Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator

University of Alberta; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

The University of Alberta is seeking a dedicated Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator to lead the design and delivery of the Explorer and Innovator programs. This hybrid role focuses on partnerships with industry, mentors, and academic outreach, coordinating content and events for undergraduates on North Campus in Edmonton.

You will build and sustain relationships with external stakeholders, plan schedules and activities, and ensure high-quality participant experiences while collaborating with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field; entrepreneurship experience is a plus.
• 2–4 years of program coordination, ecosystem development, or partnership management.
• Proven ability to build diverse external stakeholder relationships (industry, mentors, investors).
• Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to manage multiple programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; familiarity with startup ecosystems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage programming for the Explorer Program.
• Identify, recruit, and coordinate speakers, mentors, and industry experts.
• Plan and oversee program schedules, events, and educational activities.
• Collaborate with speakers to develop engaging and relevant content.
• Plan outreach and promotion strategies; on-site logistics handled by Admin under direction.
• Review program outcome data and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop partnerships and manage relationships with external stakeholders.
• Lead mentor-founder matching and coordination within Innovator Program.
• Provide undergraduate entrepreneurship academic program support.

Skills

Relationship-building

Partnership development

Project management

Communication skills

Ecosystem experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Job Description

This competition is open to all applicants however; internal candidates and applicants who were former employees of the University of Alberta will be given priority consideration before external candidates. Please log in to verify your internal candidate status.

Job Description

This competition is open to all applicants however; internal candidates and applicants who were former employees of the University of Alberta will be given priority consideration before external candidates. Please log in to verify your internal candidate status.

This position has a term length of one year plus one day from the date of hire.

Location

This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person. Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton.

The Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator is the Engineering Incubator’s primary external-facing and program design role. The Program Coordinator owns the design and content development of the Explorer Program, builds and maintains strategic partnerships with external stakeholders across industry, mentorship networks, legal, finance, and manufacturing sectors, and serves as the incubator’s liaison to the broader entrepreneurship ecosystem. Within the Innovator Program, this role focuses on the relational and programmatic dimensions, mentor-founder matching, engagement quality, and cohort experience, while operational logistics are handled by the Entrepreneur Program Admin. The Program Coordinator also serves as the faculty’s primary point of contact for undergraduate entrepreneurship academic programming. This role requires strong relationship-building skills, ecosystem knowledge, and the ability to design programming that advances founder development and institutional partnerships.

Responsibilities

Explorer Program

• Develop and manage programming for the Explorer Program.
• Identify, recruit, and coordinate speakers, mentors, and industry experts.
• Plan and oversee program schedules, events, and educational activities.
• Collaborate with speakers to develop engaging and relevant content.
• Plan and oversee program communications and participant engagement strategies; on-site logistics and setup are executed by the Entrepreneur Program Admin under direction from this role.
• Review program outcome data and participant feedback compiled by the Entrepreneur Program Admin, and lead continuous improvement initiatives based on findings.
• Develop outreach and promotion strategies to drive program awareness and participation; content production and social media execution are supported by the Entrepreneur Program Admin.

External Relations

• Develop and manage strategic relationships with external partners that support incubator programming and Startup growth.
• Identify and engage potential partners in key areas, including: Legal, Manufacturing, Accounting, and Finance.
• Negotiate and coordinate partnership opportunities, benefits, and deliverables.
• Maintain regular communication with partners and identify opportunities for deeper collaboration.
• Track partnership engagement and assess partnership value and impact.
• Develop and manage relationships with external stakeholders.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for: Mentors, Founders, Pilot advisors, and Alumni companies.
• Support stakeholder engagement initiatives and events.

Innovator Program Support

• Design and refine the programmatic structure of the Innovator Program in coordination with the Operations Lead, including session content, founder development milestones, and cohort progression criteria.
• Own the mentor-founder matching process, including needs assessment, mentor alignment, and quality of ongoing engagement; logistics for onboarding sessions are coordinated with the Entrepreneur Program Admin.
• Provide programmatic founder support through structured advisory sessions, resource referrals, and connection to relevant external partners; graphic, website, and production support is provided by the Entrepreneur Program Admin.
• Define program reporting frameworks and tracking systems, working with the Operations Lead to ensure alignment with university reporting requirements and institutional KPIs.
• Analyze program metrics and performance data provided by the Entrepreneur Program Admin. synthesizing findings into actionable recommendations for program improvement.
• Lead program evaluations and produce impact reports and stakeholder updates in coordination with the Operations Lead; operational data collection is handled by the Entrepreneur Program Admin.
• Lead recruitment outreach and application review for new cohort companies, managing the selection process and communicating decisions; onboarding logistics are coordinated with the Entrepreneur Program Admin.

Engineering Entrepreneurship Undergraduate Academic Support

• Be the primary point of contact in the faculty for Undergraduate course support in entrepreneurship.
• Attend courses as a guest lecturer as needed.
• Provide material to undergraduates on clear pathways to innovation and entrepreneurship.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field; a background in entrepreneurship or innovation is an asset.
• 2–4 years of experience in program coordination, ecosystem development, partnership management, or a related role.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse external stakeholders (industry, mentors, investors).
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working in or with startup ecosystems, incubators, accelerators, or innovation hubs is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with entrepreneurship education or academic environments is an asset.

This position is subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the collective agreement between the Governors of the University of Alberta and the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package.

About Us

The University of Alberta, its buildings, labs and research stations are primarily located on the territory of Néhiyaw (Cree), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Métis, Nakoda (Stoney), Dene, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Anishinaabe (Ojibway/Saulteaux), lands that are now known as part of Treaties 6, 7 and 8 and homeland of the Métis. The University of Alberta respects the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems and cultures of all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people - from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.

All University employees have a responsibility to foster a workplace that prioritizes safety in all its forms—physical, cultural, and psychological. This is achieved by promoting a safe environment, adhering to all safety laws, policies and procedures, completing all required safety training, identifying hazards and implementing controls, reporting incidents, and contributing to a culture of belonging and respect, while endeavoring to ensure that all colleagues feel valued and safe to express their thoughts, perspectives and concerns.

The University of Alberta is committed to creating a university community where everyone feels valued, barriers to success are removed, and thriving connections are fostered. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women, First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons, members of visible minority groups, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.

L’Université de l’Alberta s’engage à créer une communauté universitaire où chaque personne se sent valorisée, où les obstacles à la réussite sont éliminés et où des connexions enrichissantes peuvent se développer. Nous accueillons les demandes de toutes les personnes qualifiées. Nous encourageons les femmes; Premières nations, Métis et Inuits; membres des groupes minoritaires visibles; personnes handicapées; personnes de toute orientation sexuelle ou identité et expression de genre; et toutes les personnes qui peuvent contribuer à la diversification des idées et à l'université à postuler.

About The Team

The Faculty of Engineering is one of North America’s top engineering schools, known for innovation, collaboration, and impact. It fosters an exceptional student experience through a holistic approach that combines technical excellence with emotional intelligence. With strong community engagement, interdisciplinary research, and a commitment to societal well-being, the faculty prepares students to lead in a rapidly evolving, global engineering landscape.