Senior Director, Health and Life Sciences Innovation Hub

University of Ottawa; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 157,000 - 198,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Ottawa is seeking a Senior Director for the Health and Life Sciences Innovation Hub. This role involves strategic leadership and operational oversight to enhance the local health innovation ecosystem through partnerships and business development efforts. The ideal candidate will hold a graduate degree, have substantial management experience in related fields, and demonstrate excellence in stakeholder engagement and communication.

Qualifications

• 15 years’ management experience with R&D and commercialization.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement in the non-profit sector.
• Bilingual in French and English.

Responsibilities

• Leads initiatives to develop and fund the Innovation Hub.
• Coordinates interactions between senior leadership and government officials.
• Manages projects and partnerships to support technology development.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Communication

Financial Management

Education

Graduate degree in life sciences or a related field

Job description

Senior Director, Health and Life Sciences Innovation Hub page is loaded

Senior Director, Health and Life Sciences Innovation Hub

Apply locations Ottawa, ON Main Campus time type Full time posted on Posted Yesterday time left to apply End Date: August 11, 2025 (29 days left to apply) job requisition id JR26149

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Job Type:

Employee

Job Family:

Research and Program Support

Faculty/Service - Department:

Innovation, Partnerships & Entrepreneurship

Campus:

Main Campus

Date Posted:

July 11, 2025

Applications must be received BEFORE :

August 11, 2025

Hours per week: 35

Salary grade: Non-union Grade NM5

Salary range: $157,606- $197,007

Position purpose:
Reporting to theVice-President, Research and Innovation, the Senior Director will have the overall strategic and operational responsibility for the development and planning of the Ottawa Health and Life Sciences Innovation Hub responsible for business accelerator programs and incubator lab facilities, collaborative research programs, strategic initiatives and external marketing in support of a vibrant and entrepreneurial ecosystem on behalf of institutional and industry stakeholders.

Specific Accountabilities

• Leads, plans, organizes and monitors all initiatives related to the development and funding of the Innovation Hub in support of the commercialization of research, the creation and growth of new companies, the attraction of investment and job creation in the health and life sciences sector.
• Coordinates the representative interactions between senior University, Hospital and Research Institute leadership and ministerial officials and government offices at various levels to address critical gaps in the local innovation ecosystem.
• Leads strategic, business and operational planning for the development of common and shared infrastructure including offices, wet labs, core facilities, incubation, accelerator and industry-institutional collaborative research spaces.
• Designs, manages and evaluates projects and programs to facilitate collaboration and partnerships amongst partners and private sector to support technology development and economic growth.
• Develops and manages relationships with industry stakeholders nationally and internationally including private sector collaborators within the Biotech, Pharma, Medical Technologies and Digital Health sectors as well as angel investors, private equity, venture capital and corporate venture arms of large healthcare enterprises.
• Builds and grows an internal innovation ecosystem to share best practices and create a peer support system, maximizing co-learning, knowledge dissemination and capacity building. Actively facilitates networking and innovation activities in the regional ecosystem to stimulate entrepreneurship and collaboration.
• Build a “Smart Health” brand via the Hub’s digital media platform to promote Ottawa’s health and life sciences ecosystem on the international stage at conferences, trade shows targeting industry collaborations, investment in local companies and the attraction of small and large multinational companies to the local ecosystem.

What you will bring:

• Graduate degree in life sciences or a related field
• Fifteen (15) years’ management experience, more specifically:
  • experience in R&D and commercialization infrastructure development
  • experience in non-profit sector including stakeholder engagement and government relations and funding programs.
  • experience in private company creation, financing, and operations in health and life sciences sectors
  • experience in creating business plans and planning documents
  • experience in strategic planning and implementation
  • experience in project management
  • experience in managing financial and human resources
  • In depth knowledge of local health and life sciences ecosystem
  • In-depth knowledge of the health and life sciences innovation economy including research, accelerators, incubators, private and venture capital investment, private-public partnerships, government funding programs, economic development and investment attraction;
  • Knowledge of university, hospital and research institute culture(s) and operations;
  • Inspirational leadership illustrating the ability to foster collaboration and motivate stakeholders and colleagues through innovation and excellence;
  • Builds constructive teams that work well together to achieve results and motivate others to exceed expectations;
  • Outstanding communication skills to present and explain a complex ideas and issues to various audiences, both inside and outside the University
  • Excellent skill in writing reports for senior management and various decision-making bodies
  • Ability to evaluate and address complex issues in a clear, thoughtful manner, in order to quickly resolve them without compromising events or relationships
  • Highest level of ethics and integrity in professional matters; sensitivity for confidentiality and scrupulous commitment to the best interests of uOttawa and its researchers.
  • Bilingualism – French and English (spoken and written)

*This position may be eligible for a telework arrangement. Learn more about our telework guidelines click here

#LI-Hybrid

The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. Accordingly, we strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples in Canada, visible minorities members (racialized persons), persons with disabilities, women, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with equitable, diverse, and inclusive communities. Candidates who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups are asked to complete the confidential Self-Identification Questionnaire, to be completed at the time of application.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadians and permanent residents. When submitting your application, please indicate if you are legally entitled to work in Canada

The University of Ottawa provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you are invited to proceed in the selection process, please notify us of any accommodations that you require by contacting the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations by email at [e-mail] . Any information you send us will be handled respectfully and in complete confidence.

The University of Ottawa is proud of its 160-year tradition of bilingualism. Through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, the University provides training to staff members and to their spouses in their second official language.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.

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