Home Based Director, Business Development (Markham)

Employment Type: Full-Time Vacancy Status: This is a posting for an existing vacancy. On-site 3 days a week. Eligible for a robust, uncapped sales commission plan paid on top of the base salary. Comprehensive health, dental, and insurance benefits package included. The Director of Business Development is a key strategic role responsible for steering the growth and operational excellence of our specialized innovation labs: the Hardware Lab, AI Lab, and Life Sciences Lab. In this role, you’ll balance systems design with people development—implementing robust lead‑generation frameworks and empowering the team to navigate intricate, full‑cycle sales processes. Lab Subscription Acquisition & Growth (Net New) Pipeline Architecture: End‑to‑End Sales: Own the full sales cycle, from cold outreach and discovery to negotiating and closing lab subscription agreements. Translate technical lab capabilities into strategic business advantages for founders and technical stakeholders. Key Account Management & Retention Account Expansion: Identify “upsell” opportunities, encouraging members to deepen their engagement across multiple lab facilities or ecosystem programs. Ensure a seamless onboarding experience and maintain high‑touch relationships with key lab accounts to foster long‑term loyalty. Vertical Strategy: Define and lead the roadmap for corporate partnerships and sponsorships, ensuring alignment with organizational revenue targets. People Management: Lead, mentor, and empower direct report(s) focused on partnership coordination and sponsorship fulfillment. Ecosystem Integration: Work cross‑functionally to ensure sponsors and partners are integrated into the lab community, maximizing their ROI and visibility. Market Intelligence: Serve as a subject matter expert on industry trends to ensure lab offerings remain competitive for contemporary tech founders. Represent the organization at key industry events to build a robust top‑of‑funnel network for both subscriptions, sponsorships & partnerships. Achieves defined Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) targets through the aggressive growth of the Hardware, AI, and Life Sciences lab subscription pipeline. Maintain a high‑performance sales funnel with measurable conversion rates from initial lead generation to signed member agreements. Deliver a best‑in‑class founder experience, evidenced by high retention rates and positive Net Promoter Scores (NPS) across the portfolio. Facilitate measurable economic outcomes for members, including successful international market entries, capital raises, and strategic partnership closures. Ensure 100% data integrity within the CRM to provide real‑time visibility into pipeline health and portfolio impact metrics. 7 to 10 years of progressive experience in high‑growth environments such as tech accelerators, private industry or venture‑backed startups. Proven track record of zero‑to‑one business development, specifically building and scaling revenue‑generating programs or products. Demonstrated ability to navigate complex technical sales cycles, communicating value propositions effectively to both technical founders and executive stakeholders. Expert‑level stakeholder management skills with the ability to bridge the gap between private sector startups and public sector innovation partners. Deep operational knowledge of CRM tools and data‑driven sales methodologies to manage a high‑volume pipeline. Preferred / Asset Qualifications Advanced degree (MBA or M.Eng) or specialized certifications in Project Management or Venture Finance. Technical literacy or prior professional experience in the Hardware, Semiconductor, AI/ML, or Biotech sectors. Existing network of warm relationships within the Southern Ontario innovation corridor and global trade commissions. Experience in Hardware‑as‑a‑Service (HaaS) or subscription‑based business models in a B2B context. ca, quoting “Director Business Development” in the subject line. In compliance with the Ontario ESA, please be advised that we do not use Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to screen, assess, or select applicants for this position. Diversity and Inclusion At ventureLAB, we value diversity, inclusion, and respect. Accommodations are available on request for candidates with disabilities taking part in the recruitment process. # Apply on Kit Job: kitjob.ca/job/2pr4iz