Manager, Business Development & Community Engagement

About IBU

International Business University (IBU) stands as Ontario’s first independent not-for-profit university. Having received Ministerial consent for full accreditation in 2020 and DLI approval in 2023, IBU is Ontario’s only not-for-profit independent University. Our foundation draws inspiration from the world’s most esteemed independent universities, creating a ‘next generation’ model characterized by innovation, agility, and responsiveness. IBU is focused on being a truly student-centric, industry-aligned university, executing the best practices of today to build the future talent relevance of tomorrow. IBU is committed to curricula and learning experiences that seamlessly blend rigorous academic preparation with practical skill development, reflecting emerging technologies, evolving societal needs, and the future demands of the global workforce.

Position Title:    Manager, Business Development & Community Engagement    

Reports to:        Director of Recruitment, Admissions & Partnerships

Job Type:            Full-time, Permanent

Expected Salary Range: $70,000.00 base annually + commission eligible 

Location:             Ottawa, ON

Position Summary

The Manager, Business Development & Community Engagement is responsible for building and maintaining strategic relationships with high schools, settlement agencies, Indigenous Bands, and other community organizations to support the Student Recruitment Team’s objective of expanding access to post-secondary education. Reporting to the Director of Recruitment, Admissions & Partnerships, the role focuses on domestic partnership development and engagement. The ideal candidate brings exceptional business development skills with experience in education, community outreach, or recruitment, and thrives in a relationship-driven, goal-oriented environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Business Development & Outreach

• Identify, cultivate, and formalize strategic partnerships with high schools, settlement centres, Indigenous Bands, and community-based organizations to generate student recruitment pipelines.
• Develop and execute customized outreach strategies to engage key stakeholders and align partnership goals with university objectives.
• Represent the university at education fairs, community events, and stakeholder meetings to enhance brand awareness and identify new student pathways opportunities.

Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary liaison for educational and community partners, providing consistent, high-quality engagement and support through proactive communication and outreach.
• Maintain and strengthen existing partnerships through regular touchpoints, collaborative planning, and mutual goal setting.
• Recommend partnership opportunities, and for those approved, collaborate with internal stakeholders to formalize MOUs and contracts.

Strategic, Research & Reporting

• Research and monitor trends in education, community engagement, and student recruitment to inform ongoing, evidenced-based, strategy and outreach efforts.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align partnership strategies with enrollment targets and institutional priorities.
• Monitor and evaluate partnership performance, maintaining a detailed database of engagement activities and outcomes. Provide regular reports on metrics such as lead conversion, student retention, diversity outcomes, and overall impact to inform strategic decisions.
• Contribute insights to refine recruitment strategies based on market trends and community feedback.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with marketing, admissions, and student services to ensure consistent messaging and seamless prospective student experiences.
• Support the development of culturally responsive engagement strategies, especially when working with Indigenous and newcomer communities, ensuring sensitivity to language, context, and lived experiences.

Project & Operational Management

• Manage multiple projects and initiatives simultaneously while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment, prioritizing tasked based on strategic impact and partner needs.
• Ensure high standards of execution across all initiatives, from initial outreach to long-term relationship stewardship.

Other related duties as assigned.

The successful candidate will have the following essential qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Business, Communications, or a related field; Master’s degree is considered an asset.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in business development, community outreach, student recruitment, or partnership development, ideally within the education sector.
• Demonstrated success in cultivating and sustaining strategic partnerships with diverse communities and educational stakeholders.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills, with the ability to engage a wide range of audiences both in-person and virtually.
• Proven commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion principles in education and community-based work.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to manage sensitive or confidential information with discretion.
• Proficient with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and experience with data management and reporting tools.
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities, capable of handling multiple initiatives and deadlines effectively.
• Knowledge of Canadian educational systems, settlement services, and Indigenous communities is a strong asset.
• Energetic, resourceful, and results-driven, with a track record of achieving business development goals.
• Willingness and ability to travel locally and domestically for outreach and partnership-building activities.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to build productive relationships across internal teams and external partners.

Application Process

To formally express your interest in this opportunity, please submit your resume and a brief cover letter via Greenhouse. In your cover letter, please highlight your qualifications for the role and share what inspires you about the prospect of contributing to a rapidly scaling, purpose-driven organization. This position is for a backfill, and the posting remains open until the position is filled. The position is subject to budgetary approval. Any questions may be sent to careers@ibu.ca. 
We look forward to reviewing your application. See our website www.ibu.ca for further information about this new and exciting opportunity.

Note: Application materials should be submitted as a single combined PDF file, with a file name that identifies the applicant.

To support the overall well-being and success of our employees, IBU provides a comprehensive total rewards package which includes:

• 100% employer paid extended Health & Dental benefits
• 24/7 access to Employee & Family Assistance Program and Virtual Healthcare
• Life, AD&D, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Competitive paid time off, starting at 3 weeks
• Tuition reimbursement
• Access to preferred corporate membership rates with GoodLife Fitness
• Engaging employee appreciation and community-building events throughout the year

This position is based in a hybrid work arrangement, with employees working on-site four (4) days per week and the option to work remotely one (1) day per week, based on business needs. Employees will be required to come on-site as needed and are expected to reside in Ontario and within a reasonable commuting distance of the office/campus.

All applications submitted are reviewed in detail by our HR team. In certain aspects of the hiring process, artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used, specifically for screening and assessments. These tools support our team and are used to help bring relevant criteria to the foreground and do not replace human judgment. We are committed to using AI responsibly, fairly, and in compliance with applicable employment and anti-discrimination laws. We regularly review these tools to help prevent bias or discrimination.
 
Vega/IBU values and embraces Diversity, Equality, Inclusion, and Accessibility as fundamental to our mission to educate students for career success in the business world today. Our desire is to ensure that our institution is a welcoming, inclusive, respectful, and safe environment for everyone. We are dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusivity within our community and are an equal-opportunity employer. We invite and encourage applications from all qualified individuals who would contribute to the further diversification of our Institution, including equity-deserving groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment (Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQQIPA+ persons). If you require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at humanresources@ibu.ca.