The Position: 

The Business Development Team is responsible for creating and building strategic partnerships that align the Tourism Industry Association of Canada mission of supporting tourism businesses from coast to coast to coast.

The Director of Partnerships will report to the VP of Business Development and will focus on the development of strategic partnership deals that align with TIAC corporate goals and objectives to deliver against specific revenue, marketing, development and business goals. This position is ideal for an individual who has a specific interest in the vast sector of tourism; creating meaningful, sustainable and inclusive relationships; and connecting innovative people to create great things.

The Director of Partnerships should be a dynamic leader, an experienced negotiator, with the proven ability to develop and manage impactful and innovative partnerships.

Full-time – Contract (8 months – with possibility of extension and permanency)

Hybrid workplace (office based in Ottawa) 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

You must be skilled at:

• Partner Prospecting and Evaluation;
• Partner Relationships and Development;
• Partner Operations;
• Business Planning;
• Partner Enablement;
• Tracking and Reporting ROI

Build breakthrough partnerships for new and existing partners that can help elevate our organization, our members and the tourism industry.

Work with the VP of Business Development the partnership development process for specific programs (identification of assets and properties through to initial outreach, contract execution, tracking and reporting)

Initiate discussions with potential new partners to understand stakeholder objectives and budget; able to build strong and trusted relationships with senior clients up to and including C-level.

Deliver presentations and negotiate partnerships through to the conclusion of contract phase.

Build and develop relationships throughout the organization to understand challenges and develop partner led solutions that can provide a win to TIAC, a win to the Partner and a win to our members.

Utilize data, research tools to prospect and identify prospects in new categories, to demonstrate how TIAC’s vision and mission might align with a prospect’s objectives and corporate values. You will work closely with the Director of Business Intelligence/Data Specialist

Develop a deep and thorough understanding of the partner or prospect’s business and competitive environment, building partnerships that deliver against business objectives for the partner and drive affinity for TIAC

Stay current with all facets of the dynamic and every-changing tourism industry; equipped with creativity and innovative ideas.

Help support long-term business line initiatives and projects.

Achieve targets, and provide regular status reports

Develop strong working relationships with all of TIAC’s business lines to ensure all integrated partnership deals can be fully delivered.

Specific responsibilities during the contract period:

• You will work closely with the Project Manager
• TIAC will be launching new awareness and capacity building programs for tourism operators and organization through funding support. Your role will be to negotiate and formalize partnerships with expert partners that will be co-delivering these programs beyond the funding period. Areas of focus will be culinary tourism, sustainable tourism, export readiness, digitalization, etc.
• Formalize existing partnerships and seek new partnership opportunities to support new and existing industry events (town halls, annual congress, webinars, investor forum, tourism job fair, best practice missions, etc.) as well as industry research and reports
• Seek and research new partnership opportunities through the various engagements TIAC will be undertaking and will be connecting with tourism stakeholders.

KEY SUCCES FACTORS

• Minimum 7+ years of partner management or relevant relationship management experience
• A master’s or bachelor’s degree in a related field and several years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A relationship builder who knows how to build and manage professional relationships both internally and externally.
• Proven prospector with a track record of securing meetings and securing results.
• Self-motivated to set and chase ambitious goals and motivated by results.
• Deep understanding of tourism industry and a desire to stay current on emerging sectors and practices.
• You are responsible, accountable and solutions-focused; you deliver on promises and take initiative.
• You are naturally curious and creative, seeking to constantly learn and share new trends and best practices.
• You are able to think long-term, see the big picture, strategize accordingly, and obtain buy-in at a variety of levels and across a variety of business lines both internally and externally
• Someone who thrives in a dynamic team environment, with ability to productively handle multiple priorities.
• Understanding of the Canadian travel and tourism landscape (an asset)
• Ability to think strategically
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and a commitment to quality customer service. A positive, winning approach, incorporating integrity, confidentiality and discretion.
• Exceptional PowerPoint – deck building skills that can deliver excitement and the why someone would partner with us.
• Strong presentation skills with persuasive ability both in person and through written language.
• Strong qualitative and analytical skills with experience of KPI/ROI measurement
• Negotiating skills and ability to work and manage multiple stakeholders
• Imaginative and Innovative problem solver
• Experience with CRM and Office 365 apps
• You are able to work during some events in the evenings and weekends when applicable

Additional Notes

It is the Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s goal to be a welcoming, inclusive, accessible, and diverse organization for all Canadians. We believe that the basis of this inclusivity requires a socially and culturally diverse workforce and, therefore, we actively seek to recruit candidates who identify as women, Indigenous, Black, Persons of Colour (IBPoC), persons from the LGBTQ2+ community and persons with disabilities. We encourage you to self-identify in the recruitment process

Contact Information

Please forward resume and cover letter, along with your salary expectations and possible start date by September 2, 2022, to:
Connie Trombino (she/her), Project Manager
Tourism Industry Association of Canada
ctrombino@tiac-aitc.ca