Business Development Officer - Aerospace

National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de recherches Canada; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The NRC’s Aerospace Research Centre (AERO) is seeking a results-driven Business Development Officer to transform cutting-edge aerospace research into real-world impact. The incumbent will focus on partnerships, funding, IP strategy, negotiations, and commercialization to maximize benefits for Canada.

This position supports NRC’s revenue generation, industry engagement, and leadership in aerospace innovation.

Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace, defence, or high-tech sectors.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to translate technical capabilities into strategic business opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with program leaders, researchers, and business development teams to create partnerships and secure external revenue.
• Develop and execute strategies to engage industry, government, and academia for collaborative R&D and commercialization.
• Identify aerospace opportunities balancing client needs with NRC value proposition.
• Provide market intelligence and strategic advice to NRC leadership.

Skills

Business development

Partnership building

Negotiations

IP strategy

Technology commercialization

Job description

Priority will be given to the following designated employment equity groups: Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

• The Employment Equity Act , which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

City: Ottawa

Organizational Unit: Aerospace

Classification: RCO

Tenure: Continuing

Language Requirements: Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB

Work arrangements: Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position may be eligible for a limited hybrid work arrangement (combination of working onsite and telework).

At the NRC, we recognize that Indigenous candidates may have important connections to their communities and you may be eligible for an exception to this work arrangement. Alternative work arrangements may also be considered to accommodate candidates as required. To learn more about these options, please contact the NRC Hiring team using the contact information below.

The role

The NRC’s Aerospace Research Centre (AERO) is seeking a results-driven Business Development Officer (BDO) to help transform cutting-edge aerospace research into real-world impact. The incumbent will play a role in building partnerships, securing funding, and advancing innovation, with a strong focus on intellectual property (IP) strategy, negotiations, and commercialization to maximize benefits for Canada. The BDO would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect and Creativity.

This position directly supports NRC’s revenue generation, industry engagement, and leadership in aerospace innovation. The BDO’s work will ensure continuity in critical initiatives, strengthen relationships with Canada’s aerospace and technology companies, and contribute to advancing NRC’s strategic objectives in the sector.

AERO’s world-class facilities and expert teams make us a partner of choice for developing technologies and accelerating their adoption by industry, government, and academia. The successful candidate will bring business development expertise together with an understanding of aerospace, aviation, defence, advanced technology, engineering, or research environments, and the ability to translate technical capabilities and industry needs into strategic business opportunities.

As a Business Development Officer, you will:

• Work closely with program leaders, researchers, technical teams, and the business development team to create impactful partnerships, secure external revenue, and ensure client satisfaction;
• Develop and execute strategies to engage industry, government, and academic partners in collaborative research, technology development, and commercialization projects;
• Identify and develop business opportunities in aerospace technologies, balancing client needs with NRC’s value proposition;
• Provide market intelligence and strategic advice to NRC leadership, contributing to business and strategic plans;
• Lead complex strategic initiatives, coordinating with internal research teams and external stakeholders;
• Lead complex negotiations for collaborative R&D agreements,