Director of Business Development

The Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries ("OCNI", ) is the leading and trusted voice of the Canadian nuclear supply chain, actively promoting the production of safe, clean and reliable nuclear electricity. Founded in 1979, OCNI is an association of more than 245 leading Canadian suppliers to the nuclear industry in Canada and abroad.

OCNI is seeking a dynamic and versatile Director, Business Development to drive member value and strengthen Canada’s nuclear supply chain. This leadership role is central to OCNI’s mission, focusing on facilitating business growth, expanding global reach through trade missions, and championing policy advocacy to enhance supply chain competitiveness.

As a key member of a small, high-impact team, the Director must balance strategic oversight and senior management responsibilities with on the ground implementation and a commitment to operational excellence.

The Director will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery and continuous improvement of core programming and events, ensuring high-quality content and engagement. The successful candidate will be capable of deepening relationships with utilities, governments, and Indigenous partners while modernizing how the organization engages with and grows its diverse membership base.

1. Capacity Building

• Strengthen Supply Chain Readiness: Support supply chain growth and readiness programs (e.g., Ready4
  
  SMR), map technology capacity gaps, and deliver QA/QC and certification support to prepare suppliers for refurbishments and new builds.
• Additional Programming: Seek out and support new programming or funded initiatives that bring value to OCNI members, generate new membership, build capacity in the supply chain in new markets, or create revenue opportunities.
• Facilitate Business Growth: Coordinate pathways for members to access business opportunities, including B2B events, supplier days, and vendor‑readiness support.
• Enable Talent Development: Partner with academic and trades institutions to align training with industry needs and build a diverse talent pipeline.
• Sector Intelligence: Gather and share timely insights on market trends, innovation, and policy priorities that support growth of the supply chain.

2. Global Reach

• Trade Missions: Coordinate the planning, preparation, and execution of OCNI trade missions, including Can Export programming and other funding, ensuring alignment with member needs.
• International Relationships: Support the growth and maintenance of OCNI’s international relationships with governments, associations, and industry partners.
• Increase OCNI Visibility Abroad: Contribute to efforts that raise OCNI’s profile in international markets, including supporting new MOUs, partnership agreements, and member recruitment.

3. Advocacy

• Champion Supply Chain Policy: Support the organization’s advocacy for policies that support the growth of the Canadian nuclear supply chain including procurement models, financial mechanisms, and policies that enhance vendor competitiveness and unlock investment.
• Coordinate Advocacy Efforts: Support the development of annual advocacy planning, provide members with tools to understand impacts of emerging policy contexts, including trade and geopolitics, and coordinate advocacy days with members and partners.

1. Membership Growth & Engagement

• Grow and Diversify Membership: Engage emerging regions, adjacent sectors, and underrepresented groups to reflect Canada’s evolving supply chain.
• Develop Membership Recruitment Strategies: Generate leads across Canada and internationally, develop relationships, work with team to close member recruitment.
• Retention & Satisfaction: Monitor member satisfaction, retention, and renewal rates, and develop targeted retention efforts for underrepresented and new members.
• Modernize Member Engagement: Lead efforts to upgrade data infrastructure and institutionalize structured feedback mechanisms (surveys, panels, focus groups) to guide programming and advocacy.

2. Connections & Collaboration

• Stakeholder Engagement: Deepen relationships with utilities, governments, Indigenous partners, and sector…