Programs Manager

Toronto Metropolitan University; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 79,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Toronto Metropolitan University’s DMZ seeks a Programs Manager to plan and execute DMZ programs, ensuring impact for startups and partners. You will collaborate with the Executive Director to design, deliver and evaluate the program framework, developing resources that help startups reach successful outcomes.

The role requires strategic leadership, strong project management, stakeholder collaboration and a commitment to continuous program improvement, with hybrid work in Toronto.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in business administration or related field.
• Minimum five years in a project supervisory/management role in entrepreneurial ecosystems.
• Experience in program development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience supervising staff.
• Knowledge of Ontario and Canadian innovation ecosystems.
• Knowledge of economic development issues and emerging markets for tech.
• Ability to conceptualize, plan and implement innovative programming.
• Excellent client service, people management and negotiation skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Problem solving and decision making abilities.
• Experience with project management practices (scoping, timelines, budgeting).
• Strong team management for client meetings, hiring, training, performance standards.
• Strong analytical skills for issues, trends, financial analysis.
• Strong written and oral communication for reports/proposals.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work with stakeholders.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends for events.

Responsibilities

• Strategic support to the Executive Director and DMZ management for program consistency and alignment.
• Operational management of DMZ programs from planning to delivery.
• Lead planning, development and execution of DMZ programs and initiatives.
• Develop and manage screening, onboarding, and onboarding processes for startups.
• Create feedback mechanisms from startups and manage mentoring sessions to ensure value.
• Monitor program evaluation metrics and drive continuous improvement.
• Coordinate networking, events and partnerships.
• Represent DMZ and TMU at events to connect startups with investors and partners.
• Support budget planning and ensure funds for programs.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Time management

Negotiation

Problem solving

Team management

Client service

Education

Undergraduate degree in business administration or related field

Job description

About Toronto Metropolitan

For more than 75 years, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University) has been shaping the next generation of leaders through its uniquely innovative, entrepreneurial and career-focused approach to higher education. Driven by bold leadership, cutting-edge research and a deep commitment to academic excellence, TMU collaborates with students, faculties, staff and partners to push boundaries, reimagine solutions and create meaningful change in an increasingly interconnected world.

The team

DMZ is a tech incubator and startup ecosystem that fuels entrepreneurship in Canada and beyond. Through its award-winning programs, DMZ empowers founders to scale high-impact ventures, helps students develop entrepreneurial mindsets and equips professionals to thrive in today’s fast-moving economy. By offering tailored support, world-class resources and expansive networks, DMZ nurtures bold ideas, drives business growth and creates global economic impact. To date, DMZ has supported 2680+ startups in raising $3.25 billion in capital and has created over 25,400 jobs. Headquartered in Toronto, DMZ operates a global network of hubs spanning 15+ countries, enabling entrepreneurs to access diverse markets, collaborate internationally and drive global innovation. In April 2022, the university announced its new name of Toronto Metropolitan University. Learn more about our next chapter.

The Opportunity

The Programs Manager will manage the planning and execution of DMZ’s programs to ensure responsiveness and effectiveness of initiatives, programs and services available to DMZ entrepreneurs and partners, in collaboration with the Executive Director. The successful candidate will also manage the design, development, delivery and evaluation of the DMZ programs’ framework and work plan, in consultation with the Executive Director. Creates high-quality and relevant resources and tools to facilitate successful programming for DMZ companies to reach successful outcomes.

Other Responsibilities Will Include But Are Not Limited To

• Strategic support to the Executive Director and DMZ management to ensure consistent programs, alignment with DMZ culture and help achieve overall mission, vision and goals.
• Operational management of DMZ programs, from planning to implementation/delivery.
• Leads the overall planning, development and execution of DMZ Programs including year-round DMZ programs and initiatives that engage the DMZ’s target audience and establish the

DMZ as a hub for tech innovation expertise and entrepreneurship. Defines and develops program scope and objectives, timetables and deliverables.

