Associate, Corporate Development

Location: Preference for Toronto, but open to remote candidates within Canada or the United States.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead generation & develop M&A pipeline: proactively identify and source software companies that align with investment goals, building a robust pipeline.
• Outreach: initiate and build key relationships through strategic, targeted outbound prospecting, establishing rapport with business owners and senior leadership.
• Relationship management: act as a trusted partner, nurturing long‑term relationships with decision‑makers and positioning Harris as the acquirer of choice.
• CRM discipline: maintain a disciplined pipeline in the CRM, track deal stages, forecast pipeline health, and document interactions with relentless cadence.
• Transaction support: support M&A site visits and prospecting trips, coordinate due‑diligence requests and information flow, and work closely with the M&A team.
• Acquisitions: deliver transactions as the ultimate outcome of pipeline and relationship efforts.

Qualifications

• Business acumen with substantial hands‑on financial and business experience in fast‑paced, high‑performing environments.
• Fluent understanding of the M&A process, valuations, and exit strategies; experienced in engaging founders and senior executives.
• Exceptional relationship builder: skilled conversationalist with genuine curiosity, focused on owners’ stories, goals, and motivations.
• Natural, outgoing connector who comfortably reaches out, connects, and fosters relationships with business owners.
• Highly efficient research and outreach skills: quickly profile, assess, and interpret companies and leaders, then initiate tailored outreach.
• Intellectual curiosity: continuously observes, analyzes, and learns from each interaction to deepen insight.
• High achiever with a track record of outstanding performance and a commitment to achieving a high rate of meaningful connections.
• Financial literacy: ability to interpret financial statements and discuss basic valuation drivers.
• Commitment: career history of ≥3 years with the same employer.
• Advanced communication and interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional self‑drive, meticulous organization, and relentless execution of daily tasks.
• Extraordinary work ethic with a proactive sense of urgency.
• “Hunter” mentality demonstrated by success in cold outreach.
• Long‑term mindset: extensive, meaningful long‑term relationships in personal and professional life.
• Travel: 10–20 % within Canada/USA for founder meetings and industry events.
• Preferred background: experience in K‑12 or higher‑education sectors, SME investment sourcing/origination, outbound SaaS sales, investment banking or other investing roles, and growth/GTM functions (early‑stage, growth‑stage, or sponsor‑backed).

Pay

Target earnings $120,000 – $140,000 (base $80,000 – $100,000 plus variable $40,000).

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Robust training and development, including mentorship from experienced M&A professionals and exposure to the full deal lifecycle.
• Opportunities for career growth within an acquisitive, growth‑oriented, decentralized organization.