Manager, Business Development

Job Summary

This position is an external-facing role responsible for expanding and deepening the network of employers, industry professionals, and alumni to create co-op, internship, project-based, and full-time employment opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students across all faculties except the Faculty of Management.

Organizational Status
Reports to the Director, Academic, Career and Experiential Education.

Externally, this position works with employers, hiring managers, senior executives, industry associations, alumni, and community partners.

Work Performed

• Identifies, cultivates and secures co-op, internship, project-based, and new-graduate employment opportunities by proactively engaging employers across priority sectors relevant to programs across faculties.
• Conducts ongoing market, sector and competitive landscape analyses to assess hiring trends, emerging skill requirements, and shifts in fields that inform employer outreach strategies.
• Provides structured, evidence-based feedback to academic leaders, program directors, and curriculum designers regarding industry expectations, workforce needs, and evolving career pathways.
• Contributes to labour market and employer insights to the Academic and Career Development team to enhance advising practices, career education programming, and employer-relations strategies.

Access to Business Communities

• Builds, strengthens and manages relationships with employers, industry associations, community partners, and professional networks locally, provincially, and nationally to expand recruitment pipelines for UBC Okanagan students.
• Conducts field-based outreach through company visits, sales calls, networking events, trade shows, panels, and conferences to promote programs and identify new partnership opportunities.
• Designs and facilitates employer–student engagement activities through networking events, information sessions, class visits, workplace tours, and online platforms.
• Develops and implements annual business development plans aligned with faculty priorities, labour market demands and key performance indicators.
• Creates and manages employer account plans, deepening engagement with multiple business units to support sustained recruitment, project partnerships, and experiential learning opportunities.
• Partners with faculties to identify, scope, and secure industry participation in experiential classes, applied research collaborations and community engaged learning initiatives.
• Secures employer participation in panels, recruitment events, and experiential education activities opportunities.
• Travels to key markets outside the Okanagan as required (e.g., Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto).

Service Excellence & Program Support

• Maintains a high level of expertise in labour market trends, sector specific developments, employer recruitment practices, and talent pipeline strategies to advise both internal and external stakeholders.
• Supports employer introductions and strategic connections for a range of initiatives with faculties (research collaborations, applied learning projects, alumni engagement).
• Oversees the maintenance of accurate CRM records documenting employer interactions, labour market intelligence, and student employment outcomes, ensuring data integrity and usable analytics.
• Tracks, monitors, and reports on business development activities, including expenditures, outreach metrics, employer engagement results, and progress towards performance targets.
• Contributes to the development of marketing materials, communication strategies, and promotional campaigns that position UBC Okanagan as a partner of choice for employers.
• Supervises student workers or co-op students supporting employer outreach, reporting, or event execution.
• Participates in strategic planning processes, program assessments, and outcome evaluations.

Leadership & Team Management

• Provides leadership, coaching, and performance management for business development team and student/temporary staff.
• Sets team priorities, allocates workloads, and ensures consistent, high-quality student support.
• Oversees training, onboarding, and ongoing professional development for team members.
• Implements service standards and ensures a consistent student experience across departments within ACD.
• Leads operational planning and resource allocation to support program scaling and continuous improvement.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This position represents the UBC Okanagan in all employer and community interactions. Errors in judgment may impact student employment outcomes, damage relationships with partners, and negatively affect the institutions reputation and external presence. A high level of professionalism, discretion, and independent judgment is required.

Supervision Received
Works independently under the direction of the Director, Academic, Career and Experiential education, with general guidance provided through annual objectives and strategic planning discussions. Expected to exercise considerable initiative.

Supervision Given
Will supervise professional staff, student employees, co-op students, or temporary staff involved in marketing, research, or project support. May oversee contract work with external vendors.

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum of six years related experience in an appropriate business specialization, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters or Graduate degree.
• Experience in business development, employer relations, sales, recruitment, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in B2B sales, industry engagement, recruitment, or partnership development.
• Comfort with cold calling, outreach, and field-based business development.
• Exceptional interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office; familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Maximizer, Salesforce and/or 12Twenty) is an asset.
• Strong organizational, project management, and multitasking abilities.
• Availability to support and attend events outside standard working hours, predominately evenings, but also early mornings or weekends.
• Some travel and evening work will be required.
• Valid BC Driver’s License and reliable access to a vehicle.