Assistant Vice-President (Innovation and Entrepreneurship)

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The Assistant Vice-President (AVP), Innovation and Entrepreneurship, reports to the Vice-President Research & Innovation (R&I) and is responsible for advancing McGill University’s strategy in innovation, entrepreneurship, and research commercialization.

The AVP provides strategic and operational leadership for McGill’s innovation and commercialization ecosystem, organized around three core pillars: (1) Technology Transfer and IP Management, (2) Entrepreneurship and Venture Creation, and (3) Strategic Partnerships and Knowledge Translation.

In this role, the AVP leads McGill’s efforts around technology transfer and commercialization activities, including intellectual property (IP) strategy, invention disclosure, patenting, licensing and pathways to commercialization, including venture creation.

The incumbent will develop and implement a framework for entrepreneurship efforts across the university, working closely with internal units and external partners to support and scale student-, faculty-led ventures, including venture creation activities and oversight of the McGill Innovation Fund.

The AVP leads institutional strategies to translate research into societal and economic impact, including at higher technology readiness levels (TRLs).

Acting as a senior advisor and institutional representative, the AVP works closely with R&I leadership, senior administrators, and external stakeholders to position McGill as a leading innovation actor nationally and internationally, and to drive continuous improvement in innovation capacity and impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for McGill’s innovation, entrepreneurship, and research commercialization activities.
• Advise the Vice-President (Research & Innovation) on complex strategic dossiers related to innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship, and contribute as a member of the R+I senior management team.
• Lead the development and execution of institutional strategies to translate McGill research into societal and economic impact, including commercialization pathways, investment readiness, and discovery de-risking.
• Establish and oversee governance frameworks, institutional policies, and performance metrics related to intellectual property, commercialization, and innovation partnerships.
• Provide senior leadership and strategic direction for teams in the area of technology transfer, intellectual property management, licensing, spin-off development and social innovation.
• Lead and oversee the McGill Innovation Fund (MIF), including fundraising partnerships, investment committee strategy, and alignment with TRL-stage support.
• Lead the development of new entrepreneurship infrastructure, such as incubator spaces, and secure operational and philanthropic funding to sustain them.
• Lead the development and advancement of strategic relationships with governments, industry, investors, philanthropic partners, and innovation ecosystem organizations in support of McGill’s institutional priorities.
• Represent McGill’s innovation and entrepreneurship interests on internal and external committees, boards, and policy forums at the provincial, national, and international levels.

To be successful in this role, candidates should have a track record of successful strategic and operational leadership in the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization in a complex organization.

A strong knowledge and deep understanding of trends in innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization in research intensive higher-education and industry are desirable, and prior experience in a demanding, fast-paced, high-level stakeholder-centered environment are definite assets.

Strategic leadership and interpersonal skills are essential to building key relationships and partnerships with a broad spectrum of industry, higher education, innovation, entrepreneurship and philanthropic actors to drive opportunities for McGill-led ventures.

Required qualifications include an advanced degree, a minimum of ten (10) years of leadership experience in research, innovation, entrepreneurship and / or other related fields and proven management experience in a large complex organization. Ability to communicate in both English and French at the spoken and written levels is a required asset.

The selected candidate will be given a five (5)-year renewable term. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. The start date is negotiable.

If you wish to apply for this position, please send your CV, along with a cover letter, by (date) to the attention of (name), (title) at (email)

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected].

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.