Associate, Corporate Development

Summary

Harris is seeking a Corporate Development Associate to support its high-velocity mergers and acquisitions organization. The role focuses on researching and sourcing acquisition targets, building relationships with software company owners and senior leaders, managing the CRM pipeline, supporting due diligence, and delivering acquisitions.

Responsibilities

• Lead generation | Develop M&A Pipeline: Proactively identify and source software companies that align with our investment goals, using initiative to build a robust pipeline
• Outreach | Initiate and Build Key Relationships: Lead outbound prospecting through strategic, targeted outreach. You will build rapport with business owners and senior leadership, establishing strong professional connections
• Relationship Management | Trusted Partner: Develop and nurture long-term relationships with key decision-makers, building credibility and positioning Harris as the acquirer of choice
• CRM Discipline: Manage a disciplined pipeline in CRM; disciplined & relentless activities cadence, track deal stages, forecast pipeline health and driven to throughout document interactions
• Transaction Support: Support M&A site visits and prospecting trips; coordinate due‑diligence requests and information flow. Work closely with M&A team up to due diligence
• Acquisitions: Deliver transactions, the ultimate outcome of your efforts

Skills

• * **Business acumen:** Substantial hands-on financial and business experience in fast-paced, high-performing, work environments
• * **M&A experience:** Fluent in discussing the M&A process, valuations, and exiting a business. Experienced in engaging with founders and senior executives
• * **An exceptional relationship builder:**  A skilled conversationalist with genuine curiosity about others and a knack for listening. Builds trust by focusing on the business owner's stories, goals, and motivations rather than their own
• * **A natural, outgoing connector:** Naturally engages with people in everyday life, effortlessly building rapport in casual interactions. Comfortable reaching out, connecting, and fostering relationships with business owners
• * **Highly efficient research and outreach skills:** A quick study who can profile, assess, and interpret a company and its leaders within minutes, then confidently initiate tailored outreach
• * **Intellectual curiosity:** Continuously observes, analyzes, and learns from each interaction, building on past experiences to gain deeper insight
• * **A high achiever:** A hands-on contributor with a track record of outstanding performance. Committed to achieving a high rate of meaningful connections. Patiently persistent and resourceful, using thoughtful and creative approaches to engage business owners
• * **Financial literacy**: ability to interpret financial statements and discuss basic valuation drivers
• * **Committed**:  Career history of working at employers >3+ years
• * **Communication**: Advanced communication & interpersonal skills
• * **Discipline:** Exceptional self drive, meticulous organization, relentless execution of daily tasks
• * **Urgency:** Extraordinary work ethic, proactive with a sense of urgency
• * **“Hunter” mentality:** demonstrable success in cold outreach
• * **Long Term Mindset:** extensive meaningful long-term relationships in personal life
• * **Travel:** 10–20% within Canada/USA for founder meetings and industry events
• * •   K-12 or Higher Education industry background | SME •    Investment sourcing/origination •    Outbound SaaS sales •    Investment banking or other investing roles •    Growth/GTM (early/growth stage or sponsor-backed)
• **Location:** Preference for Toronto, but open to remote candidates (within Canada, US)

Qualifications

Must Haves

• * **Business acumen:** Substantial hands-on financial and business experience in fast-paced, high-performing, work environments
• * **M&A experience:** Fluent in discussing the M&A process, valuations, and exiting a business. Experienced in engaging with founders and senior executives
• * **An exceptional relationship builder:**  A skilled conversationalist with genuine curiosity about others and a knack for listening. Builds trust by focusing on the business owner's stories, goals, and motivations rather than their own
• * **A natural, outgoing connector:** Naturally engages with people in everyday life, effortlessly building rapport in casual interactions. Comfortable reaching out, connecting, and fostering relationships with business owners
• * **Highly efficient research and outreach skills:** A quick study who can profile, assess, and interpret a company and its leaders within minutes, then confidently initiate tailored outreach
• * **Intellectual curiosity:** Continuously observes, analyzes, and learns from each interaction, building on past experiences to gain deeper insight
• * **A high achiever:** A hands-on contributor with a track record of outstanding performance. Committed to achieving a high rate of meaningful connections. Patiently persistent and resourceful, using thoughtful and creative approaches to engage business owners
• * **Financial literacy**: ability to interpret financial statements and discuss basic valuation drivers
• * **Committed**:  Career history of working at employers >3+ years
• * **Communication**: Advanced communication & interpersonal skills
• * **Discipline:** Exceptional self drive, meticulous organization, relentless execution of daily tasks
• * **Urgency:** Extraordinary work ethic, proactive with a sense of urgency
• * **“Hunter” mentality:** demonstrable success in cold outreach
• * **Long Term Mindset:** extensive meaningful long-term relationships in personal life
• * **Travel:** 10–20% within Canada/USA for founder meetings and industry events
• * •   K-12 or Higher Education industry background | SME •    Investment sourcing/origination •    Outbound SaaS sales •    Investment banking or other investing roles •    Growth/GTM (early/growth stage or sponsor-backed)

Nice to Haves

• **Location:** Preference for Toronto, but open to remote candidates (within Canada, US)

Benefits

• Open to remote candidates (within Canada, US)
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits.
• Robust training and development, including mentorship from experienced M&A professionals and exposure to the full deal lifecycle.
• Career growth within an acquisitive, growth oriented, decentralized organization | ability to grow within an organization over the long term
• $40,000 variable compensation