DOMAIN LEAD – AIR AND AEROSPACE SUPPLY CHAIN

Business Development Bank of Canada; Montreal; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Business Development Bank of Canada seeks a Domain Lead for Defence Supply Chain Development to manage relationships with Prime Contractors and Tier-1 suppliers, using AI-enabled insights to identify capability gaps and SME development opportunities. The role translates industry needs into scalable, funded initiatives across BDC’s financing and advisory ecosystem.

You will lead collaboration with internal partners to drive rapid, measurable impact and oversee sector-wide supplier development

Qualifications

• 15+ years in aerospace/naval defence supply chain.
• Deep understanding of Prime/Tier-1 capabilities and buying behaviour.
• Experience with major procurement programs.
• Strong leadership with urgency and accountability.
• Tech-savvy; leveraging AI-enabled insights to accelerate outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Engage Prime Contractors and Tier-1 suppliers; build relationships with procurement teams.
• Identify opportunities and SME involvement; enable scalable supplier development.
• Lead rapid development, testing, and scaling of sector-specific supplier initiatives.
• Collaborate with Financing, Advisory, and ecosystem partners to align support.
• Provide strategic intelligence on trends, needs, and barriers to SME participation.

Skills

Aerospace/Def SCM

Strategic relationships

Leadership

Procurement programs

AI analytics

Tools

AI analytics

Job description

We are banking at another level. Choosing BDC as your employer means working in a healthy, inclusive, and skilled workplace that puts forward the best conditions to bring together unique teams where employees are empowered to act. It also means being at the centre of ambitious economic and financial projects to see further and to do things differently, to fuel the success of Canadian entrepreneurs. Choosing BDC as your employer also means: Flexible and competitive benefits, including an Employee Savings and Investment Plan where BDC matches part of your voluntary contributions, a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, a $750 wellness and health care spending account, to name a few In addition to paid vacation each year, five personal days, sick days as necessary, and our offices are closed from December 25 to January 1 A hybrid work model that truly balances work and personal life Opportunities for learning, training and development, and much more... Explore the BDC Way in our Culture Book.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the VP, Defence Supply Chain Development, the Domain Lead, Supply Chain serves as the relationship manager with Prime Contractors and Tier 1 suppliers within their domain of expertise. Supporting the VP's strategic and executive engagement, the Domain Lead combines deep supply chain expertise with technology- and AI-enabled insights to build trusted relationships, identify capability gaps and supplier development opportunities, and connect industry needs with scalable solutions that increase SME participation. The Domain Lead is accountable for translating industry needs into actionable opportunities for Canadian SMEs with speed and discipline-identifying potential suppliers, assessing readiness, and coordinating the deployment of BDC financing, advisory, and ecosystem support solutions. Working closely with Prime Contractors, Tier 1 suppliers, and internal BDC partners, the Domain Lead drives execution of BDC's Defence Supply Chain Development Strategy within their sector and delivers measurable impact at scale.

CHALLENGES TO BE MET

Industry and Supply Chain Engagement

• Build relationships with supply chain, procurement, supplier development, and industrial participation teams within Prime Contractors and Tier 1 suppliers.
• Develop a detailed understanding of current and future supply chain requirements, sourcing challenges, and supplier qualification needs.
• Use digital tools and AI-enabled analytics to maintain real-time market intelligence on sector-specific procurement programs, technologies, supplier requirements, and emerging opportunities.
• In collaboration with the Defence Strategy and Public Affairs teams, partner with ecosystem players to expand SME outreach and capacity-building.

Opportunity Identification and SME Development

• Proactively identify and prioritize supply chain opportunities and common capability gaps across Prime Contractors, using data and AI-enabled insights to strengthen Canadian SME participation and enable scalable, programmatic BDC interventions.
• Identify and engage SMEs that align with identified supply chain needs.
• Drive SME readiness initiatives with urgency, clear milestones, and accountability for improving competitiveness and qualification for defence programs.

Solution Deployment

• Work with Financing, Advisory Services, BDC Capital, and ecosystem partners to align support with identified opportunities.
• Facilitate introductions and matchmaking between SMEs and Prime Contractors.
• Lead the rapid development, testing, and scaling of sector-specific supplier development initiatives, leveraging technology and AI solutions where they can accelerate execution and impact.

Strategic Intelligence Provide ongoing insight on:

• Emerging supply chain requirements
• Procurement and sourcing trends
• Supplier capability gaps
• New technologies and industrial priorities
• Barriers to SME participation

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Industry Background 15+ years in one or more of:

• Aerospace/ Naval domain within a Supply chain function for a Prime / Tier 1 Defence sector: military or commercial experience
• Critical Experience
• Deep understanding of Prime / Tier-1 Supply chain capabilities, processes and buying behaviour
• Experience with major procurement programs
• Understanding of industrial participation requirements
• Large ecosystem leadership experience
• Tech-savvy and comfortable leveraging AI-enabled solutions to accelerate execution, scale impact, and improve decision-making.
• Strong sense of urgency and personal accountability, with a demonstrated ability to drive initiatives through to measurable impact.

Proudly one of Canada's Top 100 Employers and one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible environment where all employees can thrive and feel empowered to bring their whole selves to work.

If you require an accommodation to complete your application, please do not hesitate to contact us at [e-mail].

While we appreciate all applications, we advise that only the candidates selected to participate in the recruitment process will be contacted.

BDC is a bank unlike any other. We are the only bank dedicated exclusively to the development of Canadian businesses. The only institution whose purpose is to promote the growth of the Canadian economy by focusing on the success of small and medium-sized businesses, with a human touch and a genuine presence. At BDC, we’re changing people’s and businesses’ lives for the better. That’s what makes us unique as a bank. That’s why we are banking at another level.