Associate, Corporate Development at Harris Computer in Ontario, Canada

Summary: Harris Computer is a provider of mission-critical software solutions for various sectors. They are seeking a Corporate Development Associate to research and engage potential acquisition targets, contributing to their M&A efforts. Responsibilities: - Conduct detailed research on competitors, potential add-on offerings, new geographies, and adjacent markets - Segment assigned markets and continuously refresh target lists using public and proprietary sources - Research industry dynamics to identify acquisition/investment news, competitive tenders, leaderships changes, etc - Design and execute multi‑channel outreach campaigns (cold calling, email, LinkedIn, trade shows) to open conversations with founders and executives - Attend conferences and regional events to network and build our acquisition pipeline - Build trust with CEOs, entrepreneurs, advisors and intermediaries; act as the long‑term account manager for acquisition prospects in public safety market - Maintain regular communication to keep prospects engaged and ensure prospects progress through the deal sourcing pipeline - Evaluate opportunities against strategic and financial criteria, including company life‑cycle stage, product fit and ownership dynamics - Manage a disciplined pipeline in Salesforce or similar CRM; log outreach activities, track deal stages, forecast pipeline health and prepare reports for senior management - Organize management meetings, site visits and prospecting trips; coordinate due‑diligence requests and information flow - Work closely with the M&A team throughout the process to ensure a smooth hand‑off once opportunities progress Required Qualifications: - direct experience in M&A origination, business development, enterprise software sales or high‑ticket B2B sales - Experience in M&A/VC/PE, investment banking or management consulting is an asset - demonstrable success in cold outreach, lead generation and relationship management - Comfortable navigating conversations and building rapport at the C‑suite level - articulate communicator with excellent writing and presentation skills, capable of clearly conveying our investment philosophy and value proposition - ability to interpret financial statements and discuss basic valuation drivers is an asset - strong planning and prioritization; meticulous CRM hygiene; ability to manage multiple parallel opportunities - proactive, resourceful and able to work independently; high E.Q - comfortable using CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), LinkedIn, email sequencing tools, Excel/PowerPoint and research platforms - willingness to travel domestically/internationally (~10–20%) for founder meetings and industry events Required Skills: M&A origination, Business development, Enterprise software sales, B2B sales, Investment banking, Management consulting, Cold outreach, Lead generation, Relationship management, Financial literacy, CRM systems, Salesforce, LinkedIn, Email sequencing tools, Excel, PowerPoint, Research platforms, Organizational discipline 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., Opportunity to grow within an acquisitive, growth oriented, decentralized organization.