Business Development Specialist (Temporary) Program Innovation & Strategic Initiatives

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

Job summary

A higher education institution in Halifax, Canada seeks a Business Development Specialist to drive strategic growth through partnership opportunities and program development. The ideal candidate has strong sales acumen, strategic thinking, and experience in B2B sales, preferably in higher education. This temporary full-time position offers a comprehensive benefits package and competitive salary.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits package

Defined Contribution Pension plan

Professional development

Hybrid Flex Option

Qualifications

• 3-5 years in business development or B2B sales.
• Proven track record of building strategic partnerships.
• Familiarity with corporate training ecosystems.

Responsibilities

• Identify and target new corporate partners.
• Manage relationships with external stakeholders.
• Achieve enrollment and revenue targets.

Skills

Sales acumen

Strategic thinking

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (MBA, MEd, or related)

Tools

Salesforce

HubSpot

PowerBI

Job description

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.
• Managing relationships with external associations (such as HR), in order 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 how Saint Mary's programming matches and identify additional program development opportunities for the HPI initiative.
• In collaboration with the Director, PDSI, and Director, EPD, explore opportunities for expansion of HPI developed programming beyond the NS borders to determine online delivery opportunities.
  
  

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

To be the successful Business Development Specialist you will have:

• 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

Required

Apply for this opportunity online using our online application system through Career Beacon. Click on "Apply Now" and complete all required information fields. Qualified candidates should submit the following with their application:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Three Professional References
  
  

Late applications may not receive consideration. We appreciate all applications and note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls please.

At Saint Mary's University, equity and diversity are integral to excellence and enrich our community. As an institution committed to fostering an environment of inclusion and respect, we encourage all qualified candidates to apply; however, preference will be given to applicants who self-identify as Black/African Nova Scotians, Indigenous peoples, racialized persons/visible minorities, persons with disabilities and women. If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Talent Acquisition at [e-mail].