Advisor, Global Expansion

About MaRS

MaRS Discovery District (@MaRSDD) in Toronto is one of the world’s largest urban innovation hubs.

MaRS supports promising high-growth companies to scale their businesses globally, while tackling key societal challenges in areas such as Health, Cleantech, Finance, Transportation, AI, and others. In addition to helping start-ups launch, grow and scale, the MaRS community is dedicated to cross-disciplinary collaboration, commercialization of discoveries, and driving ideas to impact.

MaRS is the place where you can play a meaningful role in our innovation economy.

We understand qualifications on a posting can be daunting. If you're passionate about the opportunity and believe you can make a meaningful impact, we want to hear from you, even if you don't meet every listed qualification. We’re always looking for great talent to join our team on planet MaRS.

We actively encourage all applicants, including equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as BIPOC, racialized, women, people with disabilities, and people with diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations.

We want you to be comfortable being your most authentic self throughout our search process. Please reach out to [email protected] if there’s anything we can do to make your experience more accessible and inclusive, including accommodations. Include 'Accessibility Request' in your subject line.

About the opportunity

MaRS is seeking a part-time Advisor, Global Expansion (Independent Contractor) with first-hand experience scaling science and technology businesses globally. The ideal candidate is a seasoned executive who has led or helped bring complex technologies from the foundation into multi-million dollar, high-growth global entities. 

The Advisor will provide the leadership necessary to MaRS portfolio founders and management teams across sectors to navigate complex regulatory environments, establish international subsidiaries, and secure the partnerships required for long-term sustainability outside of North America. 

Advisors do not operate as employees of MaRS.

Scope of Work

Through individual advisory and group programming you will work with the MaRS team to support the Advisory efforts to founders and management teams on:

Global entry planning - formulate and help execute comprehensive market-entry strategies for global regions; work with and leverage the MaRS Market Intelligence services to make global market targets that are data backed 

International sales and revenue infrastructure: design and implement scalable sales processes and organizational structures capable of supporting significant revenue growth; assist founders and their teams with identifying, negotiating and managing high-value joint ventures and licensing agreements with international organizations 

Operational setup:advise on legal and physical establishments of international offices including support with local mergers and acquisitions and approaches to local recruitment and governance

Cross-border advisory: ensure that domestic and international technology solutions are effectively adapted to meet the cultural and commercial demands of target foreign markets 

Work with the MaRS team to support the delivery of best in-class programs:

Assess client needs and plan service delivery in collaboration with the MaRS team to maintain a high-quality bar for venture programs

Provide input into company assessments and program strategy

Make connections to your network – to talent, customers, experts, and funding. The priority is making connections to entities that will assist companies in their global expansion in your own network.

Share up-to-date intelligence on current global  trends, benchmarks, and sector-specific approaches to international expansion

Document your venture activities in the MaRS CRM and follow program processes to enable effective client and program management

Provide strategic and operational input on program elements to ensure the program maintains high value for ventures

Engagement Structure

You will be assigned through a ‘Monthly Work Plan’ that outlines specific deliverables to be completed that month.

Monthly deliverables will vary and are based on current needs; no minimum or guaranteed number of hours is offered. 

Advisors are engaged as independent contractors, not as employees of MaRS.

Advisors are expected to work autonomously.

Areas of Engagement 

Beyond what is outlined in the Scope of Work, Advisors may be engaged to contribute in one or more of the following ways, depending on the needs outlined in the monthly work plan:

Support the creation and delivery of programming and content. This might include:

Small group advisory sessions and other 1:many experiential learning programs

Peer groups and other networking activities

Provide insights to content for MaRS platforms like the Startup Toolkit, and contributing thought leadership through articles, speaking engagements and other forums

Provide insights and knowledge to MaRS corporate projects including sessions for corporate partners, special venture cohorts, and more

Support MaRS operational excellence and administration including by:

Providing input to shape decisions on programs, venture portfolio, and strategy decisions

Logging all interactions with MaRS ventures in Salesforce (or any other mechanism directed by MaRS) and providing a detailed monthly summary of work performed.

Any additional work or activities will be mutually agreed upon in advance

What you bring

Demonstrated ability to coach and provide guidance to entrepreneurs, founders and technical project leads in the development and deployment of effective international commercialization strategies.

Robust (10+ years) experience serving as a leader or executive at an international scale-up with a direct mandate for generating the vast majority of the organization’s total revenue globally. 

Demonstrated record of executing, leading or advising on establishing a presence in multiple global markets, with a deep understanding of the unique commercial nuances in regions. Target particularly the United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, China, Indo-pacific and European regions. 

Experience managing complex negotiations with major international entities and proven ability to lead organizations through significant growth or market disruptions 

Practical approach with passion and ability to inspire, communicate, and collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders including industry leaders, global conglomerates, affiliated organizations, and ecosystem partners.

Advisors are not considered employees of MaRS, and no employee benefits, vacation, or statutory entitlements apply.

Advisors are responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and business expenses.

#LI-MDD