Business Development Representative (6-month Pilot)

Position Summary

    • 6-month contract (June – November 2026)
    • Part-time (3 days/week with flexible hours)
    • Compensation of $28/hour plus a performance-based bonus (tied to lead qualification and meeting quotas)
    • Location: Ottawa (1 day/week in office)

About CSED

The Centre for Social Enterprise Development (CSED) is Ottawa’s hub for businesses that put people and the planet first. We provide the tools, coaching, and networks that social purpose organizations need to thrive. We are currently testing an innovative new model to help these impact-driven businesses grow their sales and impact.

About the Position

We are launching an exciting 6-month pilot project designed to bridge the gap between Ottawa’s thriving social enterprises and the corporate/institutional sectors.

As the Business Development Representative, your primary mission is to build a robust B2B sales pipeline. You won’t just be selling a product; you’ll be selling the value of social procurement. You will act as a centralized business development engine for a curated group of local social enterprises, identifying opportunities for them to provide goods and services to B2B prospects.

Key responsibilities

  • Prospecting: Use LinkedIn, local directories, and networking to find Ottawa businesses and organizations that could buy from our partner social enterprises.
  • Outreach & Engagement: Connect with potential leads via email, phone, events, and social media to pitch the “Social Procurement” advantage and specific social enterprise solutions.
  • Pipeline Management: Track all leads and interactions in a CRM, ensuring a smooth hand-off to individual social enterprises once a qualified interest is established.
  • Market Feedback: Collect data and insights during the pilot to help CSED evaluate the long-term viability of a centralized sales model for social enterprises.

Desired Skills and Attributes

We are looking for a high-energy “hunter” with a heart—someone who is early in their career and brings a mix of professional polish and “transferable hustle”.

  • The “Social” Pitch: You have a natural ability to tell a story. You can articulate the “social value proposition” alongside traditional business metrics like quality and price.
  • Relationship Building & Grit: You’re a people person who isn’t afraid of the “cold start.” Whether it’s a LinkedIn message or a phone call, you stay resilient and persistent in finding the right contact.
  • Digital Fluency: You are a “power user” of LinkedIn and social platforms. You know how to use digital tools to research prospects, find the right stakeholders, and stay organized.
  • Professionalism & Curiosity: You possess the maturity to interact with corporate and government procurement managers, combined with a deep curiosity to learn how different industries operate.
  • Organizational Prowess: You can manage multiple leads and tasks without letting things fall through the cracks. Experience with a CRM (or an eagerness to become an expert in one) is a major plus.
  • Passion for Impact: You have a baseline understanding of Ottawa’s social enterprise sector (or a strong desire to learn) and a genuine motivation to help businesses that “do good.”
  • Coachability: This is a pilot project! We need someone who is a self-starter but also eager to take feedback, pivot strategies, and help us build the “playbook” for the future.

CSED’s Diversity Commitment

CSED recognizes and values the rich diversity of Canadian society and the people we serve. We are committed to working with people from various cultures, racialized groups, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your B2B sales experience and why you’re excited about Ottawa’s social enterprise sector to applications@csedottawa.ca by no later than Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

We thank all applicants, however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted. If selected to participate in the recruitment and selection process, please inform us of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require in respect of any material or processes used to ensure your equal participation.