Senior Manager, Partnerships & Programs, Business Events

Location: Vancouver or Ottawa (Hybrid) | Rest of Canada (Remote)

Department: Business Events

Employment Type: Full Time / Term (3-year fixed term contract)

Language Designation: English Essential

Posting Close Date: March 23, 2026

Tourism is the heartbeat of communities from coast to coast to coast. At Destination Canada, our aspiration for the tourism industry is to generate wealth and wellbeing for all of Canada and enrich the lives of our guests. Our mission is to influence supply and build demand for the benefit of locals, communities and visitors through leading research, alignment with public and private sectors, and marketing Canada nationally and abroad. We seek diverse, ingenious thinkers teeming with intellectual curiosity and a deep desire to grow Canada’s tourism industry – strengthening the socio-cultural, environmental and economic vitality tourism brings to Canada.

Destination Canada is seeking a Senior Manager, Partnerships and Programs to support the delivery of partner engagement initiatives and client-facing programs that advance our Business Events objectives.

This role ensures that Destination Canada’s partnerships and engagement platforms are effectively activated through international marketplaces, trade shows, and other business events. Working in close collaboration with the events team and other internal stakeholders, the Senior Manager focuses on the partner and client engagement components of these activations, ensuring that Canadian partners are positioned for success and that engagement objectives are achieved.

The Senior Manager serves as the primary lead for partnership stewardship, program oversight, and agreement fulfillment, ensuring that partner value is delivered through coordinated engagement initiatives and strong relationship management. Supported by a Partnerships and Programs Coordinator, the role enables consistent execution, clear partner communication, and effective delivery of engagement activities aligned with Business Events priorities.

This position plays an important role in maintaining strong relationships with Canadian industry partners and supporting meaningful engagement with international clients through well-executed programs and collaborative initiatives that contribute to attracting business events to Canada.

Engagement

• Oversee the delivery of client engagement initiatives that support Destination Canada’s Business Events priorities, with a focus on engagement platforms delivered through partnerships, activations, and international marketplaces.
• Ensure Canadian partners are equipped with meaningful opportunities to connect with international clients through curated touchpoints, onsite engagement moments, and coordinated programs.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align engagement activities with our Business Events objectives, ensuring consistency in messaging, partner value, and client experience across key markets.
• Support the evolution of client engagement approaches as team structures and market needs shift, maintaining a strong focus on practical, high-impact engagement delivery.
• Contribute to the development of engagement measurement tools and partner feedback mechanisms to support continuous improvement and accountability.

Canadian Partner Engagement

• Maintain and strengthen relationships with Canadian industry partners, ensuring consistent communication, transparency, and alignment with Business Events priorities.
• Oversee partner engagement planning across key activations and programs, ensuring partners understand available platforms, participation models, and value propositions.
• Identify opportunities to enhance partner collaboration and participation in trade shows, marketplaces, and Business Events initiatives.
• Provide oversight of partnership agreements and commitments, ensuring fulfillment, accountability, and strong stewardship in collaboration with the Coordinator, Partnerships and Programs.
• Gather and synthesize partner feedback to inform program refinement and continuous improvement of engagement models.

Strategic Partnerships

• Lead the stewardship and activation of Destination Canada’s strategic partnerships, including, but not limited to, key global associations such as CESSE, PCMA, and ASAE.
• Ensure partnership objectives are clearly defined, operationalized, and delivered through coordinated engagement plans, activations, and collaborative initiatives.
• Monitor partnership commitments, deliverables, and performance to ensure alignment with contractual agreements and Business Events priorities.
• Represent Destination Canada within strategic partner networks, fostering strong relationships and identifying opportunities to enhance visibility and engagement within these platforms.
• Collaborate with internal teams to maximize the impact of strategic partnerships across marketing, communications, and other Business Events initiatives.

Tradeshows and Marketplaces

• Oversee the partner and client engagement components of Destination Canada’s presence at international trade shows, marketplaces, and other DC Business Events activations.
• Ensure Canadian partners are supported with effective engagement platforms, participation models, and coordinated touchpoints that enhance business development opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align engagement objectives, partner communications, and client-facing messaging across key events and marketplaces.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of engagement approaches within trade show environments, ensuring partner value and client connection remain central to Destination Canada’s activations.

Strategic Initiatives

• Support the integration of priority Business Events initiatives—such as sustainability, legacy, and sector positioning—within engagement platforms and partner programs.
• Contribute to select speaking engagements, industry panels, or collaborative initiatives where partnership or engagement expertise is required, in alignment with Business Events priorities.

• Post-secondary degree in business, commerce, economic development, politics, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 7-10 years of progressive experience in business events or related field
• In-depth knowledge of the global Meetings, Conventions, and Incentive Travel (MC&IT) industry, with a strong understanding of Canada’s MCIT landscape, tourism infrastructure, and key destinations.
• Exceptional networking and communication skills, with the ability to engage with top-level executives across sectors and a proven track record in community networking or membership/influencer activities
• A track record of inspiring and leading high-performing, collaborative teams toward ambitious goals.
• A strategic, innovative thinker with demonstrated success in long-term planning and developing creative sales strategies.
• Skilled in prospecting, research, and identifying business development opportunities.
• Outstanding public speaking and presentation abilities
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex projects
• Highly proficient with Microsoft Office, CRM platforms, database management, and adaptable to emerging technologies and tools, including social media.

Salary range: $120,336 - $150,420

Within the range, the base pay offered is determined by multiple factors, including job-related skills and relevant education/experience. Please note starting salaries for new hires typically fall between the minimum and mid-point of the range, to support internal equity and allow room for progression as employees grow and excel in their roles. The range above reflects base pay only and does not include the competitive at-risk pay program and benefits that we offer!

Other components of our total rewards offerings include:

• Extended health and dental benefits
• Minimum 3 weeks of accrued vacation plus other paid time off
• Employee assistance program
• Defined contribution pension plan
• Generous parenthood top-up
• Flexible working options like compressed workweek and hybrid model
• Support towards your professional growth with learning and development opportunities, mentorship and more.

• This is a three-year term role, with a fixed end date
• This is a unionized role
• Extensive travel is required including international travel
• This role is remote for candidates based outside Vancouver or Ottawa. Candidates located in Vancouver or Ottawa will follow a hybrid work model.

At Destination Canada, we believe that Canada's diversity is its greatest asset and is what touches travellers' hearts most deeply. To that end, we are committed to inclusive leadership within our workplace, workforce, and interactions with partners and travellers alike. Destination Canada is an equal opportunity employer committed to reflecting Canada's diversity through fair and accessible hiring and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. If you require accommodations at any point in the recruitment process, please reach out to [email protected].

We know that applying for a new job can be both exciting and intimidating, and we sincerely appreciate your interest and effort. Only those applicants under consideration will be contacted.