• Develops and manages the screening, onboarding and outgoing processes for start-ups, to ensure they integrate well into the DMZ culture, and properly align with goals of the programs offered by the DMZ.
• Develops and implements a mechanism for generating feedback from startup companies, assesses their ongoing state as it relates to capital raising, investor relations and customer connections to ensure startup success and manages the one-on-one mentoring sessions to ensure companies are receiving adequate value from programming.
• Ensures development and implementation program evaluation metrics, reviews the effectiveness of programs in achieving the desired and expected outcomes for the entrepreneurs and/or external stakeholders.and optimizes opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Networking, events and partnership coordination.
• Represents the DMZ and the University at various networking events, expos, and tech industry related events around the world to connect with external investors, and partners and facilitates introductions between startups and external investors.
• Finance, infrastructure and HR Management
• Supports the Director with annual operational budgeting. Monitors expenses against the budget, ensures that programs are adequately funded, and that funds are expended in an appropriate manner to facilitate cash flow availability.

Leadership Competencies

Leaders at TMU are required to demonstrate the following Leadership Competencies:

• Acts with Integrity: Demonstrates behaviors aligned with high ethical standards and personal integrity and acts in accordance with TMU values.
• Builds Relationships of Trust & Collaboration: Actively builds a culture of trust and fosters meaningful relationships.
• Leads Inclusively: Creates an inclusive environment where everyone is respected, recognized, empowered to achieve their potential, and valued for their differences.
• Demonstrates Organizational Acumen: Understands and respectfully navigates complex internal and external environments using sound judgment, diplomacy, and tact.
• Drives Vision & Results: Creates and implements a vision grounded in sound decision-making to achieve desired outcomes.

Qualifications

To help us learn more about you, please provide a cover letter and resume describing how you meet the following required qualifications

• Completion of an undergraduate degree in business administration or a related field.
• A minimum of five years of work experience in a project supervisory or management role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, such as business accelerator / incubator environment with the following requirements:
• Demonstrated experience in program development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation that help entrepreneurs and founders.
• Experience supervising staff.
• Knowledge of the Ontario and Canadian innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems;
• Knowledge of current economic development issues, and in-depth understanding of emerging markets and area of opportunity to be leveraged by emerging technologies;
• Conceptualizing, planning and implementing innovative programming;
• Excellent client service skills, people management skills and negotiation skills;
• Strong organizational and time management skills;
• Problem solving, decision making skills.
• Demonstrated experience with project management practices and techniques (defining scope, timelines, deliverables, facilitating resources, reporting, anticipating issues and risks), including experience in implementing industry business systems to ensure project deliverables are achieved on time, within budget and to specifications.
• Strong team management to facilitate client-team meetings, to oversee and supervise project staff and their activities, including hiring, training, determining priorities and deliverables, set performance standards and identify training needs.
• Strong analytical skills to identify issues, trends, opportunities and financial analysis skills to support project updates.
• Solid oral and written communication skills for report/proposal writing, ensure sufficient documentation, prepare financial reports.
• Strong interpersonal relationship skills to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, identify trends, issues, developments, partners and collaborators.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends to participate in events that support participating companies.

Additional Information (MAC)

Position Number20004655

Reports ToExecutive Director

DepartmentDMZ

Employee GroupMAC

Vacancy TypeTerm

This is a current vacancy

Work LocationHybrid (3-4 days in-person/on campus) and the remaining day(s) working remotely based on operational requirements and subject to change and attendance at events, evenings

Start DateASAP

End Date1 year from start date

Hours of Work 36.25

Grade C51

Salary ScaleMin: $78,550; Job Rate:$102,012; Max: $125,475Target hiring salary range$92,000 up to a maximum Job Rate: $102,012

TA SpecialistLaurie Shemavonian, [e-mail]

Posting DateSeptember 3, 2026

Application Close DateSeptember 17, 2026

• Equivalent experience or a combination of equivalent experience and education may be accepted in place of education.
• As part of the selection process, candidates may be required to complete an occupational assessment.
• Applications will only be accepted online through Toronto Metropolitan University’s career site.
• We will provide an accessible experience for applicants, students, employees, and members of the Toronto Metropolitan University community. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the recruitment process. If you have restrictions that need to be accommodated to fully participate in any phase of the recruitment process, please submit your request through the AskHR webform. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.