How to apply for Director, Business Development

About Kambo Energy Group

Kambo Energy Group is a certified minority-owned social enterprise founded in 2009. It designs and delivers energy, transportation, and housing programs with utilities, governments, and Indigenous and Tribal Nations across North America. Its work centers community priorities by hiring locally and co-creating programs with historically underserved populations.

About the role

The Director, U.S. Business Development reports to the VP, Growth Operations and leads Kambo's expansion into the United States. The role focuses on building strategic partnerships, securing new business, and strengthening relationships with utilities, governments, and partner organizations. Success means developing a pipeline of opportunities and positioning Kambo well before procurements are released.

A typical day

A typical day likely involves calls with U.S. utility, government, or Tribal Nation contacts to build relationships and track upcoming procurements. You would also coordinate with the VP, Growth Operations and internal teams on proposals, partnership strategy, and pipeline updates. Because the role is remote and U.S.-focused, travel to meet partners and attend industry events is likely part of the schedule.

Who Kambo Energy Group is looking for

• Has a track record of winning business with U.S. utilities, government agencies, or Tribal Nations, ideally in energy efficiency, retrofits, or community programs.
• Is relationship-first and comfortable building executive-level partnerships over long sales cycles, before formal procurements are released.
• Understands equitable program design and can speak credibly about co-creating with historically underserved populations.
• Can work remotely and independently to develop a new U.S. market while coordinating with a Canadian-based team.

Tips for this application

• Name specific U.S. utilities, government agencies, or Tribal Nations you have worked with and describe the outcomes you delivered.
• Show how you have built pipeline before a procurement was released, not just how you responded to RFPs.
• Connect your experience to Kambo's in-house programs: Empower Me, Community Power, and the Home Upgrades Program.
• Address the minority-owned social enterprise model directly and explain why it fits your approach to business development.
• Since the role is remote and U.S.-focused, state your location, travel willingness, and familiarity with U.S. utility and government procurement processes.

What to cover in your cover letter

Emphasize your U.S. utility, government, or Tribal Nation relationships and the revenue or partnerships you generated. Explain how you build relationships before procurements are released. Show understanding of equitable, community-led program design. State why a minority-owned social enterprise expanding into the U.S. is the right fit for your experience.

Research before applying

• Read about Kambo's three in-house programs: Empower Me, Community Power, and the Home Upgrades Program.
• Look up Kambo's existing partnerships with utilities, governments, and Indigenous and Tribal Nations in North America.
• Research U.S. utility energy efficiency and retrofit procurement processes in the regions Kambo might target.
• Find public information on Kambo's award-winning approach and how it hires locally and centers community priorities.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would build a U.S. pipeline from scratch for a Canadian social enterprise with no established U.S. brand.
• Specific examples of executive relationships you developed with utilities, governments, or Tribal Nations and how they turned into contracts.
• How you approach co-creating programs with historically underserved populations.
• Your understanding of U.S. utility procurement cycles and how to position before an RFP is released.
• How you would work remotely with a VP, Growth Operations and a Canadian-based team to set and hit growth targets.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating this like a standard sales role and ignoring the social enterprise and community-led model.
• Listing U.S. contacts without showing how those relationships led to signed contracts or partnerships.
• Assuming U.S. procurement works the same as Canada or ignoring the need to position before RFPs are released.