Manager, Partnerships & Community

About us:

The Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) portfolio supports the University of Toronto as a top public research university in the world. Our mission is to create the most supportive environment possible so that our researchers, innovators and learners can do what they do best — advance understanding and apply new knowledge. Our work supports, fosters and promotes the research and innovation culture and activities of our faculty, staff and students, along with our partner hospitals, funding sponsors, and partners in the public and private sector. VPRI provides a full range of services including guidance to faculty, staff and students on funding opportunities, research agreement negotiation, oversightand accountability services including research accounting, environmental health and safety, innovation and entrepreneurship, partnerships, policies and procedures, and institutional awards and honours.

The University of Toronto Entrepreneurship (UTE) is part of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation portfolio and is situated within the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus, located in the heart of Toronto’s Discovery District. This area is home to the largest concentration of student- and faculty-led startups in Canada.

The UTE community focuses on accelerating ideas, people, social impact, and technologies, all while aiming to create an inclusive environment that reflects the diversity and talent of the innovators we serve. UTE serves as a central voice for entrepreneurship across the three campuses of the University of Toronto and represents a powerful network of over 12 accelerators. Our mission is to support, develop, and celebrate our most talented founders and their startups through a wide range of resources, networking opportunities, and entrepreneurship activities.

Your opportunity:

This role offers the opportunity to shape and scale entrepreneurship initiatives that empower innovators and founders to build sustainable ventures. Reporting to the Director, University of Toronto Entrepreneurship, the Manager, Partnerships and Community.

In close collaboration with Advancement Colleagues, the Manager is responsible for supporting the increased level of interest from alumni innovators, partners, and donors. The Manager provides program and stewardship support to existing and potential donors and community partners, while assisting with activities to secure funding for entrepreneurial initiatives across the UTE Community. The Manager builds scalable alumni engagement infrastructure by developing processes to triage inbound alumni innovator interests and connecting alumni to appropriate engagement pathways.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing strategic plans to determine the unit's programs and activities
• Developing and implementing community engagement strategies and plans
• Conducting detailed data analysis to inform management decision making
• Building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners of strategic importance
• Promoting programs and service offerings to internal and/or external contacts
• Fostering stakeholder engagement and maintaining relationships with project partners
• Providing potential industry collaborators with detailed information on policies and procedures that must be adhered to while working within the university environment
• Promoting the University’s research capabilities to industrial, governmental and finance sectors to enhance research and innovation funding opportunities

Essential Qualifications:

• Master's Degree or an acceptable combination of equivalent experience.
• Minimum of seven years’ experience in a field related to entrepeneurship, start-up leadership, innovation or related fields.
• Experience establishing new partnerships and stewarding existing partners.
• Experience securing funding, sponsorships, or investment.
• Experience in fundraising and/or alumni relations.
• Experience designing and delivering entrepreneurship programs.
• Demonstrated experience building or scaling alumni programs or initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience providing one-on-one advisory support to entrepreneurs.
• Experience preparing reports, presentations, and impact summaries.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with faculty, students, investors, industry experts, and community partners.
• Familiarity with Canadian innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and venture capital.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement and relationship stewardship.
• Ability to identify strategic partnerships that expand resources for founders.
• Public speaking and group facilitation experience.
• Highly collaborative and relationship-oriented.
• Passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and the Canadian innovation ecosystem.
• Able to work with stakeholders from a wide array of backgrounds up and down an organization.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to draft clear correspondence, reports, and briefing materials, and to present information effectively

Assets (Nonessential):

• Familiarity with post-secondary education system an asset.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Articulate
• Communicator
• Diplomatic
• Resourceful