Director, Business Development & Corporate Partnerships

Introduction

The Ottawa Board of Trade (OBOT) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization independent of the government, dedicated to supporting the private sector in the greater Ottawa area. Established in 1857, OBOT is one of Canada’s oldest Boards of Trade and serves as a trusted, authoritative voice for businesses of all sizes and sectors. With a mission to cultivate a thriving, world-class business community, OBOT actively policymaking aimed at fostering economic growth and prosperity locally, provincially, and nationally.

OBOT’s strategic priorities emphasize reducing barriers to business, creating new opportunities for the region, and fostering inclusivity and resilience. By working closely with members, partners, and government entities, OBOT leads initiatives like the Downtown Action Agenda, More Ottawa, and Regional Economic Development. These efforts are complemented by a commitment to collaboration with key stakeholders, including Ottawa Tourism, Invest Ottawa, and community organizations, ensuring a unified vision for economic vitality.

Guided by its values of collaboration, determination, future thinking, integrity, and passion, OBOT builds on a legacy of over 150 years of advocating for business interests while adapting to the evolving economic landscape. Heading into 2027, the organization continues to focus on increasing its impact through enhanced membership engagement, strategic advocacy, and integrated partnerships to meet the challenges of a dynamic market.

Summary of the Role

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Director, Business Development & Corporate Partnerships will lead OBOT’s revenue generation efforts, with a focus on corporate partnerships, membership growth, and strengthening relationships with Ottawa’s business community.

In this role, you will design and execute initiatives to attract and retain business members, emphasizing the creation and delivery of compelling membership offerings and benefits. These will include access to networking events and business engagement opportunities that meet the diverse needs of the business community. You will lead the business development team in growing membership, evaluating pricing strategies, and strengthening how OBOT communicates its value proposition to prospective members. You will utilize digital tools and real-time reporting systems to track engagement and outcomes. Building upon an established pillar partner program, you will take an active role in securing new corporate partnerships, increasing partner investment, and strengthening relationships with key Ottawa businesses supporting strategic initiatives, such as downtown revitalization, advocacy, and city building.

Your leadership will be crucial in guiding your team to advance OBOT’s strategic objectives, establishing clear accountability, supporting professional development, and driving measurable performance. You will work closely with the events and communications teams, coordinating efforts to ensure a unified approach to member acquisition and engagement. Externally, you will cultivate relationships with senior business leaders and corporate stakeholders to increase OBOT's visibility, influence, and commercial opportunities. You will demonstrate an active presence in the Ottawa business community, attending events across diverse industries, staying connected to emerging business priorities and identifying opportunities for new partnerships and membership growth.

Is This For You?

You bring experience building and expanding corporate partnerships, ideally within membership-based or similarly relationship-driven organizations. You have a proven ability to develop compelling value propositions, cultivate relationships, and translate commercial opportunities into measurable revenue. You are comfortable engaging senior business leaders, navigating complex sales cycles, and negotiating corporate agreements that deliver lasting value.

You bring strong strategic and financial acumen, with experience developing and implementing commercial strategies, evaluating pricing and revenue opportunities, and making informed decisions about where to direct resources. You are comfortable using digital tools, including AI and database management systems, to assess performance, inform decisions, and identify opportunities for growth.

As an experienced people leader, you provide clear direction, develop team capabilities, and foster accountability while empowering others to succeed. You are an effective communicator who builds alignment across teams and maintains strong relationships with external stakeholders. You possess a genuine passion for supporting and advancing the local business community, making a meaningful difference in Ottawa’s economic landscape. If you are excited by the opportunity to influence and shape the commercial vitality of the city, this position offers a unique platform to make a significant impact in enhancing its standing as a vibrant business hub.

We use AI-powered tools (such as Fathom, Gemini, and Monica) to support certain administrative aspects of our recruitment process, such as interview note-taking, transcription, and summarization. These tools are used to improve efficiency and consistency. All AI-generated outputs are reviewed by a qualified recruiting professional, and all hiring decisions are made by humans. We do not use AI for selection purposes but do utilize AI powered search functions (Microsoft/Google) to help identify candidates on behalf of our clients.