Business Development Specialist

Institute for Canadian Citizenship / Institut pour la citoyenneté canadienne (ICC); Montreal; On-site; CAD 61,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nonprofit organization seeks a Partnership Development Specialist to drive growth and build meaningful relationships across Quebec and Francophone Canada. This full-time position offers a dynamic workplace with a special focus on bilingual (French/English) candidates. The role emphasizes managing sales cycles, expanding partnerships, and engaging with diverse communities to enhance Canadian citizenship initiatives.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Opportunities for professional growth and development

Dynamic and collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in partnership development, sales, or business development.
• Fluency in both French and English.
• Proven track record of managing full sales cycles.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full sales cycle from prospecting to closing new partner agreements.
• Support negotiations to finalize partnership terms.
• Contribute to partnership strategies that drive revenue.

Skills

Negotiation

Relationship Building

Sales Development

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications

Job description

Partnership Development Specialist (Bilingual: French, English)

Status: Full-time (permanent)

Location: Montreal, Quebec

Reports to: Senior Director, Partnerships

Base Salary Range: From CAD $61,00 – 67,000.00. This range is commensurate with experience, educational background, and skill level. The ICC offers a 10% premium for candidates who are bilingual in English & French.

About the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC)

Future Canadians are Canada’s Future. When driven people from around the world bet their dreams on Canada, we all win big. At the ICC we believe that immigration is how we create a Canada that is not only bigger in population but better in its ability to meet the needs of its people – one where everyone can thrive and depend on each other.

Our programs include:

• Canoo: Our Canoo app is Canada’s largest welcome and integration service for newcomers, providing unlimited free access to over 2,000 of Canada’s best culture, nature and sport experiences.
• Research and Ideas: As the world’s leading voice on citizenship and inclusion, our research, insights and events shape discourse and drive positive change.

If you’re looking for a diverse and exciting workplace, this is it!

Want to learn more about working with the ICC?

Our ICC Handbook is available online and lays out everything you need to know about our purpose, programs, culture, process, and perks.

The ICC head office is in downtown Toronto, with some team members working remotely in various locations. We have satellite offices in Ottawa and Calgary and continue to grow across Canada.

About the Role: Are you a proactive relationship-builder who thrives on connecting with new partners and driving growth? Do you enjoy managing the full sales cycle—from identifying prospects to closing deals—and collaborating with internal teams to deliver results? If so, you could be our next Specialist, Bilingual Partnerships.

In this role, you’ll focus on expanding ICC’s Canoo program across Quebec, the Maritimes, and Francophone Canada by seeking out new, meaningful, partnerships that align with our mission. You’ll be responsible for finding the right prospective partners and nurturing those relationships from the very first conversation through to partnership activation, ensuring everyone benefits and opportunities for collaboration flourish. This is a sales-driven role ideal for someone who’s energized by building pipelines, negotiating deals, and contributing to revenue growth, all while supporting French-language initiatives and engagement.

You’ll play a critical part in growing our network and helping ICC make a meaningful impact in diverse communities—one partnership at a time.

Key Responsibilities:

New Business Development

• Manage the full sales cycle—from prospecting to closing new partner agreements.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of earned revenue and in-kind partnership prospects.
• Collaborate with internal teams to shape partnership opportunities aligned with ICC’s goals.
• Support negotiations to finalize partnership terms, ensuring KPIs and service standards are met.

Account Management

• Provide ongoing support to a portfolio of partners, managing communications and deliverables.
• Lead partner meetings to explore new opportunities and strengthen relationships.
• Facilitate smooth handovers of new partners to the account management team.

Revenue and Member Engagement Growth

• Contribute to partnership strategies that drive revenue and Canoo member engagement.
• Collaborate with internal teams to activate and align partnership initiatives with ICC priorities.
• Assist in creating sales materials and presentations to promote ICC’s paid services.
• Identify and build relationships with organizations that add value to Canoo membership.

Reporting and Analysis

• Track and analyze partnership performance, identifying areas for improvement.
• Prepare reports with key metrics, insights, and recommendations for future growth.
• Use data to refine acquisition strategies and enhance overall sales efforts.

Travel

• Travel up to 25% of the time for partner meetings and events across Canada.

French Language Support

• Support ICC initiatives with French-language communications, including translation and participation in Francophone events.

Who We’re Looking For:

If you're someone who has:

• A bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field, or equivalent work experience,
• 3–5 years of experience in partnership development, sales, business development, or sponsorships,
• Fluency in both French and English, with excellent communication skills in each,
• A proven track record of managing full sales cycles and successfully closing B2B deals,
• A natural ability to build trust and long-term relationships with clients and partners,
• Strong negotiation skills and the drive to meet KPIs and performance goals,
• Experience working collaboratively with cross-functional teams like marketing, legal, product, and analytics,
• A knack for staying organized, managing multiple priorities, and keeping details on track,
• Experience in a nonprofit, cultural, or mission-driven environment is an asset, but not required, and
• The flexibility and enthusiasm to travel up to 25% of the time, including occasional overnight trips

And if you’re excited by the idea of supporting newcomer inclusion, cultural participation, and social impact: then we’d love to hear from you.

We value passion and potential—so if you’re excited about this role and our mission, please apply, even if you don’t have every requirement.

What We Offer:

• A dynamic and collaborative work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including extended health and dental benefits after 3-months probation.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• The chance to make a meaningful impact on Canadian society.

Here's what to expect from our dynamic hiring process:

• Screening - We'll kick things off with a friendly chat to get to know you better and discuss your experience.
• Leadership Interview - Meet with our inspiring leaders who will explore your fit within our team and culture.
• Presentation or Case Study- Showcase your skills and creativity by presenting a proposal or case study to our leadership and team members.
• Reference Checks - We'll wrap things up by connecting with your references to ensure you're the perfect match.

Our process is designed to be engaging and informative, allowing you to shine and learn more about working at the ICC at every stage. We can't wait to see what you bring to the table!

Interested? Great! Please submit your application via this link Partnerships Development Specialist Application Form . Applications will be reviewed on an on-going basis until the role is filled.

A note on AI: Candidates are encouraged to submit applications that reflect their own work and communications skills, without the assistance of AI tools, to ensure a fair assessment of their capabilities. Please ensure that your application is complete and submitted by the deadline, as only fully completed and timely applications will be considered. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

We thank all candidates for their interest but only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship is an equal opportunity employer committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes, and work environments that support a diverse workforce. If you require accommodation measures during any aspect of the recruitment process, we will work with you to address your needs.