Associate Director, Entrepreneurship
okanagan · Kelowna, BC · onsite
When you join Okanagan College, you’re joining a team that’s transforming lives and communities.
Every course you create, every student you support and every connection you build, it all matters.
Be a part of a vibrant campus community, where the work you do every day truly makes a difference.
Your Opportunity:
- The Associate Director, Entrepreneurship reports to the Dean, Hall School of Business and Entrepreneurship and is responsible for implementing and managing Okanagan College’s entrepreneurship incubator and related entrepreneurship programming. Working within the strategic direction established by the College and the Hall School of Business and Entrepreneurship, the Associate Director translates established priorities into programs, services, partnerships and day-to-day operations that provide practical, accessible and high-quality support to students, alumni, youth and community entrepreneurs.
- The Associate Director oversees the ongoing operations of the incubator, including participant programming, Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, mentorship, community and industry partnerships, events, communications, performance measurement and operational planning. The role works closely with faculty and academic leaders to connect incubator activities with experiential learning and entrepreneurship education, and collaborates with the Okanagan College Foundation and other College stakeholders to support the process through which eligible entrepreneurs may access seed funding. Responsibility for the governance and administration of seed funding remains with the appropriate College and Foundation functions.
- As a member of the Hall School of Business and Entrepreneurship leadership team, the Associate Director provides leadership to incubator staff, advises the Dean on operational priorities, risks and resource needs, and contributes to entrepreneurship development within Okanagan College and the broader region.
Functions and Duties:
- Implements the approved direction and priorities for the entrepreneurship incubator and related entrepreneurship programming, within the strategic direction established by the College and the Hall School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
- Develops and manages annual operational plans, programming schedules, resource requirements and performance measures for the incubator, and reports on progress, results and risks to the Dean.
- Provides leadership and supervision to assigned staff, including recruitment and selection, orientation, priority setting, coaching, professional development, performance management and support for employee health, safety and wellbeing.
- Oversees the day-to-day operation of the incubator, ensuring programs, services, facilities, technology and administrative processes support participants effectively and consistently.
- Develops and maintains processes for participant intake, onboarding, engagement, progression and completion, and ensures programs and services are accessible to students, alumni, youth and community entrepreneurs.
- Designs, delivers and continuously improves incubator programming, workshops and cohort-based activities based on participant needs, outcomes, stakeholder feedback and emerging practice.
- Coordinates the Entrepreneurs-in-Residence and mentorship programs, including recruitment, onboarding, engagement and recognition of mentors, advisors and industry volunteers.
- Builds and maintains partnerships with industry, community organizations, economic development agencies, funders and other post-secondary institutions to expand opportunities and resources for participants.
- Works with faculty and academic leaders to connect incubator activities with experiential learning, curriculum and entrepreneurship education across the College.
- Works collaboratively with the Okanagan College Foundation and other College stakeholders to support the process through which eligible entrepreneurs may access seed funding, including support for application, assessment and award processes as appropriate.
- Plans and delivers events, showcases, competitions and outreach activities that promote entrepreneurship and raise the profile of the incubator within the College and the region.
- Oversees communications and marketing for the incubator in coordination with College communications, including digital presence, participant success stories and stakeholder updates.
- Establishes performance measures, collects and analyzes program data, and prepares reports on participant outcomes, engagement and impact for the Dean and other stakeholders.
- Develops and manages assigned budgets and resources, monitors expenditures, and identifies and pursues external funding, sponsorship and in-kind support in coordination with the Dean and the Foundation.
- Ensures incubator programs, services and partnership activities comply with College policies, procedures and applicable agreements, including those related to privacy, risk management, intellectual property and financial administration.
- Supports equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and Indigenization in incubator programming and participant engagement, and works to remove barriers to participation.
- Identifies operational issues, opportunities and resource needs and brings forward recommendations to the Dean.
- Represents the incubator and the College on relevant committees, networks and regional entrepreneurship ecosystem initiatives, as assigned.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience:
- • A Master’s degree in business administration or a related field.
- • A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in entrepreneurship programming, business incubation, economic development or program management, including at least three (3) years of supervisory or leadership experience.
- • Experience in a post-secondary, public sector or not-for-profit environment is preferred. Experience founding, operating or advising an early-stage venture is an asset.
- • Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Skills and Abilities:
- • Strong operational and program-management skills, with the ability to translate established priorities into effective programs and services.
- • Demonstrated ability to implement complex initiatives and manage ongoing operations.
- • Strong knowledge of the entrepreneurship ecosystem and understanding of the needs of early-stage entrepreneurs.
- • Excellent partnership-development and relationship-management skills.
- • Strong project management, organization and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple programs, activities, events and stakeholder relationships simultaneously.
- • Strong budget-management and analytical skills.
- • Ability to establish meaningful performance measures, interpret program data and use results to improve operations.
- • Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, presentation and interpersonal communication skills.
- • Ability to work collaboratively across academic, administrative, philanthropic, industry and community environments.
- • Strong judgement and ability to work independently within established direction.
- • Entrepreneurial and solutions-oriented mindset characterized by adaptability, resourcefulness and initiative.
- • Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, Indigenization and respectful engagement.
- • Proficiency with digital communications, CRM systems, data-management tools and technology used to support program operations.
Our Values:
- Students first: Creating meaningful life-long educational opportunities of the highest quality for alumni, current, and future students is at the heart of everything we do.
- Community: We are one College. We enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to work with, learn from, and support everyone we encounter collaboratively and collegially.
- Respect: We welcome, embrace, and celebrate that which make us unique in creating an environment in which every indiv