Business Development Associate

About CORA Group and Jonas Software

CORA Group, a division of Jonas Software in North America, is active across several industries including Collection & Recovery, Food Service, Construction, Wine/Retail, Moving & Storage, Loyalty, Legal, and Long-Term Care Pharmacy. Founded in 2022, CORA is committed to fostering employee culture, accelerating growth through acquisitions, and long-term investment. Jonas Software provides enterprise management software solutions across diverse verticals with over 130 leading brands and serves 60,000 customers worldwide in more than 30 countries. Jonas is headquartered in Canada and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Constellation Software Inc.

Role Overview

The Business Development Associate position is integral to the M&A deal sourcing team, focusing on identifying and evaluating strategic acquisition opportunities in the software sector. The role involves sourcing, qualifying, nurturing, and managing a portfolio of potential acquisition targets. This position is suitable for individuals who enjoy problem-solving, strategic planning, and relationship development and will engage directly with industry executives, founders, investment professionals, and board members.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough research using various public and internal sources to gather company and contact data.
• Proactively engage with business owners and executives interested in selling their companies.
• Maintain accurate deal flow records in Salesforce and utilize CRM insights to refine processes.
• Drive top-of-the-funnel activities to identify promising industries, build target lists, and customize sourcing strategies.
• Collaborate with senior M&A and operational leaders to develop acquisition strategies for individual prospects.
• Expand industry knowledge through research and participation in industry events, tradeshows, and conferences.
• Reach out to founders, CEOs, and executives through multiple communication channels (email, LinkedIn, calls, video calls, face-to-face meetings).
• Exhibit exceptional outreach skills, including efficiently bypassing gatekeepers and leading unscripted, research-informed conversations.
• Build and nurture relationships with prospective sellers to advance acquisition pipelines.
• Perform initial qualification of acquisition opportunities against established quantitative and qualitative criteria.
• Work with M&A leadership to assess, prioritize, and present qualified deals to the internal committee weekly.
• Facilitate NDAs and gather detailed situational, operational, and financial data from potential acquisition targets.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, finance, or a related discipline.
• At least two years of experience in deal origination, business development, software sales, or investment-related roles; experience in M&A, private equity, venture capital, or corporate development is advantageous.
• Familiarity with CRM platforms such as Salesforce and proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Experience with AI or automation technologies for workflow optimization is a plus.
• Understanding of financial and business metrics is beneficial.

Personal Attributes and Competencies

• Excellent organizational, communication, and time management abilities.
• Advanced proficiency in outreach tactics, including relationship building with mature business leaders.
• A strong work ethic with persistence and continual process improvement drive.
• Collaborative mindset, goal-oriented, and team-focused.
• Curiosity and analytical skills to assess and qualify leads effectively.
• Openness to adopting new technologies, especially AI and automation tools.
• Ability to evaluate and suggest AI-enabled solutions that enhance efficiency and productivity is an added advantage.

Success Indicators

• Demonstrable capability to independently develop and sustain a robust acquisition funnel through strategic networking and persistent outreach.
• Consistently schedule meaningful discussions with qualified business owners and decision-makers.
• Establish strong, trust-based relationships with company founders and executives, guiding them smoothly through acquisition stages.
• Maintain comprehensive and accurate Salesforce records to ensure clear pipeline visibility.
• Ensure prompt follow-ups and effective data collection to sustain momentum.
• Deliver thorough analysis and recommendations to the team regarding acquisition prospects.
• Provide insights about industry trends to inform CORA's wider acquisition initiatives.
• Take initiative to refine outreach methods, research protocols, and internal workflows for improved effectiveness.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive base salary ranging from CAD 55,000 to 65,000, supplemented by bonus opportunities.
• Promising growth potential for high-performing individuals.
• Comprehensive health benefits alongside three weeks of vacation plus personal days.
• Hybrid work model offering flexibility.
• Direct interaction with senior management, industry leaders, and exposure to M&A deal evaluations.

Additional Details

• Position location: Markham, Greater Toronto Area (Hybrid work arrangement).
• Standard weekly schedule: 37.5 hours.
• Number of openings: 1.
• Employee status: Regular full-time.
• Use of Artificial Intelligence tools is included in applicant screening and evaluation procedures.