Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships & Business Development

Reports To: Vice President, Business Operations & Member Services

Duration:  12 Month Contract 

Effective: ASAP

Workplace type: Hybrid

About Us

Our Social Purpose: CREA opens doors to thriving futures for all, beginning with home.

Based in Ottawa, the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is the national voice of REALTORS® and an impassioned advocate for homeowners. The organization plays an important role in assessing and influencing important economic, policy and social issues.

We champion REALTORS® on behalf of Canadians, promoting awareness, education, and professional excellence in the profession.

Join us and be a part of a team that is working together to make home happen.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Manager, Partnerships & Business Development,  to lead the development and implementation of an integrated partnership and sponsorship model across CREA. 

This is a senior, hands-on role for an individual who can take an emerging commercial opportunity and turn it into a disciplined, scalable program. The successful candidate will bring strong expertise in sponsorship strategy, strategic partnerships, business development and revenue generation, combined with the ability to build the internal processes, tools and relationships required to support long-term growth.

Core Competencies

Function

Working across teams, the  Senior Manager, Partnerships & Business Development will establish the partnership and business development framework, develop compelling market-facing opportunities, build and manage the pipeline, lead partner conversations and negotiations, and work cross-functionally to ensure activation and fulfillment.

Key Responsibilities

Development and Implementation

• Lead the development and implementation of an integrated partnership and business development strategy aligned with organizational priorities, brand values and revenue objectives.
• Translate organizational assets, audiences and platforms into compelling, market-ready partnership and business development opportunities.
• Develop the commercial model, including partnership categories, packages, pricing, benefits, exclusivity and revenue targets.
• Identify and assess new revenue-generating and value-creating opportunities beyond traditional sponsorship, including strategic alliances, commercial collaborations and other partnership models.
• Establish criteria for evaluating prospective partners to ensure alignment with the REALTOR® community, organizational reputation and member value.

Business Development & Revenue Growth

• Identify and prioritize high-value partnership opportunities and prospective partners.
• Build and actively manage a qualified pipeline, leading outreach, pitches, proposals and negotiations.
• Develop strategic and customized partnership opportunities that drive revenue while supporting a scalable overall model.
• Lead forecasting, revenue reporting and planning for partnership growth.

Partnership Infrastructure & Portfolio Management

• Establish the processes, tools and governance required to manage partnerships from prospecting through activation and renewal.
• Develop market-facing packages, sales materials and tools that clearly articulate audience, reach, value proposition and partner benefits.
• Establish effective CRM, pipeline management, reporting and performance measures.
• Coordinate partnership opportunities across the organization to maximize value and ensure a consistent approach to market.

Partner & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Build and manage trusted relationships with senior decision-makers at prospective and existing partner organizations.
• Serve as a senior lead for priority partners, including commercial negotiations, account growth and renewals.
• Work across internal teams to translate commercial agreements into successful activation and fulfillment.
• Champion an organization-wide approach to partnerships that balances revenue generation with organizational values and guardrails.

Qualifications & Experience

Education & Experience

• Significant experience in strategic partnerships, sponsorships, business development, or related commercial roles.
• Proven track record of developing and closing high-value partnerships or sponsorship agreements.
• Experience building or significantly evolving a partnership or sponsorship program.
• Experience developing integrated opportunities across digital, content, events, media, or other audience platforms.

Technical Skills

Soft Skills

• Credibility and confidence when working with senior executives and external decision-makers.
• Strong relationship-management, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to move comfortably between strategy and execution and lead work across teams.

At CREA, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, barrier-free and accessible environment. Part of this commitment includes arranging accommodations to ensure an equitable opportunity to participate in the recruitment and selection process. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs.