Project Leader - Lab to Market

British Columbia Institute of Technology; Burnaby; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 114,000; Full time

Job summary

The British Columbia Institute of Technology seeks a Project Leader for their Applied Research department to manage the Lab to Market project. This role focuses on collaboration with post-secondary institutions and requires strong leadership and communication skills. The ideal candidate will possess experience in managing innovation projects and will be responsible for strategic direction, budgeting, and stakeholder engagement.

Benefits

Competitive pay

Minimum of 25 days vacation

Employer-paid extended health and dental plan

Defined benefit pension plan

Flexible hybrid work arrangements

Free access to BCIT flexible learning courses

Wellness and Employee Assistance programs

Complimentary fitness membership

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in managing and administering projects.
• Expertise in Intellectual Property, entrepreneurship, and research commercialization.
• Experience in federally funded multi-partner projects.

Responsibilities

• Oversee project management and administrative leadership for the Lab to Market project.
• Develop and implement strategies for achieving project targets.
• Monitor financial resources and prepare reports for partners.

Skills

Leadership

Problem Solving

Negotiation

Organizational Skills

Financial Management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, innovation, science, engineering, or a related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

At BCIT , putting people at the core of everything we do is paramount. This idea is the foundation of BCIT’s People Vision , which describes the Institute’s goals and priorities in respect to our people. In a complex and uncertain world, it’s vital our people feel valued, supported and connected. BCIT champions a culture of innovation and global progress through people’s imagination and creativity. With a competitive compensation package, great work-life balance, and career advancement opportunities, see why we’ve earned the title of one of BC’s Top Employers for over ten years running.

Position Summary

BCIT’s Applied Research department is seeking a temporary, full-time (1.0 FTE ) Project Leader. This position serves as the key link with select colleges and universities in the Lab to Market project network, collaborates within a team of regional Program Managers and takes day to day direction and input on programming and strategies from the National Director of the College-University network for entrepreneurship and research commercialization. Responsible for the implementation and delivery of the Lab to Market project at BCIT involving internal capacity setting and external relationship building with post-secondary institutions and the entrepreneurial ecosystem network across the region. Provides project management, administrative leadership, financial and metrics reporting, and collaboration with post-secondary institutions ensuring the successful delivery of the project.

Duties & Responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Develops and implements strategies to achieve training and mentorship targets, ensuring the project is conducted in a cost effective and timely manner and the goals and participant outcomes are met and aligned with entrepreneurial and commercialization outcomes.
• Act as a resource to facilitators, instructors, researchers, learners, mentors, partners learners, and administrators on the application of the project policies and procedures.
• Conducts the project development through participation, engagement, promotion, and knowledge distribution to raise awareness of the project, including events such as pitch competitions, and demo days. Executes processes, protocols, and guidelines ensuring alignment with national standards, Tri council and Natural Sciences Engineering Research Council ( NSERC ) requirements and the entrepreneurial ecosystem to support technology transfer and commercialization.
• Monitors financial and other resources to ensure that project expenditures do not exceed the approved project budget and keeps management informed. Advises management promptly when costs may be likely to overrun, and prepares appropriate measures to deal with such eventualities.
• Prepares regular project progress reports, financial and mertic reports for internal and external partners and public distribution as required, implementing nationally standardized metrics reporting frameworks for participant data, training outcomes, EDI and other key metrics as well as interim and year end financial data.
• Liaises between post-secondary partners, government agencies, and the external entrepreneurship community to leverage research facilities and builds new linkages to post-secondary and ecosystem partners for delivering Lab to Market project.
• Conducts needs analysis and consults with technology transfer offices at partner institutions to identify opportunities suitable for the Network’s programs.
• Plans and facilitates local and regional events, including conferences and networking sessions, meetings, workshops, seminars, and focus groups, in collaboration with co-applicant institutions and partners.
• Creates and maintains relationships with existing and prospective research partners, including government program providers, industry, community, and academic organizations.
• Develops communications materials related to the project’s activities and deliverables for internal and external audiences.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS :

Education

• A bachelor’s degree in business, innovation, science, engineering, or a related field is required. Master’s degree is preferred. A combination of education and experience may be considered.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience directly related to managing and administering projects in the areas of research commercialization, entrepreneurship, or innovation.

Other Requirements

• Demonstrated experience in overseeing entrepreneurial, innovation-focused, multi-partner, federally funded projects and working within complex project framework with ability to deal with cross functional teams and multiple partners.
• Strong leadership, negotiation and problem solving skills.
• Proven ability to manage decentralized teams, inspire collaboration, and lead diverse, cross functional teams.
• Good organizational skills and high degree of self-motivation and business acumen.
• Strong financial management skills with the ability to oversee large budgets and ensure compliance with funder/Tri council and TAGFA requirements.
• Expertise in engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including academic institutions, government agencies, industry partners, and Indigenous communities.
• Superior communication skills both written and verbal with ability to communicate complex ideas and strategies clearly to diverse audiences using judgment, tact, discretion and sensitivity.
• Ability to define, track, and report on program metrics and outcomes, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with strategic goals.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work independently and as well as in a team environmental and with a highly diverse population.
• Expertise in Intellectual Property, entrepreneurship, and research commercialization.
• Must have the ability to act and represent BCIT in a professional, collegial, collaborative, and entrepreneurial manner.
• Experience building a respectful workplace culture that promotes diversity, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Proficiency in MS Office suite including word-processing, database, spreadsheet and presentation software.
• This job may be required to travel.

Additional Information

Benefits – Why you’d love working with us

• Competitive pay
• Minimum of twenty-five days of vacation (or more, depending on your position )
• Competitive employer-paid extended health and dental plan – take a look at our benefit plans !
• Defined benefit pension plan with employer contributions
• Flexible hybrid work arrangements available
• Access to most BCIT Flexible Learning courses free of charge
• Wellness and Employee Assistance programs
• Complimentary membership with free access to the Fitness Centre, Gymnasium, and more

BCIT is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring for systemically oppressed groups who have been excluded from full participation at BCIT and the larger community. This includes Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2S/LGBTQIA+. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

Persons with disabilities who require accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact [e-mail] . Please note that all applications must be submitted via the careers page portal. Email applications will not be accepted.

The British Columbia Institute of Technology acknowledges that our campuses are located on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish Nations of xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).

Salary Range

Salary Range Salary Range: $65,045 - $113,545 per annum.

Additional Salary Information

Salary prorated based on percentage and term of appointment. Salary based on education, experience and placement criteria as outlined in the Collective Agreement.

Posting Category

Posting Category Faculty

Department 2

Department 2 Applied Research Office Operations

Campus Location

Campus Location CARI Building

Bargaining Unit

Bargaining Unit BCIT Faculty and Staff Association (FSA)

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * What is the highest level of education attained?
  • GED
  • High School Diploma
  • Certificate
  • Diploma
  • Associates Degree
  • Bachelors Degree
  • Masters Degree
  • PHD
• * How many years of experience do you have in this type of position?
  • 0-1
  • 1-2
  • 3-5
  • 6-9
  • 10+
• * Where a successful applicant places within the salary range is dependent on education, experience, and placement criteria as outlined in the Collective Agreement. Are you satisfied with being placed on this range?
  • Yes
  • No
• * All positions at BCIT require on campus presence at the applicable campus location(s). This means the successful candidate must be able to and willing to relocate to the Lower Mainland. Please select from the following that best describes your situation:
  • I currently reside in the Lower Mainland
  • I do not currently reside in the Lower Mainland, however I am willing and able to relocate if found to be the successful candidate
  • I do not currently reside in the Lower Mainland and I am unwilling to relocate