Vice President of Market Development

VenorTalent; Halifax; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

COVE is seeking a Vice President, Market Development to drive growth and services in marine technology. This role involves strategic leadership, program management, and building key relationships across industry and government, contributing to Canada’s marine economy and innovation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in senior leadership roles.
• Expertise in program management and revenue development.
• Experience in leading multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Driving revenue growth and scaling entrepreneurial programs.
• Building and mentoring a high-performing team.
• Cultivating relationships with partners across various sectors.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Program Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Strategic Planning

Education

Degree in Business, Engineering, or related discipline

MBA considered an asset

Job description

COVE is a tech hub and commercialization partner home to more than 400 organizations that use its facilities, services and programs. COVE brings together industry, academia and government to accelerate marine technology development and commercialization – from seabed to space – ensuring resilient supply chains built with Canadian solutions. Through its vast international network, COVE has been at the forefront of providing invaluable networking opportunities, fostering connections, and leading discussions within the global marine technology community.

COVE spearheads programs aimed at nurturing talent, expediting the release of technology products, and bolstering the success of emerging ventures by startups, scaleups, and SMEs. These initiatives, coupled with COVE’s ability to harness diverse skills and expertise nationally within the innovation ecosystem, serve as an enabler for overcoming industry challenges, driving economic growth, and delivering value to investors.

As COVE experiences rapid expansion, we are actively seeking to expand our team to further bolster our transformational influence on the marine sector. We recognize that our journey toward this goal hinges on the strength of our team—a group of individuals who collaborate, innovate, and continually strive for excellence. Join us as we embark on this exciting journey of discovery and advancement.

As Vice President, Market Development, you’ll be responsible for driving revenue growth, scaling entrepreneurial programs, and delivering high-value services that support the commercialization of emerging ventures and SMEs in both the defence and commercial marine sectors. This role is central to COVE’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and global leadership in the marine industry.

What You’ll Do

• Cultivate strong relationships with partners across government, academia, business, and risk capital networks to strengthen service delivery and industry outcomes.
• Lead the design and continuous evolution of programming that supports venture acceleration, workforce development, and dual-use market innovation.
• Identify global commercial and defence opportunities to inform COVE’s market growth strategies.
• Represent COVE on national and international stages—serving on boards, advisory committees, and at public events.
• Build and mentor a high-performing team that champions a commercial and mission-aligned culture.
• Collaborate with internal cross-functional teams to ensure seamless delivery of services and strategic projects.
• Provide thought leadership to the CEO and Executive Team in shaping future strategy and organizational growth.

Who You Are

• A seasoned senior leader (10+ years) with proven success in program management, revenue development, and stakeholder engagement.
• Strategic and analytical, with a passion for innovation, commercialization, and scaling impact-driven programming and services.
• An exceptional communicator and relationship-builder who thrives in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
• Comfortable leading cross-sectoral initiatives with credibility and professionalism.
• Deeply knowledgeable in business operations and entrepreneurial ecosystems—marine sector knowledge is a strong asset.

What You Bring

• A degree in Business, Engineering, or a related discipline (MBA considered an asset).
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex operational budgets.
• Strong organizational, decision-making, and prioritization skills.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Why Join COVE?

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of Canada and the world’s marine economy from the heart of Atlantic Canada. You’ll work alongside innovators, industry leaders, and mission-driven professionals. Interested candidates can reach out to Shardeigh McGillivray at [e-mail] & Anna Bryant at [e-mail]

Venor is an Atlantic Canadian recruiting firm specializing in recruitment solutions, executive search, career transition & outplacement services.

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