Manager, Deal Development (OCIF)

Job Description

Calgary Economic Development (CED) is an opportunity-maker, helping to spark and fuel Calgary’s growth. Our mandate is to position Calgary for long term economic success, through the expansion, retention and attraction of companies, capital and talent. We offer a wealth of information to help everyone succeed and we tirelessly promote Calgary, in Canada and around the world. We are passionate about our role in shaping and sharing Calgary’s story - a place of blue sky thinking and unexpected opportunities.

We’re seeking a Manager, Deal Development to join our Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) team to help us tell Calgary’s story as a great place to make a living and make a life.

Job Summary 

The Manager, Deal Development is responsible for leading, analyzing, and advancing high-potential opportunities aligned with the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund’s (OCIF) strategic direction. The role bridges early-stage opportunity discovery and OCIF’s formal investment pipeline, with the Pipeline Development team, internal subject matter experts, and applicants to translate promising concepts into clearly defined, strategically aligned and fundable projects.

The Manager applies strategic, financial, and ecosystem insights to shape project scope, expected outcomes, investment structures, performance measures, and risk mitigation approaches. The role leads opportunities from initial qualification through business case development, due diligence, negotiation, and agreement execution, ensuring recommendations and decision materials are rigorous, practical, and decision-ready for senior leadership and the Board of Directors. The Manager also contributes insights from deal development activities to support the continuous improvement of OCIF’s investment approaches, processes, and strategic initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Pipeline Development

• Participate in early opportunity discovery discussions to assess strategic fit, potential economic impact, readiness, and alignment with OCIF eligibility requirements.
• Work closely with the Pipeline Management Team to identify, qualify, and advance opportunities through project development and formal pipeline progression.
• Engage applicants to clarify the opportunity, define the project scope, and identify the outcomes, activities, funding requirements, partnerships, and performance measures necessary to create an OCIF fundable project. 
• Identify gaps in project readiness and develop practical pathways to strengthen opportunities before they enter formal application and due diligence.
• Lead assessment of opportunities against OCIF’s strategic priorities, investment criteria, portfolio objectives, and intended economic outcomes in a fair and neutral manner.
• Conduct research and analysis in the evaluation of opportunities and application submissions.
• Develop recommendations for opportunity advancement based on eligibility, readiness, and strategic alignment. 

Investment Execution

• Lead due diligence including assessment of organizational capacity, financial sustainability, market and ecosystem context, project feasibility, risks, partnerships, and anticipated economic impact.
• Translate due diligence findings into strategic recommendations for senior leadership and the Board of Directors. 
• Lead the development and negotiation of term sheets and contribution agreements in collaboration with legal counsel and applicants.
• Identify material issues, trade-offs, and decision points, and recommend practical approaches to resolve barriers and maintain deal momentum.

Strategy & Program Development

• Update strategy and program materials and supports development of materials including reporting to Board of Directors, City Administration, and City Council.
• Lead research, data collection, and analysis to identify funding gaps and ecosystem needs; translate insights into clear, data‑driven recommendations that inform OCIF’s future strategies and partnerships, and present findings to senior leadership/Board.
• Work with external organizations to identify market gaps and partnership opportunities.
• Contribute to development of financial frameworks and processes that support potential OCIF projects. 
• Proactively identify and recommend process improvements and support the development of templates and materials to support the same.
• Responsible for the documentation of assigned files for each stage of the OCIF process.

Performance Management

• Manage direct report(s) to effectively coach, train, and delegate the department/business unit workload and to support people development within the organization.

Let’s Talk About You

You’re a strategic and analytical leader who enjoys shaping high-impact investment opportunities. You bring strong financial and business acumen, know how to evaluate proposals, and can guide projects from intake to execution with clarity and precision. You’re confident working with legal agreements, negotiating terms, and presenting recommendations to senior leadership.

You thrive in fast-paced environments and are skilled with tools like Excel, CRM systems, and market data platforms, and you’re always looking for ways to improve processes.

Education

Undergraduate degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline. 

Experience

Minimum of 5 years experience in a similar role. 

Key Skills and Competencies

• Proven client service orientation with the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with internal client and key stakeholders.
• Knowledge of economic indicators and measures of local and regional economic performance and competitiveness.
• Quality assurance (Analytical and methodical)
• Ability to understand legal agreements.
• Ability to monitor key financial indicators and identify trends / develop strategies to improve financial position.
• Experience with government funding or venture capital programs is an asset
• Developed communication and project management skills.
• Demonstrated strength in report writing/ presentations/communication skills.
• Business and financial Acumen / Reporting
• Negotiation skills
• Leadership experience
• Budgeting and Risk management
• Familiarity with market data platforms such as Pitchbook, Crunchbase, and CB Insights.
• Excellent work ethic and energy level
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Leadership experience
• Computer skills:
  • • Proficiency with PowerPoint, Excel and Word
    • Experience with CRM and Project Management software
    •  MS office 365
    • Experienced in AI-driven data analysis

What's In It For You

CED offers more than a competitive base salary to our employees. We have a comprehensive benefit plan that includes 100% employer paid benefit premiums, RRSP’s, a health care spending account, and a generous vacation and flex time policy. We are committed to our employee’s mental health and offer resilience training with Headversity, free counselling with an EAP program, in addition to paramedical coverage through our medical benefits plan.

CED encourages and supports life-long learning and professional development. Employees are encouraged to access up to $2500 per year of funded professional development training opportunities. If you are looking for purpose driven work and are interested in joining us on our mission to diversify Calgary’s economy, we invite you to apply.

EDI Commitment Statement

Calgary Economic Development celebrates diversity and is committed to advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). Through EDI, we create a path to success for all our employees, where they have equal opportunity for advancement, have the voice to contribute to our collective growth and development and work in an inclusive environment.

We strongly believe in accessibility in the work we do and welcome requests to make the hiring process as accessible as possible. Accommodations are available for candidates on request during

all aspects of the selection process. Please advise at any point and we will do our best to work with you to meet your needs.

Calgary Economic Development adheres to the Alberta Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from Indigenous peoples and persons of all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions. Please be aware that Calgary Economic Development is committed to having a safe work environment.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit their cover letter and resume in confidence to:

calgaryeconomic.bamboohr.com/careers by 3:00pm, September 29, 2026