Company Overview
The Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC) is Canada's first business incubator that has helped 9,000 local and international entrepreneurs succeed for more than three decades.
As an incubator that seeks to drive value, TBDC continues to look for opportunities to help start-ups establish, grow, and scale by enhancing its suite of resources and business services that aid high-potential start-ups to go to market and scale.
Position Overview
We are seeking a Partnerships Manager to join our team at the Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC). In this role, you will work closely with the Director of Partnerships and the Programming team to identify, recruit, and manage strategic relationships that support our programming and startups.
You will identify leads for potential partnerships with corporates, investors, government agencies, and academic institutions, aligning their offerings with the needs of our startups. You will co-design partnership initiatives and ensure a steady pipeline of relevant startups, while working with the Programming team to integrate partners into workshops, mentorship sessions, and networking events---maximizing the value delivered to both startups and partners.
Your ability to build trust with partners and startups, deliver value, and inspire confidence will determine whether founders choose to grow their businesses with TBDC---you are the face of our brand in-market.
Key Responsibilities Strategic Partnership Development
- Lead outreach efforts to recruit corporate, investor, public sector, and academic partners aligned with TBDC's mission.
- Design and execute outreach campaigns across multiple channels (email, LinkedIn, ecosystem events, etc.).
- Represent TBDC at industry events and networking opportunities to build pipelines and foster visibility.
- Conduct partner onboarding and ensure strategic alignment between partners and TBDC programs.
Relationship Management
- Serve as the main point of contact for key partners, mentors, and stakeholders---ensuring regular communication, strong rapport, and long-term engagement.
- Understand partner goals and proactively identify opportunities for mutual value creation.
- Maintain structured engagement plans and oversee touchpoints such as check-ins, reporting, and performance tracking.
Program \& Partner Activation
- Coordinate the integration of partners into incubator programming (e.g., office hours, mentorship sessions, panels, pilot projects).
- Work cross-functionally with program teams to align startup needs with partner capabilities.
- Track partner-led contributions and outcomes such as customer introductions, funding connections, and expansion support.
- Ensure smooth execution of all partner-facing activities including logistics, scheduling, and feedback collection.
Event \& International Engagement
- Support planning and delivery of partner-related events (roundtables, showcases, delegation visits, trade missions).
- Coordinate logistics, prepare briefing documents, and manage follow-ups with international and domestic stakeholders.
Data, CRM \& Reporting
- Maintain up-to-date records of all partner interactions using CRM systems (e.g., Airtable, Salesforce).
- Track key metrics on partnership outcomes, mentor engagements, and startup benefit realization.
- Generate regular reports and insights to inform leadership and program teams on partnership impact
Qualifications
- 3--5 years of experience in the startup ecosystem, working with reputable accelerators, VCs, or corporate innovation teams
- Able to onboard quickly, understand role expectations, and hit the ground running with minimal training
- Demonstrated ability to identify and co-create partnership opportunities tailored to startup needs
- Proven experience in strategic partnerships, business development, or enterprise client management
- Strong relationship builder---trusted by peers and partners due to reliability and follow-through
- High emotional intelligence, proactive mindset, and a deep passion for entrepreneurship
- Familiarity with Ontario's sectoral strengths, business resources, and innovation landscape
- Skilled in sourcing and identifying high-potential leads using tools like LinkedIn, Apollo, and Clay
- Comfortable planning and executing professional events with multiple stakeholders
- Strong communicator---clear and persuasive in both written (e.g., proposals, memos) and verbal (e.g., presentations) formats
- Quick thinker---able to synthesize new information and respond dynamically in both one-on-one and public settings
- Adaptable and resourceful---thrives in fast-changing environments and takes initiative beyond defined responsibilities
- Operates with strong agency and autonomy, comfortable navigating ambiguity in a high-paced organization
- Humble and collaborative---leads by example and supports teammates to deliver their best work
- An established network of corporate and industry contacts is considered a strong asset
