Specialist, Venture Programs - Hunter Hub

University of Calgary; Calgary; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Calgary invites applications for the Specialist, Venture Programs to lead the day-to-day Lab2Market operations and coordinate programs that serve a broad UCalgary community. You will drive planning, execution, and delivery, while engaging across faculties and external partners in a dynamic, collaborative environment.

You will partner with Hunter Hub leadership to promote entrepreneurial thinking, organize events, workshops, hackathons, and programs, and ensure successful outcomes

Qualifications

• A university degree in business and/or other education that incorporates a background in program delivery, innovation or entrepreneurship.
• 2+ years' experience running programs, education activities or student talent development projects.
• Experience facilitating workshops for diverse cohorts of people.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with strong attention to detail and professionalism.
• Experience managing budgets and ensuring fiscal responsibility.
• You will be required to stay late and work adjusted hours to implement program delivery.
• You will be required to work on both the Main Campus and the Foothills Campus.
• Experience with cross-faculty education, initiatives, entrepreneurship and the development of the innovation ecosystem at the University of Calgary is an asset.
• Knowledge and understanding of university plans and policies, governance, and decision-making processes, is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and in a team environment that is complex and fast-moving.
• Sound judgment, problem-solving and negotiation skills required.
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office; experience with Peoplesoft, eFIN, and enterprise reporting is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and manage delivery of Lab2Market programs, events and initiatives across faculties and partners.
• Provide hands-on support in the execution of Hunter Hub programs and events, including room setup and administrative tasks.
• Coach and train on entrepreneurship and innovation to Hunter Hub members and startups.
• Foster interdisciplinary team formation and peer-to-peer learning within the UCalgary community.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to reach a diverse university audience.
• Act as a community ambassador for the Hunter Hub at internal and external events.
• Create detailed project plans and communications, owning logistics for events and initiatives.
• Develop program budget plans and oversee approved budgets.
• Create presentations and content to support ventures and showcase entrepreneurial thinking.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Organization

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

PeopleSoft

eFIN

Enterprise reporting

Job description

Description

The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking (Hunter Hub) under the Office of the President invites applications for a Specialist, Venture Programs. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 24 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking was created in 2017 through a generous gift from the Hunter Family Foundation. As UCalgary's central community hub for entrepreneurship, the Hunter Hub's vision is to build the best entrepreneurial talent pipeline in the country by meeting entrepreneurs where they are at in their journey. Located within the President's Office portfolio, the Hunter Hub plays a key role in advancing the University of Calgary's (UCalgary) strategic vision to be Canada's most entrepreneurial university.

Reporting to the Manager, Programs at the Hunter Hub as a member of the Hunter Hub programming team and working across all faculties, schools and innovation units of the university, the Venture Programs Specialist will create, coordinate, communicate and deliver successful, innovative programs that reach a large, broad and diverse audience of UCalgary community members and partners. The role also involves active community outreach and engagement activities.

The primary purpose of this position is to lead the day-to-day operations of the Lab2Market (L2M) program at the University of Calgary including planning, execution and delivery. This role works closely with the pan-Canadian L2M network, including an informal reporting line to the Alberta L2M Program Director at the University of Alberta, and requires collaborative coordination across a distributed team.

As a member of the Hunter Hub programming team, this role will endeavour to empower the UCalgary community to engage in entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking. And responsibilities may extend beyond the L2M program to include the delivery and support of other activities, initiatives and programs in line with the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking strategy, which covers all fourteen faculties and schools. This includes entrepreneurial thinking and entrepreneurship programs, events, presentations, workshops, hackathons, and fairs; and other strategic and/or partnership initiatives.

The incumbent will be a passionate ambassador for the innovation community at UCalgary and will work closely with the UCalgary community across the university and with community partners.

Summary of Key Responsibilities

(job functions include but are not limited to):

• Develop, execute, and manage the delivery of a calendar of Lab2Market programs, events and initiatives which may involve one or more faculties or partner organizations.
• Provide hands‑on support in the execution of Hunter Hub programs and events including room set‑up/takedown and administrative support as needed.
• Provide coaching and training on entrepreneurship and innovation to Hunter Hub community members and startups via programming or the Innovation Sandbox to build capacity around entrepreneurship.
• Foster initiatives to promote interdisciplinary team formation and peer‑to‑peer learning for the UCalgary community.
• Work with the Marketing and Communications team to develop outreach strategies for each to reach a diversity of UCalgary community members to engage in our programming and build our community.
• Be a strong, inspiring ambassador for the Hunter Hub by engaging with the UCalgary community on a daily basis and promoting the exciting opportunities in entrepreneurship and innovation across the university available to them; be a community ambassador for the Hunter Hub by attending external and community events.
• Create detailed project plans and formal communications such as Event Briefs and take ownership over all aspects and logistics of the professional delivery of events, programs and initiatives that encourage or reward innovation experiences such as hackathons, challenges, scholarships, prize competitions and entrepreneurship programs either within the Hunter Hub Collision Space, at other locations, or taking place online.
• Support the development of detailed program budget plans and ensure responsible oversight and management of the approved budget.
• Help to grow the University\'s and the Hunter Hub\'s brand in entrepreneurial thinking and innovation through creating and delivering presentations and content for programs to support ventures created by the UCalgary community.
• Develop relevant and engaging entrepreneurial thinking presentations, resources and learning materials for students, faculty and communication channels and programs, as needed; Support the development of cutting‑edge content with subject matter experts as needed.

Qualifications / Requirements

• A university degree in business and/or other education that incorporates a background in program delivery, innovation or entrepreneurship.
• Demonstrated expertise in program/event management and/or student talent development: 2+ years\' experience running programs, education activities or student talent development projects.
• Experience facilitating workshops for diverse cohorts of people.
• Superior organizational skills required. Demonstrated project planning skills and experience successfully running impactful, high‑quality, multi‑stakeholder events and initiatives.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills (verbal/presentation and written skills) with strong attention to detail and high degree of professionalism is required.
• Experience managing budgets and ensuring fiscal responsibility.
• You will be required to stay late and work adjusted hours to implement program delivery.
• You will be required to work on both the Main Campus and the Foothills Campus.
• Experience with cross‑faculty education, initiatives, entrepreneurship and the development of the innovation ecosystem at the University of Calgary is an advantage.
• Knowledge and understanding of university plans and policies, as well as structure, governance, and decision‑making processes, is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and in a team environment that is complex and fast‑moving.
• Sound judgement, problem‑solving and negotiation skills required.
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office are required. Experience with University core business systems (Peoplesoft, eFIN, enterprise reporting, etc.) is an asset.

Application Deadline

November 05, 2026

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes.

Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist / Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada\'s entrepreneurial university, located in Canada\'s most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest‑ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands‑on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada\'s leader in the creation of start‑ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution‑wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The university\'s commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit‑based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous‑based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community.

We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society.

We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here.

In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply.

To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities.

Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([e-mail]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([e-mail]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications?

Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification.

At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.