Research Business Development Lead, Defence & Sovereignty

University of Alberta; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 95,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Hybrid work model

Job summary

University of Alberta invites applications for a Research Business Development Lead in Defence and Sovereignty. The role expands industry-engaged applied research, builds the ecosystem for DEFENDS, PC‑RDII, and AI‑EDP, and secures sponsored funding across aerospace, sovereign computing, and advanced manufacturing domains.

The position is hybrid (remote + in-person) at North Campus, Edmonton, with travel within Alberta and Canada.

Qualifications

• Education and professional experience as specified; Bachelor required; Master’s/PhD preferred.
• Minimum 5+ years in corporate business development, technical sales, B2B account management, or university-industry knowledge mobilization.
• Must hold, or be able to hold, a Reliability Status clearance.

Responsibilities

• Industry engagement and pipeline development with defence primes; map needs into multi-disciplinary academic proposals.
• Drive a pipeline to secure industry investments and shepherd collaborative proposals from discovery to agreement.
• Fulfill grant programs milestones, participate in industry engagement activities, and ensure compliance and reporting requirements.

Skills

Industry Engagement

Pipeline Development

Proposal Writing

Negotiation

Communication

Travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Master's degree or Ph.D. preferred

Job description

Job Description

This competition is open to all applicants however; internal applicants will be given priority consideration based on minimum qualifications, or a combination of experience, skills, and abilities before external applicants are considered.

This position has an end date of March 14, 2029.

Location - This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person. Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton.

The Research Business Development Lead, Defence and Sovereignty drives the strategic expansion of industry-engaged applied research, ecosystem development, and net-new sponsored research funding within the defence sector for the Faculty of Engineering. Reporting to the Associate Dean (Infrastructure and Centers) and under the daily tactical guidance of the Director, Research Business Development, this role serves as an agile, highly sophisticated interface bridging academia, medium‑to‑large enterprises, and multinational defence prime contractors. The Lead advances three high-priority initiatives—the Dual Use Ecosystem for Future Engineering, National Defence, and Sovereignty (DEFENDS) ecosystem, PrairiesCan’s Regional Defence Innovation Initiative (PC‑RDII), and the Alberta Innovates Uncrewed Systems Ecosystem Development Program (AI‑EDP) while accelerating industrial engagement for aligned Research Centers, primarily the Center for Applied Research in Defence and Dual‑Use Technologies (CARDD‑Tech). By transforming complex industrial technical challenges into high‑value academic research proposals across key technology domains (including aerospace, tactical defence, sovereign computing, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing), the Lead is directly accountable for generating projects by securing industry cash that can be leveraged through matching grants, while enhancing graduate student training and regional economic impact.

Responsibilities

• Industry Engagement & Pipeline Development: Proactively scout, engage, and cultivate relationships with medium, large, and multinational defence primes to identify R&D opportunities; map target company needs into multi-disciplinary academic research proposals; manage account histories and pipeline milestones; and organize targeted industry‑faculty events, technical roundtables, and facility engagements.
• Research Funding & Proposal Generation: Drive a pipeline to secure direct industry investments that can be leveraged through grant funding; structure, negotiate, and shepherd collaborative research proposals from initial discovery to executed agreement; balance corporate milestones with academic mandates; and actively monitor active project deliverables alongside Principal Investigators (PIs).
• Ecosystem Building & Grant Compliance: Fulfill capacity‑building milestones for the DEFENDS, PC‑RDII, and AI‑EDP grant programs; participate in and lead industry engagement activities (e.g., sandboxes, procurement readiness sessions, technology demonstrations); execute supply chain mapping across core defence tech domains; and collect data to prepare mandatory quarterly/annual compliance and impact reports for funding bodies.
• Research Center Optimization: Partner closely with Faculty Research Center Directors, Managers, and affiliated faculty—specifically within CARDD‑Tech—to market specialized facilities and equipment to industry partners; structure multi‑center consortia or industrial research chairs to tackle broad sector challenges; and expand the overall industrial footprint of the Faculty's research infrastructure.
• Internal Matrix Coordination: Align daily outreach efforts with the Director, Research Business Development; collaborate with central university offices (including the Vice‑President Research, External Relations, and Innovation, International, and Enterprise portfolios) to maintain institutional policy, risk, and security compliance; and provide strategic guidance and mentorship to junior business development roles.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business/Commerce, or a closely related scientific discipline required. Master’s degree (M.Eng., M.Sc., or MBA) or Ph.D. combining technical engineering literacy with commercial acumen preferred.
• Professional Experience: Minimum 5+ years of progressive experience in corporate business development, technical sales, B2B account management, or university‑industry knowledge mobilization.
• Security: Must hold, or be able to hold, a Reliability Status clearance.
• Domain Knowledge: In‑depth understanding of the Canadian defence and sovereignty landscape, including Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITBs), Controlled Goods regulations, and strategic federal/provincial initiatives (e.g., Defence Industrial Strategy, BOREALIS, MINERVA).
• Technical & Commercial Acumen: Strong capability to comprehend complex engineering concepts and translate them into commercially viable value propositions; hands‑on skill in co‑authoring proposals, structuring multi‑party project budgets, and designing co‑investment models.
• Negotiation & Communication: Superior written and verbal communication skills with a demonstrated ability to engage C‑level executives, military officials, and academic researchers; expert consultative sales and interest‑based negotiation skills that bridge corporate speed and ROI with academic publishing and training mandates.
• Personal Attributes & Logistics: Self‑starter with high emotional intelligence, strong organizational skills, and comfort navigating ambiguous, matrixed environments.
• Travel: Willingness to travel regularly within the province of Alberta and Canada with occasional international travel required.

Benefits

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package with an annual salary range of $95,082 to $130,739. The terms and conditions of this appointment are governed by Schedule E of the Collective Agreement between the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta and the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta.

About Us

The University of Alberta, its buildings, labs and research stations are primarily located on the territory of Néhiyaw (Cree), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Métis, Nakoda (Stoney), Dene, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Anishinaabe (Ojibway/Saulteaux), lands that are now known as part of Treaties 6, 7 and 8 and homeland of the Métis. The University of Alberta respects the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems and cultures of all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross‑section of people - from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more .

At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.

All University employees have a responsibility to foster a workplace that prioritises safety in all its forms—physical, cultural, and psychological. This is achieved by promoting a safe environment, adhering to all safety laws, policies and procedures, completing all required safety training, identifying hazards and implementing controls, reporting incidents, and contributing to a culture of belonging and respect, while endeavouring to ensure that all colleagues feel valued and safe to express their thoughts, perspectives and concerns.

The University of Alberta is committed to creating a university community where everyone feels valued, barriers to success are removed, and thriving connections are fostered. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women, First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons, members of visible minority groups, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.

L’Université de l’Alberta s’engage à créer une communauté universitaire où chaque personne se sent valorisée, où les obstacles à la réussite sont éliminés et où des connexions enrichissantes peuvent se développer. Nous accueillons les demandes de toutes les personnes qualifiées. Nous encourageons les femmes; Premières nations, Métis et Inuits; membres des groupes minoritaires visibles; personnes handicapées; personnes de toute orientation sexuelle ou identité et expression de genre; et toutes les personnes qui peuvent contribuer à la diversification des idées et à l'université à postuler.

About The Team

The Faculty of Engineering is one of North America’s top engineering schools, known for innovation, collaboration, and impact. It fosters an exceptional student experience through a holistic approach that combines technical excellence with emotional intelligence. With strong community engagement, interdisciplinary research, and a commitment to societal well‑being, the faculty prepares students to lead in a rapidly evolving, global engineering landscape.