Business Development Manager – BNext AI

TBDC; Brampton; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC) is seeking a proactive Business Development Manager to grow the BNext AI program by identifying prospects, conducting discovery, and guiding opportunities through the sales journey in Brampton, Mississauga, and the GTA.

You will leverage events, networks and digital outreach to build a strong pipeline, collaborate with the Sales Lead, and ensure a smooth transition into delivery once a client joins the program.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in business development, B2B sales, partnerships or related client-facing roles.
• Experience building and managing a sales pipeline and converting prospects into clients.
• Strong network of business owners, SMBs, decision-makers in Brampton, Mississauga and GTA.

Responsibilities

• Identify and prospect businesses that fit BNext AI’s target profile.
• Generate new opportunities through cold calling, LinkedIn, email campaigns, referrals, networking and events.
• Attend business events and build relationships with owners, associations, chambers and ecosystem partners.
• Maintain accurate CRM data and progress opportunities through the sales journey.
• Support continuity after onboarding into the delivery team and flag re-engagement opportunities.

Skills

Lead generation

Sales pipeline management

Prospecting

Networking

CRM (Zoho)

Cold calling

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Tools

Zoho CRM

Job description

8 Nelson St W, Brampton, ON L6X 1B7, Canada

• Industry Nonprofit Charitable Organizations
• Work Experience 5+ years
• City 8 Nelson St W, Brampton, ON L6X 1B7
• Country Canada

About Us

At Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC), we're at the center of Canada's fastest-growing startup ecosystem—where global founders come to scale, raise capital, and build their future. Through flagship programs like Horizon, Pivot, GoEU, and Land & Expand, we connect entrepreneurs with the partners, capital, and growth strategies they need to succeed. Learn more at www.tbdc.com

As TBDC continues to strengthen Canada's position as a global destination for innovation, two flagship initiatives - GoEU and Horizon - are playing a critical role in connecting Europe's most promising startups with Canada's thriving innovation ecosystem.

Together, these programs are building meaningful partnerships across Europe and Canada, helping innovative companies expand internationally while creating long-term economic impact.

Job Description

We are looking for an energetic, well-connected and highly proactive Business Development Manager to help grow the pipeline for BNext AI, an AI adoption program helping established small and medium-sized businesses identify practical opportunities to adopt AI and improve their operations. You will work closely with the Sales Lead to build and manage the sales pipeline, from identifying prospective businesses and creating initial interest through discovery, follow-ups, conversion and a smooth transition into the program. This is a hands‑on role for someone who enjoys meeting business owners, attending events, building relationships, making calls and creating new business opportunities. We are looking for someone who takes ownership, works collaboratively and stays engaged until an opportunity is successfully converted.

What You’ll Do

• Identify and prospect businesses that fit BNext AI’s target customer profile.
  
• Generate new opportunities through cold calling, LinkedIn, email campaigns, referrals, networking and community outreach.
  
• Attend business events, conferences, association meetings and networking opportunities across Brampton, Mississauga and the GTA.
  
• Build relationships with business owners, industry associations, chambers, community organizations and ecosystem partners.
  
• Leverage your network to open doors and connect with relevant decision‑makers.
  
• Conduct initial conversations to understand prospects’ needs and potential fit, working closely with the Sales Lead to progress opportunities through the sales journey.
  
• Follow up consistently and ensure opportunities continue moving through the pipeline.
  
• Maintain accurate and current information on leads, conversations, next steps and follow‑ups in the CRM/pipeline.
  
• Once a company joins the program, support continuity in the relationship and a smooth transition into the delivery team, while keeping visibility on the client’s journey and flagging areas where Sales should re‑engage.
  

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher qualification (including a postgraduate degree/MBA) in Business,
  
• Marketing, Communications or a related field. Equivalent relevant professional experience may also be considered.
  
• 5+ years of relevant experience in business development, B2B sales, partnerships, lead generation or a related client‑facing role.
  
• Based in Brampton or Mississauga, with strong familiarity with the local business community.
  
• Proven experience in prospecting, generating qualified leads, building and managing a sales pipeline, progressing opportunities and successfully converting prospects into clients/customers.
  
• Brings an existing network of business owners, SMBs, decision‑makers and/or business associations
  
• in Brampton, Mississauga and the broader GTA, with the ability to leverage these relationships to create new opportunities. Strongly preferred.
  
• Experience building relationships and working with industry associations, chambers, business networks and ecosystem partners is preferred.
  
• Comfortable with cold calling, outbound prospecting, networking and representing an organization at business events.
  
• Experience using Zoho or other CRM systems, along with current digital tools and technologies for lead generation, prospecting, outreach, follow‑up and conversion.
  
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with disciplined and persistent follow‑up to keep opportunities moving.
  
• A self‑starter who takes ownership, creates opportunities rather than waiting for leads, and is comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with the team.
  
• Comfortable working toward clear business development targets and being accountable for pipeline generation, progression and conversion.
  
• Ability to understand business challenges at a high level and identify potential opportunities.
  
• Strong interest in AI and its potential to transform businesses, with curiosity and willingness to learn; prior AI experience is an asset.