Business Development Specialist, Economic Research (Remote)

The Conference Board of Canada; Ontario; Remote; CAD 67,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

The Conference Board of Canada seeks a Business Development Specialist for its Economic Research team. The role involves managing proposals, tracking business opportunities, and collaborating with team members. Candidates should have a background in economics or social sciences, exceptional organizational skills, and a proactive attitude. This remote position offers a salary range of $67,320 - $91,080 annually and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Work from home setup budget

Healthcare benefits from Day One

Defined benefit pension plan with 5% match

20 days annual vacation + additional holidays

Employee Family Assistance Program

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in economics or related social science, Master’s preferred.
• Understanding of social science research methodologies.
• Bilingualism (English/French) is a strong asset.

Responsibilities

• Manage business development pipeline and track opportunities.
• Write and edit research proposals for clients.
• Coordinate contributions and deadlines across the Economic Research team.

Skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Proactive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in economics or related social science

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Teams

CRM platforms

Job description

The Conference Board of Canada (CBoC) is the nation’s largest independent applied research organization offering unbiased, evidence-based information and analysis to both industry, NGOs and federal/provincial governments. We have one of the country’s largest private economic analysis and forecasting teams and are widely recognized for expert economic forecasting, modeling, and leading analysis. CBoC undertakes research to address the most pressing issues in Innovation and Technology, Human Capital, Sustainability, Immigration, Indigenous and Northern Communities, Education and Skills, and Health. Our social science research provides actionable pathways to solutions. Simply put, we deliver insights that help Canada’s leaders cut through the noise and make informed decisions.

We are seeking a dynamic and self-motivated individual to join The Conference Board’s fast-paced and growing Economic Research team as a Business Development Specialist. The Conference Board of Canada is the foremost applied research organization in Canada.

This new role requires an entrepreneurial mindset, a keen attention to detail, and a flair for communicating complex topics to a variety of audiences. Daily tasks will include the quick turnaround of research proposals, developed in collaboration with our subject matter experts, targeting and tracking potential research opportunities, and helping the Economic Research team plan and organize its business development work. The ideal applicant would have a background in economics or other social science

We are a virtual organization and as a remote worker you must be comfortable and able to work 100 per cent of the time from a home office in Canada. To be successful as a remote worker you need to have a self-starter attitude, possess strong organizational and time management skills and be a proactive communicator. Having a home office environment that provides for a productive, professional, and safe work environment during regular working/business hours is a requirement of this role. This includes internet service and a reliable connection.

About the Role

Responsibilities

• Support the business development work of the Economic Research team from the identification of an opportunity through to project initiation.
• Maintain an organized pipeline of business development opportunities, systematically tracking opportunities, deadlines, and contacts, and acting as the central point of knowledge on opportunity status, key milestones, and required actions.
• Work with team members proactively to coordinate their contributions to business development activities, such as external meetings, proposal review, and documentation.
• Contribute to rapid proposal development in line with The Conference Board’s internal quality assurance protocols for high-quality research.
• Write and edit research proposals for clarity, accuracy, and consistency across a range of research areas (with a primary focus on economic research topics), tailoring proposals to meet client needs.
• Take on a greater role in writing technical components of proposals, depending on individual skill sets.
• Review and evaluate requests for proposals (RFPs) through various platforms, such as Merx and CanadaBuys.
• Track potential projects using pipeline trackers and a CRM, accurately recording wins and losses for future review and operational improvements.
• Work closely with the Economic Research leadership team to ensure administrative responsibilities across the Economic Research team are handled.
• Provide support in organizing group events and meetings as needed.
• Communicate proactively with Economic Research team members, ensuring proposal deadlines are not missed.
• Support other research teams, develop proposal-writing best practices, and ensure alignment in approaches and styles across groups.
• Commitment to producing high quality work and demonstrating professional values in all aspects of work and interactions with colleagues and customers.

Competencies

• Exceptional organizational skills and keen attention to detail.
• Able to coordinate multiple opportunities simultaneously using sound judgment and structured approaches.
• Ability to quickly grasp technical economic concepts and communicate them clearly, concisely, and accessibly in writing.
• Strong writing and editing skills in English; French is a valued asset.
• Proactive communicator who ensures deadlines are met and team members are aligned.
• Collaborative and curious, with a strong interest in applied economic research and public policy.
• Comfortable developing and reviewing proposal budgets, including in Excel.
• Familiar with project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Teams, Microsoft Project).

About You

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in economics or a related social science field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Understanding of social science research methodologies (qualitative and/or quantitative), particularly within economics.
• Familiarity with Canadian economic and public policy issues, as well as the needs of key clients (e.g., federal and provincial governments, industry associations, businesses).
• Demonstrated track record of securing research funding and/or building effective research partnerships.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Teams, and CRM platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics (or similar).
• Experience with budget development in a research or funding context.
• Bilingualism (English/French) is a strong asset.

Benefits

At CBoC, we believe that putting People First is key to our success and attracting the best people. We are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive and we are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Virtual First – work from home anywhere across Canada with a budget to set up your home office.
• A workplace where your hard work is not just valued, but actively celebrated. We take pride in our commitment to recognizing and rewarding the exceptional talent that drives our success through our Recognition programs.
• Healthcare benefits from Day One to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including a $2,500 benefit for Psychologist, Social Worker or Psychotherapist services
• Work/Life Balance: In addition to 20 days annual vacation, we close between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, observe 13 holidays per year and offer Friday afternoon closures.
• A modern, defined benefit (DB) pension plan: We care about your future and offer a pension plan with a 5% match from Day One
• Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP): We understand that life can be unpredictable and challenging and EFAP supports you and your family during difficult times.
• Maternity and parental leave top-up plan

The salary for this position ranges from $67,320 to $91,080 annually for candidates from any Canadian province or territory. Salaries are based upon candidate experience, qualifications, specific skillsets, as well as market and business considerations. The recruiter can share more information about the salary range for the position during the hiring process. This job posting is for an existing vacancy within CBoC. We are actively seeking to fill this role with a qualified candidate.

We value the unique skills, experiences, and insights that each employee brings to The Conference Board of Canada. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcome members of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply. If you require an accommodation at any point during the recruitment process, please email [e-mail] and we will work with you to meet your needs.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest in The Conference Board of Canada. Please note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.