We are working exclusively with a well-established technology investment group to identify a Director, Business Development for their corporate development team. The group partners with founder-led software businesses for the long term and has grown its portfolio through direct relationships with owners rather than auctions.

This is a hands-on leadership role. The person stepping into this seat will spend most of their time opening and building relationships with owners themselves, while coaching a small team doing the same work. You will decide where the team spends its time, start conversations with founders who are not actively looking to sell, and keep those relationships warm until the timing is right, which may be months or years away. Once a conversation turns serious, you will hand it to the deal team.

Key Responsibilities

- Personally reach out to founders and CEOs of privately held software companies by phone, email, LinkedIn and in person at industry events
- Lead and coach a small business development team on outreach, messaging and pipeline discipline
- Hold first conversations with owners to understand their business, their goals and whether a partnership makes sense
- Build target lists and decide which sectors and companies are worth pursuing
- Stay in regular contact with owners who are not ready today but may be in the future
- Qualify early-stage opportunities before passing them to the deal team
- Share what you are hearing in the market to help leadership set priorities




- Keep contact history and pipeline activity up to date in the CRM
- Own monthly and quarterly outreach and pipeline targets for yourself and the team

What We're Looking For

- 5 years in deal origination, business development or a similar relationship-driven role, ideally within private equity, M&A; or a roll-up environment
- A proven track record of starting conversations with business owners who did not come to you first
- Experience coaching or managing others, or clear readiness to take that step
- Comfort with long relationship cycles and a role measured on activity and pipeline rather than closed deals
- Interest in how businesses are built and valued, and the ability to learn a new sector quickly
- Clear, confident writing and a phone manner that holds up with experienced founders
- Persistence paired with day-to-day discipline on activity
- CRM or sales engagement tool experience is an asset

What's Offered

- Competitive base salary with uncapped variable compensation and equity participation
- Hybrid work arrangement in the GTA, with some travel within North America
- Direct exposure to senior deal leadership and company founders from day one
- Full advantages

Next Steps

Only candidates selected for the next stage will be contacted.

Our client is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all qualified individuals. Accommodations are available upon request throughout the hiring process.

📌 Director, Business Development (Toronto)
🏢 rillo
📍 Toronto