Venture Innovations Manager

Compass Group Canada; Toronto; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading foodservice company in Toronto is seeking an Innovation Associate to drive innovation partnerships and support the end-to-end innovation process. Responsibilities include identifying startups, managing pilot programs, and collaborating with internal business units to meet strategic goals. Ideal candidates will possess strong analytical skills and a passion for innovation, with an understanding of emerging technologies. The company values diversity and encourages applicants from all backgrounds.

Qualifications

• Proactive and able to manage multiple pilot projects.
• Ability to identify and validate innovation opportunities.
• Familiarity with FinTech and AI in food retail.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate innovative startups that align with our investment areas.
• Oversee Proof of Concept and pilot programs.
• Engage with business to align on innovative solutions.

Skills

Analytical thinker

Passion for innovation

Project management

Networking

Job description

You might not know our name, but you know where we are. That’s because Compass Group Canada is part of a global foodservice and support services company that’s the 6th largest employer in the world, with 625,000 employees.

You’ll find us in schools, colleges, hospitals, office buildings, senior living communities, tourist attractions, sports venues, remote camps and military installations and more. We’re in all major cities, at remote work sites and everywhere in between – doing business in Canada and 50+ other countries where you can learn and grow. Join us now and point your career forward!

Why work with Compass Digital?

We are a member of Compass Group North America the leading foodservice and support services company. We create remarkable customer experiences through the innovative design and development of technology products and services. Compass Digital began as an innovation startup and the team has since rapidly grown and now supports technology and innovation across all of North America. Compass digital is comprised of user experience designers, developers, data scientists, project managers, business analysts, marketers and technology implementation managers, all of whom look at the world from a human perspective to rethink what's possible in the areas of technology innovation and consumer engagement within the foodservice and hospitality industries. Join us.

About CDV

Compass Digital Ventures (CDV) is the innovation and corporate venture arm of Compass Group, focused on driving the future of foodservice through open innovation. CDV works with the startup and venture capital ecosystem to identify strategic opportunities, innovative pilots, and cutting‑edge technologies. Through CDV we create pathways for successful and disruptive startup solutions to grow and enhance the business and operations at Compass.

Innovation Associate

As an Innovation Associate at CDV, you will be instrumental in identifying, vetting, and nurturing innovation opportunities and startup partnerships that align with our strategic goals.

• This role requires a proactive, analytical thinker with a passion for innovation and the ability to manage multiple pilot projects.
• You will support the end‑to‑end innovation process, from deal sourcing and proof of concept (PoC) design to pilot evaluation and strategic alignment. Leading the opportunity.
• Working closely with the startups, Compass Group operators and clients, you will help drive forward CDV’s mission to become the epicenter for the food retail tech space to drive innovation in the industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Thesis Building and Developing Expertise in certain areas :
  • Develop a deep understanding of specific innovation areas (e.g., FinTech, AI in Food retail) to provide thought leadership and insights to the business. Stay up-to-date on industry trends and emerging technologies within your expertise area.
  • Identify themes within the broader category and validate the thesis through secondary and primary research and meeting with startups.
• Startup Deal Sourcing:
  • Identify and evaluate innovative startups that align with our investment/thesis areas and have potential to progress through the stages of PoC, pilot, and commercial implementation.
  • Build a network to source and find new opportunities.
  • Discuss and defend opportunities with the CDV team, why would it be a good opportunity for Compass.
• PoC / Pilot Program Oversight:
  • Due diligence for strategic opportunity and being able to defend why those areas are strategic for us.
  • Scope and oversee the Proof of Concept and Pilots, to validate the viability and scalability of the innovation opportunity (i.e startups).
  • Collaborate with the Venture build‑ops team to manage the process on running PoCs and Pilots and build the funnel.
  • Define success metrics for pilot projects and assess the outcomes, ensuring that each pilot delivers clear learnings and potential pathways to commercialization.
  • Help build a repeatable, scalable process for running pilots and proof of concepts, creating an “innovation pilot playbook” that can be used across the organization.
• Strategic Collaboration and Cross‑Functional Engagement:
  • Engage with business to understand their needs and explore innovative solutions to meet them.
  • Align with Compass Digital and business stakeholders to do understand the unmet needs and problems.
  • Running strategic sessions and workshops to dive deeper into business needs.

Objectives and Success Metrics

• Develop deep knowledge in specified investment / thesis areas and leverage insights to impact CDV’s research and strategy.
• Successfully identify and onboard startups, guiding them through the PoC and pilot process with clear objectives and measurable success metrics.
• Build and refine a standardized pilot/innovation process, ensuring a structured and efficient pathway from concept to commercialization.
• Foster strong relationships with both internal stakeholders and external partners, positioning CDV as a trusted innovation partner within the industry and for Compass.

Compass Group Canada is committed to nurturing a diverse workforce representative of the communities within which we operate. We encourage and are pleased to consider all qualified candidates, without regard to race, colour, citizenship, religion, sex, marital / family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, aboriginal status, age, disability or persons who may require an accommodation, to apply.

For accommodation requests during the hiring process, please contact [e-mail] for further information.