Sr. Director, Business Development (Ottawa, Aerospace & Defence)

Collage; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A Canadian aerospace startup is searching for a Senior Director of Business Development & Partnerships to drive revenue and foster government relationships. The ideal candidate will have 10+ years in business development, strong strategic thinking abilities, and proven success in engaging government agencies. Responsibilities include developing a commercial sales pipeline and cultivating a partner ecosystem. This is a pivotal role that requires resilience and exceptional communication skills for navigating the government and defense landscapes.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in business development, sales, or account management.
• Experience in the commercial space and defence industry.
• Proven success in government engagement at senior levels.
• Ability to build and manage partner ecosystems.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Build senior-level relationships with key government agencies.
• Own the full commercial sales pipeline from lead generation to closure.
• Develop NordSpace's overall business development strategy.
• Cultivate relationships with partners and prime contractors.

Skills

Business development

Strategic thinking

Government engagement

Sales pipeline management

Relationship building

Communication

Job description

NordSpace (https://nordspace.com ) is a Canadian startup with the mission to advance life on Earth, from space. NordSpace is committed to extremely rapid innovation and development of only the most ambitious aerospace projects with only the most ambitious team Canada has to offer. With divisions spanning everything from rockets to satellites, NordSpace is driven to bring space closer to Earth and inspire generations of space explorers.

RoleDescription

TheSeniorDirector of Business Development & Partnershipsis responsible for buildingNordSpace'srevenue pipeline, government relationships, and partner ecosystem from the ground up. This role carries direct accountability for generating new business acrossNordSpace'slaunch services, spaceport, and spacemissionsdivisions, engaging government agencies at the highest levels to unlock funding and contractopportunities, and cultivating a network of commercial and academic partners who strengthen the company's competitive position. This is a hunter role. The right candidate brings the grit to build a pipeline from nothing, the strategic thinking to position NordSpace in a complex government and defence landscape, and the credibility to sit across the table from senior officials and sign customers. This role:

• Reports to: CEO.
• Is based in: Ottawa, Canada.
• Works closely with:CEO, VPof Operations, Launch Program Director,Director of Space Missions, Manager of External Relations.

Role Responsibilities

• Government Engagement & Contract Capture: Build senior-level relationships with key government agencies (DND, ISED, NRC, CSA) to educate decision-makers onNordSpace'scapabilities, develop the company's profile within the Canadian defence and space ecosystem, and generate new funding and contract opportunities. Lead the identification, pursuit, and submission of government funding applications, RFP responses, and contract bids, coordinating with Engineering, Operations, and Finance. Manage active funding agreements through to compliance and delivery.
• Commercial Sales & Revenue Pipeline: Build and own the full commercial sales pipeline forNordSpace'slaunch services, spaceport, and space missions, from lead generation and outreach through proposal, negotiation, and close. Develop go-to-market strategies, pricing frameworks, and sales materials for each business segment. Pursue anchor customers and early adopters to validateNordSpace'sofferings and establishmarket credibility. Manage CRM pipeline with rigour and report conversion metrics and revenue forecasts to the CEO.
• Partner Ecosystem Development: Build a partner ecosystem of commercial, academic, and research organizations that can form project consortia or teaming arrangements as opportunities arise, formalizing relationships through MOUs andteaming agreements. Cultivate relationships with prime contractors and international space companies as channels, partners, or customers.
• Strategy & Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop NordSpace'soverall business development strategy, providing market intelligence, competitive analysis, and customer feedback to inform product, pricing, and investment decisions. Coordinate with the Operations, EngineeringandCommunications teamsto align operational execution, public messaging, and events with business development priorities.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of demonstrable success in business development, sales, or account management roles, with a consistent track record of personally generating pipeline, winning contracts, and closing new business. 5+ years of experience in the commercial space, defence space, or adjacent aerospace and defence industry, with established relationships and fluency in globalspace market landscape.
• Strategic thinker who can connect market opportunity to company capability, prioritize ruthlessly, and translate strategy into actionable sales plans with measurable outcomes. Strong skillset in developing business cases, go-to-market strategies, pricing frameworks, and competitive positioning for technical products and services in emerging or early-stage markets.
• Proven experience engaging government agencies (DND, ISED, NRC, CSA, or equivalents) at senior levels, with familiarity in government procurement processes, defence and space program structures, and the Canadian industrial benefits framework. Direct experience leading proposal development and capture management for government and commercial contracts, including RFP responses, unsolicited proposals, and teaming arrangements.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage a partner ecosystem, including structuring teaming agreements, MOUs, and consortium arrangements with industry, academic, and government partners.
• Grit and tenacity to build a sales pipeline from scratch in a pre-revenue environment, with the resilience to manage long sales cycles, ambiguity, and rejection while maintaining momentum and focus.
• Excellent communicator and relationship builder who is equally credible presenting to a Director Generalleveland up, pitching a satellite operator, or briefing the CEO on pipeline status.
• Results-oriented leader who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment, takes full ownership of outcomes, and brings the initiative and creativity needed to establish NordSpace as a serious player in the commercial and government space market.