EXECUTIVE ADVISOR, HIGH IMPACT FIRMS (DEFENCE SECTOR)

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• Flexible and competitive benefits, including an Employee Savings and Investment Plan where BDC matches part of your voluntary contributions, a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, a $750 wellness and health care spending account, to name a few   

• In addition to paid vacation each year, five personal days, sick days as necessary, and our offices are closed from December 25 to January 1

• A hybrid work model that truly balances work and personal life

• Opportunities for learning, training and development, and much more... 

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Passionate about making an impact and helping ambitious, high-potential entrepreneurs grow their business? Join the High-Impact Firms team as an Executive Advisor!

The Executive Advisor, High Impact Firms (XA) – BDC Advisory Services, serves as the key connection/resource to support CEOs (client) in our flagship solution, the Growth Driver Program (GDP). 

The XA leads a delivery team especially selected to help the client achieve their objectives. The XA works directly with the CEO and senior leadership team of some of the most promising businesses in Canada to help ensure their company is ready for scaling, and to develop and select strategic growth opportunities. Unlike typical advisors, the HIF team remains involved, supporting the client as they implement and execute their plan.

High-Impact Firms Advisory Practice

Established more than 10 years ago, the High-Impact Firms advisory practice supports a select group of firms who have the ambition and potential to become sustainable leaders in their industries. 

The GDP is a transformational journey for CEOs and their businesses.  It is an intense multi-year advisory relationship between an experienced delivery team and the client’s executive leadership team.  The team doesn’t just deliver a report, they support the client through implementation.

The delivery team is composed of a senior, highly experienced Executive Advisor, who has been in similar situations as the CEO.  Complementing the team is the Business Advisor, an experienced, whip-smart advisor who has the horsepower to generate key insights and help lead the client on their GDP journey.

POSITION OVERVIEW

BDC is the only bank dedicated exclusively to Canadian entrepreneurs. As Executive Advisor, High Impact Firms (Defence), you act as the senior advisor and primary point of contact for CEOs participating in BDC Advisory Services’ Growth Driver Program (GDP).

You lead complex, multi‑year advisory engagements with high‑potential Canadian SMEs in the defence supply chain, working closely with their executive teams and BDC delivery partners.
Your work contributes directly to the growth, resilience, and long‑term success of Canadian businesses, while reflecting BDC’s inclusive, impact‑driven approach where you can be yourself at work.

CHALLENGES TO BE MET

• Serve as the trusted advisor to CEOs and their leadership teams, directing GDP mandates end‑to‑end and ensuring measurable impact on growth, profitability, and achieving the client’s objectives.

• Manage an active portfolio of 8–12 high‑impact SME clients at various stages of multi‑year advisory engagements within the Canadian defence sector and supply chain.

• Lead and coordinate delivery teams (Executive Advisors, Business Advisors, Directors of Service Delivery, Client Partners, and Defence specialists) to ensure a “one‑voice” client experience.

• Act as senior sales and qualification support during business development, including identifying GDP opportunities, supporting deal closure, and transitioning clients into delivery.

• Become deeply knowledgeable about each client’s business, strategy, operating model, and leadership challenges to guide decision‑making at CEO and executive team level.

• Support CEOs through strategy definition, execution, implementation follow‑through, and leadership development, including post‑Leadership Retreat coaching.

• Help clients secure the required resources to execute their strategy, by helping clients access appropriate advisory, financing, capital resources, and/or external ecosystem resources aligned with their strategic priorities.

• Track, assess, and report client performance against objectives over time using BDC CRM and advisory tools.

• Maintain strong internal collaboration across BDC Advisory Services, Financing, Capital, and Defence teams, ensuring compliance with rules of engagement.

• Represent BDC externally by building credibility and relationships within the defence advisory and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

• Provide structured feedback from the field to continuously improve advisory solutions, toolkits, and delivery approaches.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Required Qualifications

• Total experience: Minimum 20–25 years of professional experience.

• Senior leadership experience: Minimum 15–20 years in one or more of the following:

• Founder, owner, or C‑suite executive in a high-growth entrepreneurial firm.

• Executive leadership role in a multi‑national organization, with P&L responsibility and accountability for strategy execution and growth.

• Partner‑level management consulting experience advising CEOs, executive teams, and Boards.

• Defence sector experience: Senior executive experience within a company in the defence sector or defence supply chain.

• Strategic leadership: Proven experience defining strategy, communicating vision, executing strategic plans, and leading organizations through growth, change, or transformation.

• Experience with strategic pivots: Given the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of defence and security environments, comfort and proven experience with strategic pivots as the nature of competition and needs of customers rapidly change.

• CEO‑level advisory and executive coaching capability: Demonstrated ability to build trusted advisory relationships with CEOs and senior executives.

• Business acumen: Ability to quickly assess complex businesses, identify performance gaps, and translate insights into actionable solutions.

• Cross‑enterprise exposure: Experience with complex organizations (typically >$100M in revenue) involving growth, restructuring, acquisitions, divestitures, fundraising, and talent development.

• Change leadership: Hands‑on experience leading or advising organizations through change, including operating model shifts, new product introductions, GTM initiatives, or organizational redesign.

• CRM discipline: Experience using CRM systems to document client engagements, performance metrics, and advisory activities.

• Language: bilingual French and English is preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with defence procurement, either from a government/customer perspective or supplier perspective.

• Experience navigating macro‑economic or geopolitical shifts requiring strategic pivots within the defence sector.

• Executive experience launching or scaling new business units, integrating acquisitions, or entering new markets.

• Demonstrated success acting as a growth catalyst, rallying leadership teams around new strategic priorities.

• Prior experience in executive coaching or leadership development programs.

• Established professional reputation and network within the Canadian defence ecosystem

Proudly one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible environment where all employees can thrive and feel empowered to bring their whole selves to work. If you require an accommodation to complete your application, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

While we appreciate all applications, we advise that only the candidates selected to participate in the recruitment process will be contacted.