LEAD, AI-NATIVE INCUBATOR (Temporary 18-24 Months)

We are banking at another level.

Choosing BDC as your employer means working in a healthy, inclusive, and skilled workplace that puts forward the best conditions to bring together unique teams where employees are empowered to act. It also means being at the centre of ambitious economic and financial projects to see further and to do things differently, to fuel the success of Canadian entrepreneurs.

Choosing BDC as your employer also means:

• 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... 

Explore the BDC Way in our Culture Book

*Please note that this role is temporary for 18-24 months.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Imagine redesigning how entrepreneurs access financing from the ground up.

At BDC, we believe the future of banking will be AI-native, client-centric, and built around entirely new ways of creating value for Canadian entrepreneurs. As part of BDC’s AI transformation strategy, we are launching an independent incubator focused on reimagining financing for SMEs, with AI embedded at the core of how solutions are designed and built, with a mandate to rapidly test and iterate on the next generation of financing experiences.

As the Lead of the AI-Native Banking Incubator, you will operate as the lead of this initiative, with full accountability for transforming vision into a viable solution for the organization. You will build and lead a startup-style venture within BDC, assembling a multidisciplinary team, defining the product strategy, delivering a market-ready MVP, and creating a scalable blueprint for the future of banking.

Every aspect of how the team operates leverages AI—from research and ideation to development and go-to-market. The objective is not only to accelerate, but to fundamentally change how products are designed and delivered by embedding AI into each decision and workflow.

This is not a traditional leadership role. It is an opportunity to build the future of banking.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Success in this role is not defined by delivering a project—it is defined by creating a new reality for how SMEs access financing. You will take a concept from zero to a live, client-facing product that is used by real entrepreneurs and delivers measurable value. This solution will not simply digitize the existing experience—it will fundamentally reshape it, demonstrating a step-change in speed, simplicity, and relevance through an approach that challenges traditional banking models. You will have proven that a new model can work at BDC, with a product ready to scale and a blueprint that can redefine how we build and deliver financial services.

CHALLENGES TO BE MET

Build the Future of Banking

• Lead the creation of a new AI-native financing model designed from AI- first principles.
• Define the long-term vision, value proposition, and strategic direction for the AI-Native Banking Incubator.
• Reimagine how entrepreneurs access financing through AI, automation, data, and modern digital experiences.
• Establish a compelling North Star metric and success framework.

Build and Launch New Products

• Lead the end-to-end design, development, and delivery of innovative financing solutions.
• Define product strategy, customer journeys, use cases, and MVP priorities.
• Ensure delivery of a successful MVP and pilot with real clients.

Build and Lead a High-Performing Team

• Assemble, lead, and develop a multidisciplinary founding team.
• Foster a culture of ownership, experimentation, collaboration, and accountability.
• Create agile ways of working that enable startup-level speed.

Drive Enterprise Alignment and Strategic Partnerships

• Build relationships with executive leaders and key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with risk, governance, compliance, and operational teams.
• Develop strategic partnerships with fintechs and technology providers.
• Get to know current ways of working and parameters to better establish future needs.

Create the Path to Scale

• Design and prove operating models that can scale beyond the incubator, with a clear path to adoption across BDC.
• Develop a roadmap for integration into BDC’s future operations.
• Enable sustainable growth and long-term value creation.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Proven experience building and launching new products, ventures, or platforms from concept to market including AI initiatives.
• Track record in startup, fintech, innovation, or high-growth environments.
• Exceptional product instincts and customer-centric thinking.
• Entrepreneurial builder mindset with a strong bias for action.
• Strong results orientation, with ability to move quickly, prioritize effectively and deliver on tangible outcomes in the short cycles.
• Strong intellectual curiosity and willingness to quickly build a deep understanding of the banking environment, including its regulatory and legislative foundations.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams through ambiguity and change.
• Understanding of AI technologies and digital business models.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; MBA or graduate degree is an asset.
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Bilingualism is required

WHY JOIN BDC?

This is a rare opportunity to combine the scale and purpose of a national development bank with the freedom and energy of a startup. You will be entrusted with one of BDC’s most ambitious strategic initiatives and have the opportunity to shape how financing is delivered to Canadian entrepreneurs for years to come. You will not be improving an existing process—you will be helping build the future of banking.

*Please note that temporary employees are not eligible for benefits.

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 accessibility@bdc.ca.

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