Business Development Manager
About Futurpreneur
Futurpreneur is a national non-profit organization that empowers young, diverse entrepreneurs, ages 18-39 to start, buy or grow their businesses in Canada, by providing loans with mentorship and resources.
Founded in 1996, we have helped more than 18,700 young entrepreneurs, promoting entrepreneurship among Canadian youth as a critical pillar for diversifying the economy, generating employment opportunities, and fostering a sustainable future.
Futurpreneur is a founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance, the Canadian member of Youth Business International and the Canadian host of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW).
Our Purpose (why we exist): To drive inclusive Canadian prosperity by fostering the success of young entrepreneurs
Our Mission (what we do every day to achieve our purpose):To empower diverse entrepreneurs ages 18-39 by providing loans with mentorship and resources to help them start and buy businesses that contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic prosperity, in their communities and across Canada.
Our Values (how we work – our core principles & commitments): We are mission-driven, collegial & collaborative, diverse & inclusive, and accountable & transparent.
Here’s the opportunity: Business Development Manager
As a Business Development Manager, you will provide relationship management principles, techniques, and support to young entrepreneurs relative to their entrepreneurial needs. You will collaborate and foster strong partnerships with key community partners, resulting in new client engagement and loan portfolio growth in communities across the western Greater Toronto Area and Southwestern Ontario.
This is a permanent, full-time position that will be located in Southwestern Ontario. The incumbent will be working on our hybrid work model (minimum 1 day per week in the office / co-working space) and the role requires frequent travel within the region.
What you will do:
Business Development- Entrepreneurs- Convert entrepreneur leads from inquiry through the application stage of our process
- Identify regional marketing vehicles and potential target markets
- Attend and coordinate events that provide opportunities to engage perspective and current entrepreneurs
- Facilitate presentations and workshops that promote Futurpreneur Canada programs and support entrepreneurial skill development
- Support regional lead on marketing and communication activities and logistics
- Manage prospects through addition to client relationship management system and follow-up as required
- Communication with client relationship manager to ensure smooth transition of applicant to funding stage
- Attend and coordinate events that provide the opportunity to engage prospective mentors
- Manage prospective mentor inquiries regarding mentoring program and application process
- Communication with client relationship manager regarding fulfilling mentor gaps
- Create connections to Futurpreneur mentor care resources and other regional resources available to support mentoring success. Recruit mentors and encourage them to register with Futurpreneur Canada to support our entrepreneurs
- Connect with referral partners on a regular basis to keep Futurpreneur top of mind to their staff, and maintain relationships
- Facilitate partner onboarding; train new and retrain existing partners and ensure they are fully aware of Futurpreneur processes
- Be a resource and support referral partners to bring entrepreneurs to a loan approval stage
- Loan document and compliance support for loan disbursement activity
- Manage relationship with referral partners, as well as grow the number of partners if and where appropriate
- Attend and coordinate events that provide the opportunity to engage partners
- Identify potential partners through research, events, networking and referrals
- Manage inquiries from potential new partners
- Identify and onboard potential strategic partners
- Engage and create buy in from potential referral partners and communities
- Connect with strategic partners on a regular basis to keep top of mind, ensure Futurpreneur program understanding and maintain relationships
Requirements
What you will have:
- Must have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle (40% of this role includes local and provincial travel)
- Relevant experience may include education with a focus on business administration, economic development, entrepreneurship or equivalent hands-on career experience
- 3 years of experience in sales, start-up business development or economic development position
- Experience working with entrepreneurs or business start-ups, business plans and cashflows is considered a strong asset
- Excellent interpersonal and communications skills with the ability to influence
- Strong customer focus with the ability to work with volunteers
- Proficient with computer skills; experience with a Customer Relationship Management system is required
- Confident, proactive and self-motivated, able to work with minimal supervision
- Team Oriented
- Excellent organizational skills
- Ability to develop and facilitate program presentations and workshops
- Knowledge of trends within the entrepreneurial, startup, small business industry
- General administration experience including budget management, report writing, etc.
- Alignment with Futurpreneur’s values and commitment to the mission/purpose of the organization
- Be a role model for Futurpreneur’s organizational culture by creating a positive impact at every touchpoint with people
Scoring assets:
- Bilingual in French & English
- Event planning and execution experience
- Management and volunteer management
- Experience managing social media accounts (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram)
HOW TO APPLY:
Qualified candidates are invited to submit their resume, cover letter and salary expectations by March 24, 2025
Benefits
At Futurpreneur, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package designed to support your well-being, professional growth, and work-life balance.
Our package includes a fair base salary, extensive health and dental benefits, and a supportive, flexible work environment.
We embrace a hybrid work model with flexible hours, a work-from-abroad policy, and generous time off—including paid vacation, personal days, summer hours and a December office closure.
We are dedicated to ensuring fair, competitive, and transparent compensation. Salaries are regularly reviewed and benchmarked to uphold internal equity and reflect our values. The starting salary for this role is $66,000 per annum and is set at this amount.
To prioritize health and wellness, we provide comprehensive health and dental coverage, a health spending account, mental wellness support, and a RRSP matching program. We also invest in learning and development through a learning allowance, a coaching program, and access to an e-learning platform.
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