Business Development Manager

The Package
Salary: $80,000 - $95,000
Position Type: Permanent, full-time
Location: Halifax, Wolfville, or surrounding areas
Travel: 20-25% of the year throughout Canada, including regular hybrid work at the Main Roastery & Headquarters in Grand Pré, NS.
Schedule: Monday to Friday, 40 hours/week

This Moment, This Position
We’re looking for a Business Development Manager to help guide the co-op’s continued growth and strengthen its position in the retail and wholesale markets. This is an opportunity for a commercially minded, relationship-oriented leader who can bring together business strategy, sales, marketing, and people leadership to support the co-op’s long-term sustainability.

Working with the management team, you’ll help shape and deliver business development strategies, identify new opportunities, strengthen customer and strategic partner relationships, and ensure our products, services, and values are communicated effectively in the marketplace. You’ll balance big-picture thinking with practical execution, using market knowledge, customer insights, and financial results to guide decisions and improve performance.

Just as importantly, you’ll support a collaborative, participatory, and engaging workplace where people are encouraged to contribute, learn, and work across departments. This role is about growing the business in a way that makes sense for Just Us!, its people, and the communities it serves.

How You Would Contribute
Business Strategy & Growth
Work with the management team to develop and advance strategic and operational objectives for the co-op’s business development activities.
Lead the development and deployment of the annual wholesale sales plan, supporting growth, profitability, and a strong customer base.
Contribute to annual budgeting and planning for business development, including retail sales, wholesale sales, and marketing.
Identify and assess new business opportunities, market trends, and competitive developments to strengthen the co-op’s market position.
Help define and communicate what makes Just Us! distinctive, ensuring its values, products, and services are reflected in how the co-op engages with customers and partners.
Sales, Marketing & Customer Relationships
Build and strengthen customer, community, and strategic partner relationships to support long-term business growth.
Guide a professional, effective, and values-oriented approach to sales and business development.
Contribute to product and service pricing, business negotiations, and the development of new opportunities.
Use market, customer, and competitor insights to inform business decisions, identify opportunities, and improve sales and marketing efforts.
Support effective merchandising, marketing, advertising, and promotional activities that strengthen awareness of Just Us! and its offerings.
People Leadership & Team Development
Support members of the Sales and Customer Service teams.
Provide coaching, mentoring, and relevant business development training to help team members build their skills and confidence.
Foster a supportive, participatory, and engaging workplace that encourages worker involvement, collaboration across departments, and continuous improvement.
Support clear expectations, accountability, and consistent practices across the Business Development Department.
Operations, Financial Performance & Continuous Improvement
Monitor, manage, and report on departmental financial results and key performance indicators (KPIs), using insights to guide decisions and improve performance.
Develop, maintain, and support the consistent application of operational and personnel policies and procedures within the Business Development Operations Manual.
Coordinate administrative support and operational processes that help the department work effectively.
Contribute to continuous improvement in departmental systems, practices, and ways of working.
Ensure compliance with applicable workplace health, safety, and environmental requirements, as well as co-op policies and procedures.

What Would Help You Succeed
You bring a combination of business development experience, commercial awareness, and people leadership. You understand how to build customer relationships, recognize opportunities, and translate strategy into practical action. You’re comfortable balancing financial objectives with the values and relationships that shape how a co-operative operates.

You would bring:
Business development experience: Post-secondary education or demonstrated experience in business development, supported by a track record in sales, marketing, and merchandising.
Market knowledge: Experience with Canadian retail and wholesale markets, including an understanding of customers, competitors, and the factors that influence purchasing decisions.
Strategic and analytical thinking: The ability to gather and interpret market and customer information, assess opportunities, monitor performance, and use data to guide decisions.
People leadership: Experience supporting, supervising, and developing team members, with an approach that encourages participation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Business and operational skills: An understanding of budgeting, project management, human resources practices, and the systems and processes that support effective departmental operations.
Communication and relationship building: The ability to negotiate, present ideas, build trust, navigate challenges, and communicate persuasively with a range of audiences.
Adaptability: The ability to respond to changing priorities, manage competing demands, navigate conflict, and remain focused on shared goals.
Experience with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and Excel, along with familiarity with Syspro or similar business systems, would be valuable. Knowledge of Lean and 5S practices, procurement planning, retail management, wholesale customer management, and merchandising fundamentals would also be an asset.

Above all, you understand that sustainable business growth comes from more than sales figures alone. You can bring a practical, commercially grounded approach to the work while supporting a workplace where people feel engaged, valued, and able to contribute.

Benefits & Perks:
Paid Time Off: 2 weeks' vacation
Health and Dental: 75% employer-paid health & dental (100% for member-owners, excluding LTD).
Employee Ownership: Become a co-op member after one year; we cover 20% of the cost of your required share purchase.
Profit Sharing: Members share in the company's success.
Retirement Support: Members receive Group RRSP with 2% employer matching.
Parental Leave Top-Up: Members receive 90% of salary up to $275/week.