Overview Effective April 1, 2026 salary range will be $110,794 To $138,495 Annual Are you a high‑performing, self‑motivated economic development professional who’s ready to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact? The Manager of Business Development plays a frontline role in engaging the City of Kitchener’s business community, building a strong pipeline of employer relationships, uncovering business needs and growth opportunities, and responding quickly and effectively to help companies expand, invest, and stay rooted in the city. The successful candidate thrives in a fast‑paced, client-facing environment, takes initiative, and is energized by meeting with businesses, solving problems, and delivering measurable economic results.

Reporting to the Director of Business Growth and Entrepreneurship, the Manager leads the City’s Business Retention and Expansion efforts by cultivating strong, trust-based relationships with local employers, industry partners, and government counterparts. This role represents the City with CEOs and leadership of major employers, driving job growth, supporting business competitiveness, and accelerating opportunities through direct outreach, strategic follow-ups, and coordinated internal support. The Manager also provides clear direction, coaching, and support to the Business Development team, ensuring staff are aligned, motivated, and equipped to deliver high‑impact outcomes through coordinated outreach, analysis, and reporting.

Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Provides strategic leadership and direction for the City’s Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) program, including annual work planning, program design, resource allocation, and continuous improvement.
• Leads the development, operational planning, implementation, and evaluation of business development activities that support the growth and competitiveness of Kitchener’s existing employers.
• Aligns business development initiatives with the City’s Economic Development Strategy, corporate priorities, and Council direction.
• Identifies emerging trends, risks, and opportunities impacting local business growth and provides strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

Business Retention & Corporate Outreach

• Leads the City’s corporate outreach strategy, ensuring strong, ongoing relationships with companies across priority sectors.
• Conducts senior level engagement with business owners, executives, and site managers to understand operational needs, growth plans, barriers, and opportunities.
• Develops and executes action plans to address employer issues related to workforce, permitting, infrastructure, supply chain, and regulatory matters.
• Works closely with economic development partners, such as Waterloo Economic Development Corporation and Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce to support the attraction and retention of major companies to the community.

Partnerships & Industry Engagement

• Acts as a key liaison to industry associations, local business networks, chambers of commerce, innovation organizations, postsecondary institutions, and community partners.
• Actively leads the City of Kitchener’s sponsorship development program, including relationship‑building with prospective sponsors, identifying new opportunities for the team to pursue, and maximizing community and corporate partnerships.

Program Development & Policy Leadership

• Oversee the development, delivery, and evaluation of business development programs - such as expansion supports, retention initiatives, grant programs, and sector strategies.
• Leads or contributes to policy development relating to economic competitiveness, business climate improvement, innovation, and workforce development.

Project Management & Implementation

• Manages major economic development projects, including sector strategies, employer support initiatives, business surveys, and data driven BR&E programs.
• Develops detailed implementation plans, timelines, deliverables, and reporting frameworks.
• Ensures effective integration of economic development initiatives with corporate plans such as the Make It Kitchener Economic Strategy, City Strategic Plan, Downtown Development programs, and others.

Financial & Administrative Management

• Prepares and manages annual operating and capital budgets, forecasts expenditures, and ensures effective, responsible allocation of resources for the Business Development team.
• Oversees procurement, vendor management, and contract administration aligned with corporate policies and financial controls.

Team Leadership

• Supervises business development staff, including recruitment, training, coaching, performance evaluation, and professional development.
• Guides staff in executing BR&E visits, employer outreach, data analysis, reporting, and service coordination.

Communications & Reporting

• Provides regular reporting to senior leadership, Council, and external partners on business development activity, program results, and economic trends.

Education

• 4-year bachelor’s degree in business management, business administration, economics, marketing or a field related to economic development.
• Relevant training or certification in Economic Development (e.g., from the International Economic Development Council, Economic Development Associate of Canada, etc.) or equivalent would be an asset.

Experience

• 4+ years of progressive experience in business development, economic development, business management or a related field.
• 4+ years of leadership experience managing teams, projects, and budgets.
• Experience working closely with local businesses, community collaborators, and government agencies to drive economic growth, innovation, and investment in the city.
• Experience with proactive outreach, including cold calling and initiating new business relationships to build a strong employer pipeline.
• Experience in managing partnerships, including working with local businesses, development agencies, and community organizations to build and strengthen business networks.

Skill Equivalency (if applicable)

3-Year Degree/Diploma with minimum 7 years related and relevant experience OR an undergraduate degree with a Master’s degree with minimum 2 years of related and relevant experience

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Familiarity with principles, practices, theories, trends, policies, programs and resources related to economic development.

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and public relations skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership, councils, and external partners.

• Must have leadership and human relations skills to direct, develop, motivate and support the personal growth of staff.

• Must have the ability to support and project the organization's core values of trust and respect, collaboration, and change and growth, as well as our leadership traits, which are reflected in employees who:

• Lead by example and expect the same of others;

• Recognize accomplishments;

• Collaborate with others to realized shared outcomes;

• Enable others to be their best;

• Look beyond today.

• Ability to travel to various locations within the City of Kitchener Availability to work evenings and weekends.

• Reliable with a good attitude and employment record.