Senior Advisor, Academic-Industry Partnerships - Okanagan

Would you like to leverage your partnership, research, or innovation experience to strengthen the Okanagan region? Do you want to be part of a mission driven organization shaping Canada’s innovation future? Do you thrive in collaborative environments where creativity, continuous improvement, and strategic thinking are valued? Are you motivated by work that strengthens Canada’s competitiveness and delivers meaningful impact for communities and businesses?

At Mitacs, we take a talent first approach to building Canada’s innovation capacity. We connect researchers with organizations across every region of the country to help solve pressing challenges and accelerate economic growth. By enabling business academic collaboration and supporting the development of highly skilled talent, we contribute to a resilient, future ready Canadian economy.

Guided by our values — Impact, Integrity, Collaboration, Excellence, and Talent — we work with partners nationwide to advance research, commercialization, and innovation.

At Mitacs, you become part of a team committed to empowering Canadian talent, fostering meaningful partnerships, and driving innovation that supports Canada’s long-term competitiveness. If you’re inspired by big ideas and passionate about creating national impact, we encourage you to apply.

As a Senior Advisor, Academic-Industry Partnerships, you will play a key role in strengthening research and innovation partnerships across the Okanagan and Thompson-Okanagan regions. You will be trusted to understand a diverse regional innovation ecosystem, develop institution-level relationships, identify high-value opportunities, and independently move partnerships forward.

Working with post-secondary institutions, economic development organizations, and industry and not-for-profit partners, you will connect regional needs and opportunities with academic expertise, talent, and Mitacs programming. You will manage a varied regional portfolio and act as a credible connector and trusted advisor across academic, business, community, and innovation environments.

The ideal candidate will reside in Kelowna and have access to an automobile, as this role will require frequent engagement with ecosystem partners throughout the region.

• Develop and manage a regional portfolio of academic, industry, not-for-profit, community, and economic development relationships.
• Build and advance institution-level relationships with regional post-secondary institutions such as UBC Okanagan, Thompson Rivers University, and Okanagan College, including researchers, students, research offices, and senior administrative stakeholders.
• Engage industry and not-for-profit organizations to understand their research, innovation, talent, and organizational challenges.
• Identify, shape, and advance high-value opportunities that connect partner needs with academic expertise, student and postdoctoral talent, and appropriate Mitacs programs.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to partners by providing informed guidance on partnership development, project design, and available Mitacs pathways.
• Develop and maintain relationships with regional economic development organizations and other innovation ecosystem partners to identify shared priorities and collaborative opportunities.
• Represent Mitacs at regional meetings, events, and sector-focused forums, and strengthen Mitacs’ visibility and value within the regional innovation ecosystem.
• Guide prospective partnerships from early-stage exploration through project and application development, coordinating with internal Mitacs teams as required.
• Develop regional engagement plans, prioritize opportunities, and exercise sound judgment in allocating time and resources across a…