Business Development Specialist Program Innovation & Strategic Initiatives

Saint Mary’s University; Halifax; Hybrid; CAD 78,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Halifax is seeking a Business Development Specialist to drive strategic growth in healthcare and professional programs. This role requires strong business development experience and an understanding of the higher education landscape. The candidate will build partnerships and manage client relationships while achieving revenue targets. The position offers a competitive salary and a hybrid work option.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits package

Defined Contribution Pension plan

Professional development

Vacation

Qualifications

• 3-5 years in business development or corporate partnerships.
• Proven track record of building strategic partnerships.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify and target new corporate and industry partners.
• Manage relationships with external associations.
• Achieve enrollment and revenue targets for professional programs.

Skills

Business development

B2B sales

Negotiation

Client relationship management

CRM proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (MBA, MEd)

Tools

Salesforce

PowerBI

HubSpot

Job description

Discover

The Opportunity

Halifax, NS Education and Training Experienced Full-time

Date Posted : July 28, 2025

Posting Deadline : August 5, 2025

Department : Program Innovation & Strategic Initiatives

Type of Employment : Temporary, Full Time (through June 30, 2028)

Group Affiliation : $78,724 - $101,455 (annually)

At Saint Mary's University, you will be surrounded by a talented and dedicated team of professionals committed to accessibility, diversity, and the provision of a positive and supportive learning environment. We recognize the importance of the contribution and growth of each individual in the University's success. We are currently looking to fill the position of Business Development Specialist (Temporary) to join our Program Innovation & Strategic Initiatives Team.

What we offer

As a team member at Saint Mary's, we are proud to offer many benefits. Some of these include :

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Defined Contribution Pension plan
• Vacation
• Personal days
• Hybrid Flex Option
• Professional development
• Holiday closure
• Summer hour schedule
• Employee Transit EPass through Halifax Transit

Job Information and Responsibilities

The Business Development Specialist plays a critical role in driving strategic growth for the university's Healthcare Pathways Initiative (HPI) and Executive and Professional Development (EPD) programs. This position focuses on identifying partnership opportunities, cultivating client relationships, and developing tailored learning solutions for organizations and professionals. The ideal candidate brings a blend of sales acumen, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the higher education landscape.

Under the direction of the AVP Program Innovation & Strategic Initiatives, the Business Development Specialist will:

Market Development & Outreach

• Identify and target new corporate and industry partners to expand the reach of executive and professional development offerings and communicate the EPD value proposition to external and internal clients and stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with external associations (such as HR) to build the unit's reputation as a professional development and executive education provider of choice.
• Conduct market analysis to identify trends, gaps, and competitive positioning.
• Represent the institution at industry events, conferences, and networking functions.

Client Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary contact for prospective and existing clients.
• Build long-term relationships with organizational stakeholders (e.g., HR leaders, L&D managers, C-suite executives).
• Understand client needs and work cross-functionally with academic teams to propose custom or open-enrollment solutions.

Healthcare Pathways Initiative (HPI)

• In collaboration with the Director, PDSI, and Director, EPD, initiate contact with leaders in Nova Scotia healthcare units, provincial health care associations, and others to determine programming needs and identify additional program development opportunities for the HPI initiative.
• Explore opportunities for expansion of HPI developed programming beyond Nova Scotia to online delivery formats.

Sales & Revenue Generation

• Achieve enrollment and revenue targets for professional programs.
• Create and manage sales pipelines using CRM systems (e.g., CRM Recruit, Salesforce, HubSpot).
• Develop proposals, pitch materials, and client presentations in collaboration with marketing and academic staff.

Program Strategy Support

• Collaborate with faculty and program directors to develop market-responsive offerings.
• Contribute to pricing, positioning, and go-to-market strategies.
• Support pilot initiatives and assess ROI for new programs or delivery formats (online, hybrid, in-person).

Experience and Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree (MBA, MEd, or related) preferred.
• 3-5 years in business development, B2B sales, or corporate partnerships—preferably in higher education, executive education, or professional services.
• Proven track record of building strategic partnerships and meeting revenue targets.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to understand client needs and translate them into educational solutions.
• Familiarity with learning and development trends and corporate training ecosystems.
• CRM and data analytics proficiency (e.g., PowerBI, Salesforce).
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a customer-centric focus.
• Existing network within HR, talent development, or corporate training sectors.
• Experience in executive education, online learning, or continuing education programs.
• Knowledge of instructional design or program development processes.

Application Details

Apply online through our Career Beacon system by clicking "Apply Now" and completing all required fields. Please submit:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Three Professional References

Late applications may not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No phone inquiries.

Saint Mary's University values diversity and inclusion. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, especially those who self-identify as Black/African Nova Scotians, Indigenous peoples, racialized persons/visible minorities, persons with disabilities, or women. Accommodations are available upon request during the recruitment process.