Director of Business Development (Skyward)

Active Impact Investments

  • Victoria, BC
  • $100,000-130,000 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 15 hours ago
Job Title: Director of Business DevelopmentLocation: Remote / Hybrid in North America (Western US or Canada preferred)Travel: 25% or moreCompensation: $100,000 - $130,000 CAD plus variable compensation (OTE $220 - $250)About UsSkyward Wildfire Technologies is building the next generation of wildfire mitigation solutions. Leveraging proprietary lightning forecasting and suppression technologies, our mission is to help governments, utilities, and private sector partners anticipate, mitigate, and respond to lightning-driven risks. We operate at the intersection of advanced science, technology and urgent global need. If you’re passionate about making a real impact, we want you on our team!The RoleWe are seeking a Director of Business Development to grow Skyward’s commercial and government partnerships. This role will focus on selling innovative lightning forecasting and suppression technology and services, alongside the founder and C-Suite, into:Government wildfire agencies and emergency management servicesPrivate sector partners such as utilities, insurers, forestry, and infrastructure operatorsAs an early-stage technology business, this role combines direct sales, partnership development, and market positioning—turning cutting-edge science into real-world contracts and scalable business models.To start, this is an individual contributor role. You will be directly responsible for building the pipeline, engaging customers, and closing deals. As the company grows, you will have the opportunity to recruit, lead, and scale a small business development team to expand our reach and impact.Your expertise in contracting, positioning and business model innovation will help you find ways to deliver our solution in ways that address real customer needs. You will lean on existing relationships, form new ones and close agreements. This role requires a self-motivated, capable, and confident professional experienced in selling new technologies.Key ResponsibilitiesSales LeadershipDrive revenue growth by selling long-term lightning forecasting and suppression technologies into target markets.Build and execute a strategy and a sales pipeline with government wildfire agencies and private sector customers.Identify, pursue, and close complex contracts, including government procurementBusiness Development & PartnershipsDevelop new business opportunities in greenfield markets—helping define appropriate business models to unlock near term revenue while managing customer riskForge partnerships with complementary technology providers, research institutions, and integrators.Lead & close negotiations and contracting, ensuring win-win outcomes. Considerable demonstrable experience pricing to value creation rather than cost-plus, important as we strive for longer-term contractual commitments.Market StrategyProvide market intelligence and customer feedback to inform future product design and enhancements and commercialization and GTM strategy.Analyze government and private priorities and budgets to position our solutions effectively within the wildfire prevention and lightning forecasting market.Position Skyward as a trusted partner with wildfire services, utilities, and insurers.Represent Skyward at conferences, working groups and government forums.About YouProven Track Record: Proven track record selling into government agencies, wildfire/emergency management, utilities, or other highly regulated sectors with experience closing multi-year multi-million dollar agreements.Business Development Mindset: Skilled at entering new categories, opening greenfield markets, and shaping early-stage demand.Contracting Expertise: Creative and persistent in navigating complex government procurement and enterprise contracting processes.People Person: A natural relationship-builder with strong communication & negotiationSelf-Starter: Entrepreneurial spirit, thrives in the ambiguity & urgency of a startup.Ambitious & Mission-Driven: Excited to tackle the global wildfire challenge and build a category-defining business.Excellent Communication & Presentation Skills: Ability to convey the value and technical details of our solutions clearly and confidently to diverse audiences.Qualifications7+ years in business development, sales, or partnerships, ideally selling new technology in emergency management, wildfire, defense, public safety, or tech sectors.Experience closing multi-million dollar, complex annual contracts with government and/or enterprise customers. Familiarity with the intricacies of public procurement.Previous success entering new industries and driving resultsBachelor’s degree in business, public policy, or related field (MBA an asset).Why Skyward?Join a mission-driven startup tackling an urgent climate crisisWork alongside innovators at the cutting edge of atmospheric science, AI, and wildfireShape an entirely new business category in lightning risk forecasting and suppressionCompetitive compensation with strong short & long-term performance incentivesHow to ApplyPlease submit a brief letter of interest and your resume (in one document).

Active Impact Investments