Role overview

The salary range for this position is $100,000 to $115,000 plus a competitive bonus and incentive package. Final compensation will be determined based on relevant skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, eligible employees may be entitled to other elements of total compensation, which may include group benefits, employer RRSP contributions, & discretionary bonus or incentive programs, where applicable to the role. We are committed to offering competitive compensation & comply with all applicable pay transparency legislation. Further details regarding our total rewards program will be shared by the Talent Acquisition team during the hiring process. Canadian work experience is not a requirement for this role. Please note that artificial intelligence–based tools may be used at certain stages of the recruitment & applicant screening process.

Are you passionate about sports, live entertainment, hospitality, and creating unforgettable fan experiences?

Compass Group Canada is seeking a Director, Business Development to help drive growth across our Sports & Entertainment portfolio. This is a senior leadership opportunity for a highly motivated business development professional who thrives on building relationships, identifying opportunities, and delivering innovative hospitality solutions for stadiums, arenas, convention centres, attractions, festivals, and entertainment venues.

In this role, you will work with venue owners, operators, sports organizations, and entertainment partners to develop customized foodservice, premium hospitality, retail, and guest experience strategies that elevate the fan journey and create long-term value.

Now, if you were to come on board as our Director of Business Development, we’d ask you to do the following for us:

Develop and execute strategic growth plans focused on the Sports & Entertainment sector across Canada.
Identify, pursue, and secure new partnerships with stadiums, arenas, convention centres, entertainment venues, attractions, and major events.
Lead the full business development lifecycle, including prospecting, relationship building, solution development, proposals, RFP responses, presentations, negotiations, and contract execution.
Partner closely with operations, culinary, marketing, finance, and venue leadership teams to create winning hospitality solutions tailored to each client's vision and business objectives.
Leverage Compass Group's national scale, innovation capabilities, and premium hospitality expertise to differentiate our offering in a highly competitive market.
Identify opportunities to expand service offerings, including premium hospitality, concessions, retail, catering, sustainability initiatives, and fan engagement programs.
Build executive-level relationships with key decision-makers throughout the sports, entertainment, and venue management communities.
Represent Compass Group at industry conferences, networking events, and major venue industry gatherings.

Think you have what it takes to be our Director of Business Development?Here's how we'll know you'll be successful in the role:

Minimum 5+ years of successful business development experience, preferably within sports, entertainment, hospitality, venue management, foodservice, events, or experience-driven industries.
A proven hunter mentality with a track record of securing new business and delivering revenue growth.
Experience managing complex sales cycles and high-value contracts involving multiple stakeholders.
Strong understanding of venue operations, fan experience, premium hospitality, sponsorship, or entertainment ecosystems.
Exceptional relationship-building, presentation, and negotiation skills.
Ability to engage confidently with C-suite leaders, venue operators, team executives, and ownership groups.
Strong financial and commercial acumen, including experience developing business cases and long-term contract models.
Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to identify market trends and translate them into growth opportunities.
Willingness to travel up to 50% and maintain an active presence within the Sports & Entertainment industry