OPEN: Business Development Analyst

Job Overview

• The Business Development Analyst (Fusion Strategy & Partnerships) is an individual contributor role responsible for accelerating our client’s fusion strategy by turning high-potential partnership ideas into structured, decision-ready opportunities.
• The analyst will identify, evaluate, and progress ventures and collaborators through a defined pipeline, from early screening and diligence to business case development, negotiation mandate support, and agreement execution—while producing clear, executive-ready narratives that are understandable to non-technical leaders and credible with technical experts.
• In parallel, the analyst will help advance the Center for Fusion Energy (CFE) from concept into a partner-aligned development plan by coordinating partner engagement, building foundational materials (value proposition, ecosystem map, phased roadmap, governance options), and maintaining the operating cadence required to keep initiatives moving.
• A core element of the position is financial stewardship and governance discipline: developing and maintaining funding trackers tied to milestones and deliverables, supporting quarterly/annual allocation recommendations, monitoring burn rate and forecast, and preparing approval documentation.
• Success is measured by the ability to move priority opportunities forward, improve partner engagement effectiveness, ensure traceable and controlled use of funds, and consistently deliver concise, high-quality decision packages for leadership.

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Science, or Public Policy (a master’s degree such as an MBA, MPA/MPP, or MASc/MEng is an asset).
• They should typically bring 5–8+ years of progressive experience in business development, corporate development, strategy, commercial analysis, management consulting, or venture/innovation partnerships, including 2–3+ years directly supporting partnership formation and execution (e.g., MOUs, MSAs, research collaborations, JV-style arrangements) and producing decision-ready materials for senior leaders.
• Experience working in regulated or high-governance environments (energy/utilities, nuclear-adjacent, aerospace/defense, advanced manufacturing, pharma) and/or in contexts requiring strong procurement, approvals, and auditability discipline is strongly preferred.
• The role requires strong analytical and communication capability: the candidate must be able to build structured opportunity assessments (screening/scoring models and diligence frameworks), develop concise executive packages (one-pagers, briefing notes, investment/decision memos), and perform quantitative work such as financial modelling, scenario analysis, and budget/forecast tracking with variance management.
• They should be comfortable translating technical inputs into commercial implications and have working knowledge of contracting fundamentals (milestones/deliverables, risk allocation, liability, pricing structures), IP considerations (background/foreground IP, confidentiality, publication rights), and partner governance models (stage-gates, steering committees, KPIs).
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint is expected, with Power BI/dashboarding as an asset.
• Helpful professional designations include PMP (governance and delivery discipline), CPA/CFA (financial stewardship and diligence), CBAP (structured business analysis), and for technically trained candidates P.Eng.; contract management training (e.g., WorldCC/IAACM-aligned coursework) is also beneficial.

CPUS Engineering employs artificial intelligence (AI) tools as part of its recruitment process to enhance efficiency and consistency. These tools may assist with activities such as application screening, candidate evaluation, and summarization of interview feedback.

AI-generated outputs are intended to supplement, not replace, human judgment. All final hiring decisions are made by qualified human decision-makers who exercise professional discretion in reviewing and assessing candidate information alongside any AI-generated insights.

CPUS Engineering ensures that the use of AI in recruitment complies with all applicable employment laws, human rights legislation, and privacy regulations. The organization is committed to maintaining fairness, transparency, and non-discrimination throughout the hiring process.