Director, Innovation, Office of the Vice-Principal Research and Innovation

Job Title

Director, Innovation, Office of the Vice-Principal Research and Innovation

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Industry Liaison, Level E

Job Family Group

Staff - Non Union

Department

UBCO | Innovation UBC | Vice Principal Research Office

Compensation Range

$10,459.67 - $15,675.58 CAD Monthly The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Job End Date

Ongoing

Posting End Date

November 13, 2026

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

This position is subject to the satisfactory completion of required background checks

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The Office of the Vice-Principal Research and Innovation (OVPRI) provides leadership, strategic planning, and support for research, innovation, and creative activity on the Okanagan campus. This diverse Research & Innovation portfolio includes teams focused on strategic initiatives; internal and external research grants; sponsored research, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship (Innovation UBC); partnerships; and inter- and cross-disciplinary research. This position is a senior leadership role responsible for building and leading innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry partnership activity on the Okanagan campus, in close partnership with Innovation UBC’s university-wide technology transfer, sponsored research, and venture creation services.

The Director, Innovation champions a campus-wide culture of entrepreneurship among UBC Okanagan faculty, staff, and students, and serves as the Okanagan campus’s primary point of contact and advocate for Innovation UBC’s centralized technology transfer, sponsored research, and venture creation resources, ensuring Okanagan researchers and entrepreneurs are well served by, and bring an Okanagan and interior-BC perspective into, UBC’s university-wide innovation infrastructure. This position reports primarily to the Vice-Principal Research and Innovation and works in close, coordinated partnership with the Managing Director, Innovation UBC, Innovation UBC Associate Directors and other senior academic and administrative leaders, to ensure strategic alignment with the portfolio, university, provincial, and national priorities.

Organizational Status

Under broad direction, the position reports to the Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation, and collaborates with the Managing Director, Innovation UBC, to ensure close functional alignment with UBC’s university-wide technology transfer, sponsored research, and venture creation services. The position works collaboratively with leadership across the Research & Innovation portfolio, UBC Okanagan researchers and faculties, and central administrative units, including Finance, Human Resources, and Legal and Risk Management Services. This position is a member of the unit’s senior leadership team.

The position serves as UBC Okanagan’s principal point of contact and champion for entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and industry engagement, building relationships with regional and provincial innovation ecosystem partners (such as incubators and accelerators), federal and provincial innovation funding programs, investors, and industry. This position works closely with Innovation UBC to ensure Okanagan researchers and entrepreneurs are well served by UBC’s centralized innovation infrastructure, and to align policy, practice, and reporting across UBC’s two campuses.

Work Performed

Strategic Leadership & Innovation Ecosystem Planning

Provides senior leadership for the development and execution of UBC Okanagan’s innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization strategy, ensuring alignment with institutional research priorities.

Leads development of multi-year strategic and operational plans for the Innovation UBC portfolio on the Okanagan campus, translating institutional priorities into implementation roadmaps, resourcing plans, and measurable outcomes.

Acts as a strategic advisor to the Vice-Principal Research and Innovation, and a close partner to the Managing Director, Innovation UBC, on emerging opportunities, risks, and priorities related to technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and industry partnerships as they affect the Okanagan campus.

Tracks progress and outcomes of innovation initiatives, developing metrics (e.g., invention disclosures, licenses, start-ups created, jobs created, industry-sponsored research revenue) and reporting to support institutional decision-making and accountability.

Technology Transfer & Commercialization

This position has primary responsibility for UBC Okanagan researchers for Innovation UBC’s technology transfer function, championing timely, effective delivery of invention disclosure intake, intellectual property assessment, and licensing support for Okanagan-based innovations, in close partnership with the Managing Director, Innovation UBC and the Associate Director, Technology Transfer.

Advises inventors, researchers, and units on commercialization pathways, including licensing, spin-off company creation, and industry partnership options, in coordination with Innovation UBC.

Identifies opportunities to strengthen technology transfer and commercialization services and outcomes for Okanagan-based research, and raises campus awareness of, and access to, Innovation UBC’s services.

Partners with Innovation UBC on the development and stewardship of Okanagan-originated spin-off companies, including equity, governance, and conflict-of-interest considerations, in accordance with university policy.

Entrepreneurship & Venture Creation

Builds and leads Okanagan-based entrepreneurship programs, incubation and acceleration supports, and experiential learning opportunities, in partnership with Innovation UBC’s Venture Building team, to foster a culture of entrepreneurship among UBC Okanagan faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Develops and delivers venture creation supports on the Okanagan campus, including seed and proof-of-concept funding opportunities, mentorship networks, and spin-off services, aligned with UBC-wide Innovation UBC programming, to help researchers and students move ideas to market.

Builds and maintains relationships with regional and provincial entrepreneurship ecosystem partners, including incubators and accelerators, angel and venture capital networks, and economic development organizations, to expand opportunities for UBC Okanagan entrepreneurs.

Represents UBC Okanagan, in coordination with Innovation UBC, in provincial and national entrepreneurship and innovation networks and initiatives.

Industry & Partnership Development

Has the primary responsibility for negotiating industry-sponsored research contracts and other strategic partnerships that advance UBC Okanagan’s research and innovation priorities, in coordination with Innovation UBC’s Sponsored Research team where relevant.

Identifies and pursues funding opportunities from federal and provincial innovation programs (such as Mitacs, the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan), and the BC Knowledge Development Fund) to support innovation and commercialization activity.

Builds and stewards relatio