales function
• Ability to build and maintain external relationships; high level of competence in client/stakeholder management
• Broad flexibility in outlook, task orientation, working style, and approach
• Willingness to serve as an organizational subject matter expert in all areas related to the M&C business
• Strong commitment to continuous self-improvement and to the improvement of the business events sales function

Primary Areas of Responsibility

• Generate and manage leads; foster relationships with potential clients
• Develop, cultivate, and manage client accounts with a goal of converting these relationships into actionable outcomes that align with the organization’s strategic sales goals
• Assist the Business Events and Marketing teams in building brand awareness for the destination, with a view to securing the long-term success and value of Ottawa as a top Business Events destination
• Identify accounts and opportunities for Ottawa Tourism’s members; maintain strong relations with members in order to understand needs and requirements, and to maintain full awareness of the unique value propositions offered by the organization’s diverse member businesses
• Manage and/or assist in the preparation of customized bid proposals; conduct bid presentations; liaise with bid stakeholders as necessary, with a view to securing the success of bids
• Plan, manage, and host client site inspections and familiarization (FAM) tours
• Provide feedback to the supervisor and to other senior members of the Ottawa Tourism team in the development of quarterly and annual sales goals
• Serve as a subject matter expert in assigned market(s)
• Perform all duties and requirements of the position while acting with integrity, honesty, and enthusiasm
• Assist supervisor (or other senior leader as directed) in the development and execution of projects and organizational initiatives as required and directed
• Contribute as a key member of theBusiness Events Department, helping to define, refine, and champion the team’s strategic goals, operational priorities, and long-term vision
• Work collaboratively and in partnership with key members of the Ottawa Tourism team
• Work collaboratively and in partnership with key external stakeholders; manage stakeholder relations to achieve maximum impact and success
• Leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies to enhance association market research, prospecting, account intelligence, relationship planning, and business development activities while validating AI-supported information and maintaining trusted client relationships.
• Act as an exemplary ambassador for Ottawa Tourism at all external events, as directed and required

Desired Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in a relevant discipline (Business Administration, Marketing,Communications or Finance)
• 5 years’ experience in sales, ideally in theBusiness Events
• Comfortable with cross-cultural communications and international business norms and standards
• Strong organizational and administrative skills
• Proficiency in all aspects of Microsoft Office software; comfortable working with CRM platforms and any other required technologies
• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent written and verbal interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work with limited supervision, multi-task and meet sales targets
• Strong commitment to personal professional development
• Ability to work as part of a team, including a willingness to work towards the continual improvement of team performance
• Proven abilities in building partnerships and collaborative, long-term working relationships
• Demonstrated experience working in a sales capacity in the Canadian, US, or international markets
• Ability to work outside normal business hours
• Ability and eligibility to travel internationally, and to maintain a regular domestic and international travel schedule on behalf of the organization
• Demonstrated experience and skill in overseeing and managing projects throughout the entire project life cycle

Assets

• Bilingual (English and French)
• Additional language capabilities, preferably in a language relevant to an Ottawa Tourism market
• Any additional educational qualifications or training relevant to the position

The Hiring Process

1. Initial Phone Screen
2. In-Depth Interview
3. Peer Interview
4. Interview with Vice President, Sales, Business & Major Events
5. Reference checks
6. Offer

Land Acknowledgement

Ottawa Tourism is located and operates on the traditional and unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin people, who have travelled and inhabited these lands for millennia.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement

We place great value on the importance of diversity in our workforce, and we value inclusivity, trust, innovation and encourage applications from individuals who are members of under-represented or marginalized communities. We foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization. We connect with Indigenous communities; we care about the planet our people and our industry, and we want our city to be accessible to all. To that end, we are committed to an objective hiring process which is free from discrimination based on any of the protected grounds as stated in Ontario's Human Rights Code. In an effort to ensure that the selection process is as objective as possible, applicants are invited to consider removing any indications on their application that might suggest age, place of origin, ethnic origin, disability, race, or any other protected ground. For example, applicants might choose to include the names and classification of degrees granted (i.e. Diplomain Project Management, with Honours),while excluding the name or location of the school.

Accessibility Statement

All applications will be considered as longas the applicant can demonstrate that theymeetthe essential qualifications as described in the job posting. Further to this, if you would like to request any additional accommodations.