Partnerships Manager in Vancouver

The School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is a partnership between the Faculties of Applied Science and Medicine, established in 2017. The School is a nucleus for education and training, research, and innovation in biomedical engineering, creating new knowledge, new academic and training programs, and fostering translation and innovation. Its vision is to transform health and healthcare for all, achieved through innovative research and education at the convergence of engineering, medicine and biology.

The Partnerships Manager develops and implements SBME's external partnership, innovation and commercialization activities and engagement plans in support of the School's strategic priorities. The position builds sustained relationships with industry, health-care organizations, governments, not-for-profit organizations, funders, investors, incubators and other academic institutions, and converts those relationships into opportunities for SBME faculty, trainees and ventures.

Working closely with the Research Manager and Manager, Major Initiatives, the position helps identify, develop and connect strategic partnership opportunities with faculty strengths and School priorities, enabling the successful development and delivery of major collaborative initiatives, innovation programs, translational activities and institutional partnerships.

Organizational Status: Works with considerable latitude under the general direction of the Director of Strategic Planning and Operations and in close consultation with the Director of Partnerships and Community Engagement. The position works closely with the School Director; Director of Research; Research Manager; Manager, Major Initiatives; Manager of Communications, Culture and Engagement; faculty members; and other School leaders to align partnership activities with SBME's strategic priorities and emerging opportunities.

Work Performed:

• Develops and implements partnership-development, industry-engagement, innovation and commercialization plans and activities in support of SBME's strategic priorities.
• Cultivates senior-level relationships with industry, health-care organizations, governments, not-for-profit organizations, funders, investors, incubators, accelerators, professional associations and academic partners locally, nationally and internationally.
• Develops and actively manages a partnership pipeline; assesses and prioritizes prospective relationships based on strategic fit, mutual value, readiness and potential impact; and advises School leadership and faculty on cultivation, stewardship and growth of strategically important external relationships.
• Identifies areas of shared interest between external organizations and SBME researchers and leaders; frames partnership opportunities and guides discussions regarding mutual value, strategic alignment and institutional fit.
• Identifies and develops opportunities for strategic collaborations that advance SBME priorities in research, education, innovation, translation, entrepreneurship and societal impact.
• Develops and implements engagement plans for strategic partners, ensuring regular communication, stewardship and progression of opportunities from initial discussion through active collaboration.
• Works closely with the Research Manager to align partnership opportunities with faculty expertise, emerging research priorities, educational programs and strategic institutional objectives.
• Creates presentations, briefing materials, concept notes, partnership proposals and business cases for prospective and current partners.
• Builds and maintains relationships with life-sciences associations, innovation organizations, hospitals, health authorities, research institutes and strategic alliances, and represents SBME at relevant meetings, conferences and ecosystem events.
• Leads the planning, coordination and continuous development of the annual UBC Vancouver Industry Breakfast and other strategic engagement forums that strengthen connections between SBME and industry, health-care, government and innovation-sector partners.
• Supports the establishment, implementation and ongoing operation of external advisory bodies and stakeholder-engagement mechanisms, including a future Community Stakeholder Board.
• Develops and convenes strategic roundtables, workshops, networking events and partnership forums that foster collaboration among academia, industry, health-care organizations, governments, community groups and innovation-sector partners.
• Provides operational oversight and coordination for SBME Innovates, including its growth, service model, partnerships, governance processes, operating practices and long-term sustainability.
• Advises prospective and resident ventures and connects founders with Innovation UBC, investors, accelerators, mentors, professional service providers, sponsors and sources of dilutive and non-dilutive funding.
• Collaborates with Co-operative Education and other UBC partners to expand experiential learning, internship, exchange, training and employment opportunities for SBME trainees through external partnerships.
• Collaborates with the Communications team to profile partnership, innovation and commercialization successes and maintain effective partner-facing communications and engagement materials.

Minimum Qualifications: Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of six years related experience in an appropriate business specialization, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications: Graduate degree in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, life sciences, health sciences or a related field is an asset. Demonstrated success developing complex, mutually beneficial relationships across academic, industry, health-care, government and not-for-profit settings.