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Business Development Research Manager, Canadian Corporate – 12-month term

Halifax, NS
Posted 16 days ago
Job Details:
Hybrid remote
Contract
Experienced

About Discover Halifax

Since 2002, our goal has been to promote the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) as a destination of choice for leisure and business travelers. We are a non-profit aiming to maximize economic and social benefits resulting from the tourism industry for the benefit of the people who live, visit, and invest in our region. We showcase the best of our region to the world, and alongside our industry partners, we seek to shape the future of tourism through good planning, investment, and design.

This Position

Reporting to the Vice President, Business Events, and as a member of the Business Events team, the term position of Business Development Research Manager, Canadian Corporate will research, analyze, and identify national corporate event opportunities. They will be responsible for the implementation of a proactive sales and marketing strategy to identify national corporate events opportunities for Halifax. This would include researching and qualifying new events, finding the decision maker, and assessing the level of interest in hosting their event in Halifax. Success in this role will be determined based on the number of high-quality leads and contacts generated that result in additional event attraction outcomes. Qualified candidates residing outside of Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) could be considered for remote work.

Key responsibilities

  • Initiating and developing business relationships with key decision-makers, including senior corporate executives, event planners, and industry influencers that facilitate bid success.
  • Utilizing industry databases and marketing intelligence tools to develop and maintain a robust pipeline of brand-new business opportunities through targeted outreach.
  • Building and nurturing relationships with key stakeholders, local businesses, government agencies, and community leaders who can support and strengthen event attraction and bids.
  • Collaborating with the internal team to develop compelling, customized bid proposals and presentations that effectively communicate our value propositions, and that are tailored to the needs of the prospective clients.
  • Coordinating with local partners, venues, and suppliers to craft competitive hosting packages and site visits showcasing Halifax's offerings.
  • Tracking all prospecting activities, contacts, and opportunities using CRM tools to ensure effective lead management.
  • Maintaining detailed and accurate records of key metrics to provide regular reports on lead generation activities, pipeline status, and event attraction outcomes to leadership.
  • Monitor industry trends, competitor activities, and emerging opportunities within the corporate events sector to inform strategic outreach efforts.
  • Represent Halifax at industry events, conferences, and trade shows to network, build relationships, and generate new business leads.

Education and experience

  • Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in business administration, marketing, hospitality management, event management, tourism, or a related field is required.
  • At least 3 - 5 years of experience in building and managing business relationships and opportunities.
  • Demonstrated success in developing and supporting competitive bids or proposals for large-scale events or business opportunities.
  • Strong background in market research and analysis to identify opportunities within a target market.
  • Additional certifications in sales, business development, event management, or related areas are considered an asset.
  • Experience with representing organizations at industry events, trade shows, or similar business development environments is an asset.
  • Experience in tourism and hospitality is an asset.
  • Strong working knowledge and experience with Microsoft office, and CRM software/systems.

Candidate profile and skills

  • Enjoys seeking out and developing new opportunities within a goal-oriented environment.
  • Ability to work independently or with a team to meet deadlines.
  • Demonstrated high level of oral speaking abilities, writing skills, and business presentation skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and take direction as well as initiative.
  • Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to identify challenges, propose solutions, and adapt strategies as needed.
  • High energy, positive, and self-motivated with a proven track record of sales growth.
  • Detailed and customer service oriented, focused on understanding the client needs and delivering exceptional service.
  • Strong negotiating abilities with superior influencing and closing skills.
  • Familiarity with and/or passion for the tourism industry.

Position details

The Business Development Research Manager, Canadian Corporate working within HRM, will work a hybrid schedule from the office and home, 37.5 hours/week, generally Monday to Friday during business hours; however, there will be some travel and attendance at events outside of regular business hours. Qualified candidates residing outside of HRM could be considered for remote work. Successful candidates are eligible for the Discover Halifax benefits package, which includes health and dental coverage.

How to apply
Interested candidates submit a cover letter and resume, as well as complete all pre-screening questions. Ensure your application demonstrates your experience and passion for business development and the tourism industry.

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About Discover Halifax

About Discover Halifax

Discover Halifax is a non-profit, membership-based marketing and sales organization in partnership with the Halifax regional government, the Hotel Association of Nova Scotia and participating industry members. Since its inception in 2002, Discover Halifax's goal is to promote Halifax as a destination of choice for leisure and business travelers. Halifax welcomes 5.3 million overnight stays each year, to travelers who spend over $1 billion. Halifax alone represents over 54% of all visitation to Nova Scotia, and 34,000 people are employed in the tourism industry.