Manager, Outreach & Engagement

Who We Are:

Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), established in 1987, is a leading not-for-profit organization that works with industry, academia, and government. OCI focuses on ensuring that the people of Ontario reap the personal and economic benefits of leading-edge research underway at our publicly funded universities, colleges, and research hospitals - research that can be transformed into technologies and services that enhance quality of life and help build a globally competitive, job-creating economy in Ontario.

Specifically, OCI supports the commercialization of academic intellectual property (IP), industry-academic collaborations, and the development and adoption of emerging technologies. This includes overseeing the execution of advanced technology platforms that will equip Ontario companies to compete in a competitive global digital economy.

We also support and invest in early-stage projects where the probability of commercial success and investment return on innovation are substantial. OCI’s strong expertise in de-risking innovation helps attract private investors and other funders to new ventures, bolstering their success. We contribute as well to the development and retention of talent to ensure that industry has access to personnel with the most advanced skills and knowledge and that highly trained personnel find opportunities to apply their expertise in Ontario.

OCI leads Ontario’s Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) initiative on behalf of the Government of Ontario. OVIN builds upon Ontario’s position as a world-leading automotive manufacturing and supply jurisdiction in addition to the large cluster of information and communication technology companies operating in the province. Ontario’s high-quality post-secondary institutions, first class talent, innovative small and medium sized enterprises, and infrastructure to support entrepreneurship ensure that the province is uniquely positioned to capture the economic opportunity of the automotive technology and smart mobility innovation space and lead the global mobility transformation.

Through resources such as research and development (R&D) funding, talent development, technology acceleration, business and technical supports, and demonstration grounds, OVIN provides a competitive advantage to Ontario-based automotive and mobility companies – allowing Ontario to reinforce its position as a North American leader in transformative automotive technologies, as well as transportation and infrastructure systems.

The Opportunity:

Reporting to the Director, Strategy and Programs, the Manager, Outreach & Engagement is responsible for the design and development of strategic initiatives within the automotive and mobility portfolio. The Manager will lead a team to deliver projects and activities within various areas of the portfolio including partnership and ecosystem collaboration activities, strategic initiatives, and key program deliverables relating to OVIN’s outreach, engagement, communications, thought leadership, public education & awareness. The Manager will also work to identify opportunities for the portfolio, including cultivating strategic relationships and partnerships, and identifying areas of growth and focus for the portfolio.

Your Contributions:

• Lead staff on planning and delivering strategic initiatives and activities, including providing guidance, coaching and alignment to overarching objectives of the portfolio.
• Manage and deliver key portfolio content and externally facing documents including presentations, proposals, program information, news releases, and website content.
• Lead team to develop and deliver marketing and promotional opportunities, events, workshops, stakeholder engagement and outreach.
• Collaborate with staff and ecosystem partners and provide project-focused support to advance strategic program goals and objectives.
• Support the identification of opportunities including the delivery of thought leadership and public education and awareness activities to support portfolio activities and to inform the key stakeholders across the province and globally.
• Identify opportunities, including advising on strategy, recommending solutions, fostering external partnerships, and responding to the objectives and priorities of the portfolio.
• Liaise with various stakeholder groups across key initiatives, including project partners, and government stakeholders for alignment with agreed upon deliverables and outcomes.
• Recommends priorities; advises on resource requirements and develops roadmap for strategic execution.
• Support project team to deliver relevant project updates as required by key stakeholders, ensuring that deliverables are at a high-quality level, and to the satisfaction of project funders.
• Collaborate cross-departmentally including liaising with Business Development, Finance, and Marketing and Communications teams as required.
• Other tasks as required to support the organization and/or portfolio.

Education, Skills and Competencies:

• Formal, specialized post-graduate education in Public or Business Administration, Economics, Political Science, Public Policy or another relevant area of study.
• 5-7 years experience in consulting, project management and/or communications and marketing.
• Proven leadership ability and management/coaching of a team with diverse skillsets and experience.
• Experience leading and managing high complexity programs with multiple partners and various types of stakeholders.
• Experience developing and managing partnerships, and defining and gaining stakeholder buy-in. Working with industry, government and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to respond to changing priorities of the day and thrives in a challenging and dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication skills (listening, verbal, written, presentation preparation and delivery).
• Applies expertise and thinks creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to complex problems.
• Strong understanding of industry and academia, policy and planning, government priorities, and commercial endeavours.
• Automotive and mobility industry knowledge is an asset.
• Lean, Six Sigma, Agile or other process methodologies are considered an asset.
• Demonstrate a high degree of initiative, efficiency, organization and able to produce high quality work under pressure in a fast-paced environment with the ability to manage numerous conflicting and changing priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and take accountability to address obstacles and overcome barriers by identifying possible resolution options and alternatives.
• Able to demonstrate integrity and ethics in decision making and in their relationships with colleagues and clients.

Working Conditions:

• Standard office hours
• Occasional requirement to attend events outside of normal business hours.

This role is being recruited for a current opening.

OCI is committed to creating a diverse and equitable environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. OCI welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.