ventureLAB INNOVATION CENTRE

o/a ventureLAB

Program Manager — Job ID 202425

Position Profile

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About ventureLAB

ventureLAB is a not-for-profit leading global founder community for hardware technology and enterprise software companies in Canada. Our organization is led by seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders with decades of industry experience in building IP-rich start-ups, scale-ups, and global multinationals to help businesses scale. Located at the heart of Ontario’s innovation corridor in York Region, ventureLAB is part of one of the biggest and most diverse tech communities in Canada. Since 2011, ventureLAB has enabled over 4,300 tech ventures to create over 6,800 jobs and raise more than $420 million in investment capital through our initiatives focused on raising capital, talent retention, technology and IP commercialization, and customer acquisition. Together with our community of entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and partners, we enable technology startups to accelerate the commercialization of transformational products on a global scale.

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Our Mission

Powering HardTech founders to build and scale globally competitive ventures that advance Canada’s knowledge-based economy.

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Our Vision

Born Global. Built to Scale. Inclusive by Design. Inspire a new generation of global founders who choose Canada to scale IP-rich tech titans creating innovative hardware and scale-ready enterprise software solutions that transform communities and establish a blueprint for a more sustainable, inclusive tech ecosystem.

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Our Values — Team RIVIR

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• Relentless: We are tenacious and resilient. We follow through and remove roadblocks so together we succeed and go further.
• Inclusive: We are empathetic, open-minded and collaborate respectfully so that we build trust with each other and value diverse opinions, ideas and perspectives to learn and make better decisions.
• Visionary: We inspire bold futures with our founders, team, partners and community by challenging each other respectfully and thinking differently.
• Innovative: We celebrate ingenuity and empower the team to create new ideas, processes and strategies. We are curious and resourceful by asking questions for clarity.
• Results: We are proactive and plan. We are accountable and focused. We are direct and transparent through fact-based discussions.

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ventureLAB is made up of passionate, driven individuals, and is growing quickly. It is a fast-paced, flexible environment where individual contributors make a big difference and work collaboratively to achieve shared goals. We are proud to be one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures and a Great Place to Work®.

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Position Profile

Reporting to the Director, Programs, the Program Manager will work closely with a number of internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement effective programming for our growth and scale ventures, while ensuring an exceptional experience for all of our startups. This role will specifically oversee and help scale our AI Program and TechEdge Program. 
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ventureLAB seeks resourceful team members who are comfortable dealing with ambiguity, juggling multiple priorities, and taking a proactive approach to problem solving in a fast-paced environment. You possess effective communication and collaboration skills and operate as a team player. You are a constant learner who applies curiosity and a growth mindset in your interactions with others and in your work. 

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Responsibilities

The Program Manager will work collaboratively across the organization to deliver on ventureLAB’s strategic objectives, and Programs team-specific goals and targets. 
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1. Program Management
   1. Manage the program timeline, including application cycles, selection process, and program milestones.
   2. Manage program schedules, ensuring timely delivery of sessions, workshops, and events.
   3. Provide administrative and operational support required to ensure the efficient and effective management of programs.
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2. Startup Support
   1. Facilitate a smooth onboarding experience for new program participants.
   2. Provide ongoing support and resources to program participants throughout the program.
   3. Facilitate workshops and other programmatic activities including events and curate educational content and opportunities available to technology entrepreneurs for our various newsletters and and across other platforms for our global founder community.
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3. Outreach and Event
   1. Proactively identify and recruit promising startups for program participation.
   2. Plan and execute program-related events, including workshops, demo days, networking events, etc.
   3. Manage event logistics, including registration, attendance tracking, and post-event follow-ups.
   4. Build and maintain strong relationships with industry partners, mentors, and other stakeholders.
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4. Stakeholder Engagement
   1. Working closely with the Founder Services team to help document, monitor, and ensure accountability of program companies in achieving their key milestones.
   2. Working closely with the Marketing team to identify and communicate success stories, trends and new developments.
   3. Engage in extensive ecosystem networking to identify and engage potential partners, and other relevant associations with the aim of fostering collaborations and driving impact and outcomes for our companies.

5. Operations
   1. Maintain program documentation, including participant files, program materials, and reports.
   2. Ensure all the metrics and records are accurately updated within Salesforce on a timely basis, and that relevant reports and program dashboards are created to measure impact and provide valuable insights to management and other relevant stakeholders.

Qualifications

• A post-secondary degree in Software engineering, business, entrepreneurship, or a related field, with 3-4 years of related program development, stakeholder relations and/or venture management experience
• Superior project and time management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Familiarity with startup and investment ecosystem
• Demonstrates great interpersonal skills along with excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to prioritize effectively and handle competing priorities
• Strong service mentality and a great team player
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and G-Suite
• Experience working with Salesforce, Eventbrite, Zoom, or Asana is an asset
• Experience working with start-ups is an asset

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Salary Range: $67,000 to $80,000 CAD per annum

In addition to salary, ventureLAB offers a comprehensive benefits package, learning and development opportunities and 4 weeks vacation.

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Hybrid Work Model 

This role will require a minimum of three (3) days on-site per week.

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How to Apply

Apply by September 6th, 2024, to hr@venturelab.ca quoting “Program Manager – Job ID 202425” in the subject line. Include your resume, salary expectations, and a brief note telling us why you’d be a great addition to the ventureLAB team. Early submissions encouraged as applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

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At ventureLAB, we value diversity, inclusion, and respect. Diverse experience, perspectives, and backgrounds bring great ideas and create stronger teams — we embrace it, because we know that by including everyone, we all thrive. Accommodations are available on request for candidates with disabilities taking part in the recruitment process.

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We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only qualified candidates will be contacted.

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Response to COVID-19

Effective December 1, 2021, all newly hired employees will be required to provide proof of full vaccination (first and second dose) against COVID-19 of a vaccine currently approved by Health Canada or provide documentation to support an exemption based on grounds covered by the Ontario Human Rights Act (i.e. medical exemption).

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