Regional Advisor, Academic-Industry Partnerships

Mitacs; Kelowna; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Mitacs, a mission-driven organization, seeks an Advisor, Academic-Industry Partnerships to develop research and innovation partnerships across the Okanagan and Thompson-Okanagan regions. You will engage post-secondary institutions, industry, not-for-profits, and economic development partners, guiding partnerships from initial discussions through project development and applications.

The role requires an advanced degree or equivalent, strong relationship-building and communication skills, and

Qualifications

• An advanced degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience in research, innovation, partnership development, economic development, business development, or a related field.
• Experience building relationships in academic, industry, government, community, or not-for-profit environments.
• Experience coordinating or advancing projects, partnerships, applications, or other opportunities involving multiple participants.
• Ability to listen to and understand partner needs and identify potential connections to research, innovation, or talent-development opportunities.
• Knowledge of post-secondary research environments and an understanding of the interests and needs of researchers, students, and institutional partners.
• Strong relationship-management and interpersonal skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with academic, business, community, and organizational stakeholders.
• Strong presentation and public-engagement skills.
• Ability to organize work, manage multiple opportunities, and establish priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to work independently while seeking input and collaborating with colleagues when appropriate.
• Ability to develop practical knowledge of Mitacs programs and clearly explain program requirements and partnership pathways to prospective participants.
• Adaptability, curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to develop new relationships and explore new partnership opportunities.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to support the development of complete, high-quality project applications.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly within the region to meet with partners and participate in events.
• Knowledge of written and spoken English is required in this role, as the successful candidate will interact with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders located across Canada.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with post-secondary institutions, industry, not-for-profit organizations, community partners, and economic development organizations across the region.
• Build productive working relationships with regional post-secondary institutions such as UBC Okanagan, Thompson Rivers University, and Okanagan College, including researchers, students, research offices, and administrative stakeholders.
• Engage prospective and existing industry and not-for-profit partners to understand their research, innovation, talent, and organizational needs.
• Identify opportunities to connect partner needs with relevant academic expertise, student and postdoctoral talent, and appropriate Mitacs programs.
• Introduce partners to Mitacs programming and provide guidance on program requirements, project development, and application processes.
• Support prospective partnerships from initial exploration through project and application development, coordinating with internal Mitacs teams as required.
• Develop and maintain relationships with regional economic development organizations and other innovation ecosystem partners to increase awareness of Mitacs and identify potential partnership opportunities.
• Conduct outreach to prospective partners and follow up on leads, referrals, events, and other business development opportunities.
• Represent Mitacs at regional meetings, events, and sector-focused forums.
• Support the development and implementation of regional engagement plans in collaboration with Business Development colleagues and regional leadership.
• Organize and deliver presentations, information sessions, workshops, and meetings for academic and external audiences.
• Maintain regular contact with partners and provide responsive, high-quality service throughout the development of a potential project.
• Monitor institutional priorities, regional developments, emerging sectors, and partner needs, and share relevant information with colleagues.
• Manage assigned opportunities and relationships, establish priorities, and seek guidance when opportunities involve significant complexity or strategic considerations.
• Collaborate with Mitacs Business Development, Research, Programs, and other teams to support the delivery of high-quality programming and a positive partner experience.
• Maintain accurate and timely portfolio, opportunity, and relationship information in Mitacs systems.

Skills

Relationship management

Communication skills

Public-speaking

Time management

Independent work

Travel willingness

Education

Advanced degree or equivalent

Job description

Mitacs, a mission-driven organization, seeks an Advisor, Academic-Industry Partnerships to develop research and innovation partnerships across the Okanagan and Thompson-Okanagan regions. You will engage post-secondary institutions, industry, not-for-profits, and economic development partners, guiding partnerships from initial discussions through project development and applications.

The role requires an advanced degree or equivalent, strong relationship-building and communication skills, and