Director, Entrepreneurship Activation Lab

Position Summary

The Director provides strategic and operational leadership for Red Deer Polytechnic’s campus-wide entrepreneurship initiative. The Director is accountable for the successful launch, growth, performance measurement, and long-term sustainability of the REAL (Red Deer Polytechnic Entrepreneurship Activation Lab) as a vibrant, interdisciplinary entrepreneurship ecosystem serving students across all schools, while strengthening RDP’s partnerships with industry, alumni, and the Central Alberta business community.

Reporting through the Donald School of Business, the Director leads REAL programming, oversees stakeholder engagement and fund development, and ensures measurable outcomes aligned to RDP’s 2030 Strategic Plan. In the early years of implementation, the Director also fulfills Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) functions, directly supporting student entrepreneurs from idea generation through venture readiness.

The position carries direct supervisory responsibility for designated staff, including accountability for recruitment, performance oversight, and disciplinary matters, and requires the regular application of independent judgment and managerial discretion. The core purpose of the role is to provide leadership and management, encompassing setting strategic direction, allocating resources, and enabling effective decision-making at a senior level.

• Provides leadership and governance for REAL programming in Central Alberta (or Red Deer Polytechnic)
• Oversees daily operations of the Centre, including budgeting, staffing, and resource allocation
• Develops policies, processes and performance metrics to ensure program effectiveness and accountability
• Prepares reports for Governance Committee, RDP leadership and other partners
• Provides effective, innovative and strategic leadership in fulfilling RDP’s Mission, Vision, and Strategic Outcomes, including learning outcomes

• Ensures effective communication, collaboration, consultation, and liaison between RDP and forge solid collaborative working relationships
• Participates on internal committees as assigned
• Provides guidance and engagement to Marketing and Communications to investigate, implement and maintain appropriate practices and activities to achieve REAL objectives
• Market REAL and its programs internally and to the broader community
• Attends and supports events across the campus and in the community
• Facilitates collaboration to produce effective promotional materials
• Liaises with stakeholders, internally and externally, and related committees, councils, or working groups
• Promotes a strong culture of relationship building with organizations, employers, and communities locally, regionally and globally

• Establishes and maintains relationships with industry partners, entrepreneurs, alumni, community organizations, economic development agencies, government, and funding bodies
• Identifies and secures external funding through grants, sponsor ships, and partnerships
• Develops revenue-generating programming and services where appropriate
• Oversees and supports fundraising initiatives in collaboration with Development & Partnerships
• Represents the institution in regional and national entrepreneurship networks
• Develops collaborative initiatives that enhance the local innovation and startup ecosystem

• Manages and accountable to allocate approved budget effectively
• Assists with the preparation of the annual budget (operational and capital)
• Assists with developing and analyzing budgets in the REAL portfolio
• Prepares business cases and costing worksheets for new initiatives

• Implements and evaluates…