BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

About Talis Engineering

Talis Engineering is a growing engineering services firm with operations focused on the Alberta oil sands, conventional oil & gas, and energy infrastructure sectors across Canada. We deliver high-value technical, project management, and consulting solutions to upstream, midstream, and downstream operators.

We are expanding our commercial footprint and are seeking a driven, well-connected Business Development Director to open doors with oil and gas operating companies and drive revenue growth on a performance-based compensation model.

The Opportunity

This is not a traditional salaried role — it is an entrepreneurial partnership. Talis Engineering offers the right candidate a meaningful stake in the company's success through a commission-on-revenue model and direct equity ownership in the form of company shares.

Who thrives here: A self-directed professional with deep Alberta oil & gas relationships who is motivated by building something — not just working a desk. You bring the network; we bring the capability. Together, we grow.

Compensation Structure

Talis Engineering offers a transparent, performance-aligned compensation package:

• Revenue Commission: A competitive percentage of net contract value for all business secured through your efforts. Commission structure is negotiated individually based on deal size and complexity.
• Equity / Company Shares: Performance-vested equity in Talis Engineering is on the table for exceptional contributors who demonstrate sustained revenue generation. Grow the company, own a part of it.
• Fixed Salary: None. This role is for candidates who are confident in their ability to generate results and prefer uncapped earnings over a guaranteed base.

💡 Important Transparency: There is no fixed salary or guaranteed income in this role. Earnings are entirely tied to successfully secured contracts and sustained business performance. Talis Engineering is committed to fairness and will always honour earned commissions and agreed equity milestones.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, target, and develop new client relationships with oil & gas operating companies across Alberta and Canada (upstream, midstream, downstream, oil sands, conventional)
• Leverage an existing professional network to accelerate introductions to procurement leads, project managers, and C-suite decision makers
• Develop and execute a strategic business development plan aligned with Talis Engineering's service capabilities
• Lead proposal preparation, RFP responses, client presentations, and contract negotiations
• Represent Talis Engineering at industry events, conferences, and association meetings (PSAC, CAPP, CEPA, and others)
• Build and maintain a robust CRM pipeline with accurate forecasting and activity tracking
• Collaborate with Talis leadership and technical teams to ensure proposed scopes match delivery capacity
• Identify emerging market opportunities, sector shifts, and regulatory changes that create service demand
• Drive repeat business and long-term account relationships with key operator clients

Required Qualifications

Experience & Industry Knowledge

• Minimum 15 years of progressive business development experience in Alberta's oil & gas sector
• Demonstrated track record of securing engineering, consulting, or technical services contracts with oil & gas operating companies
• Deep familiarity with Alberta's major operating basins: oil sands (SAGD/mining), Montney, Duvernay, conventional heavy oil, and associated infrastructure
• Understanding of how operating companies procure engineering and technical services (MSAs, approved vendor lists, RFP processes)
• Experience working with or selling to companies such as Cenovus, Imperial Oil, ConocoPhillips, Canadian Natural Resources, Suncor, Pembina, TC Energy, Enbridge, or similar

Relationships & Network

• An established, active professional network with key decision-makers at oil & gas operating companies across Alberta, this is non-negotiable
• Ability to convert relationships into revenue-generating opportunities within a reasonable timeframe
• Strong reputation and credibility in Alberta's energy sector community

Personal Attributes

• Entrepreneurial mindset; you are comfortable with performance-based compensation and motivated by ownership
• Self-directed and disciplined; you do not need daily management to stay productive
• Resilient and persistent; long sales cycles and relationship-building require patience and follow-through
• Excellent communicator, both written and verbal; skilled at presenting to senior stakeholders
• Professional, polished, and trustworthy; you protect both your reputation and Talis Engineering's brand

The Ideal Candidate: Who Are We Looking For?

We are specifically targeting experienced, mid-career professionals (typically 40–60 years of age) who:

• Have spent their career building credibility in Alberta's oil & gas industry and are now ready to monetize their network in a flexible, high-upside structure
• May be transitioning from a corporate BD or sales role and seeking an entrepreneurial opportunity without the constraints of a large organization
• Are looking to build equity, not just earn a paycheque, and want to be recognized as a stakeholder in a growing firm
• Have the financial stability to operate in a commission-based model without the pressure of immediate income needs
• Are still deeply connected and active in the industry, not retired or semi-retired from meaningful client engagement
• Take pride in their personal brand and are known as trustworthy, deal-closing professionals

What Talis Engineering Brings to the Table

• A capable, credentialed technical team ready to deliver on the contracts you secure
• Executive-level support in proposal development, client engagement, and contract execution
• Flexibility; work from your home base in Alberta with a schedule that suits your style
• Transparency and integrity in all commercial arrangements; equity and commission terms are documented and honoured
• A growing company at the right stage for a BD partner to make a defining impact
• Direct access to company leadership; no layers of corporate bureaucracy
• Long-term partnership vision; we are building something together, not just filling a role

Please Read Before Applying

We believe in full transparency. This is an honest summary of what to expect:

• There is no base salary. Income is entirely dependent on your ability to secure paid client engagements.
• Oil & gas BD cycles can be long (3–12 months from first contact to signed contract). Early months may produce little income.
• Market conditions in Alberta's energy sector can affect client spending; some periods will be slower than others.
• Success in this role is not guaranteed, it depends on effort, network quality, and market conditions.
• The upside, however, is real. Successful BD Directors in this model can earn significantly more than a salaried equivalent, while building lasting equity.

How to Apply

If this opportunity resonates with you, we want to hear from you. Please submit the following:

• A brief professional profile or resume (PDF preferred) highlighting your oil & gas BD experience
• A short cover letter (or email body) describing your network in Alberta's oil & gas sector and two to three specific client relationships you could bring to the table
• Your preferred commission and equity structure expectations

Send your submission to:

careers@talisengineering.com | Subject: BD Director Application - [Your Name]

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Qualified candidates will be contacted for a confidential introductory conversation.

Talis Engineering Inc. | Building Alberta's Energy Future, Together.