The XPRIZE Canada Hub under the President's Office invites applications for a Programs & Ecosystems Manager, XPRIZE Canada Hub. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 36 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

The XPRIZE Canada Hub, based at the University of Calgary, is a national initiative that connects innovators, partners, and communities to solve humanity's greatest challenges. As Programs & Ecosystem Manager, you will be one of the Hub's primary connectors - convening ecosystem partners, raising awareness of XPRIZE opportunities, and building pathways for innovators to scale breakthrough ideas. You will design and deliver programs, organize events and workshops, and support the development of partnerships across universities, governments, corporations, and communities. By strengthening networks and creating platforms for collaboration, you will help position Canadian innovators for success in solving humanity's greatest challenges, while strengthening the national innovation ecosystem.

This position reports to the National Hub director. Hybrid or remote working arrangements may be considered.

Learn more at: https://io.ucalgary.ca/xprizehub AND https://xprize.ca/

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Lead program strategy and delivery, managing the design, implementation, and evaluation of Hub initiatives that de-risk innovation, accelerate go-to-market readiness, and strengthen Canada's position in XPRIZE competitions.
• Oversee a portfolio of programs and partnerships that aligns with annual plans and maximizes resource allocation and Hub KPIs and funder requirements.
• Collaborate with part-time team members, student hires, and external delivery partners to ensure smooth execution of programs, events, and community initiatives.
• Develop and execute engagement strategies to raise national awareness of XPRIZE competitions and expand participation across universities, corporations, investors, and communities.
• Build and manage strategic partnerships with governments, corporations, investors, and universities, ensuring clear value propositions and long-term sustainability.
• Direct planning and execution of major convenings (e.g., workshops, events, forums, roundtables), ensuring high-quality experiences that strengthen Canada's innovation ecosystem.
• Establish systems for program measurement, including KPI dashboards, ecosystem tracking, and reporting frameworks for the Oversight Committee, funders, and XPRIZE HQ.
• Broker pathways for innovators by negotiating pilot opportunities, facilitating mentorship networks, and mobilizing resources that enable scaling and commercialization.
• Represent the Hub in national and international forums, positioning the Hub as a trusted convener and Canada as a global leader in innovation.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Post-secondary degree in a relevant field; a master's degree or equivalent senior experience in program management, innovation, or ecosystem leadership is an asset.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive experience in program management, partnership development, or innovation ecosystem building, with demonstrated responsibility for supervising staff or external partners/stakeholders, managing project budgets, and delivering results.
• Proven track record designing, managing, and scaling programs that support innovation, entrepreneurship, or go-to-market readiness.
• Experience planning and leading multi-stakeholder forums, workshops, and major events , with accountability for outcomes and budgets.
• Demonstrated success in building and sustaining cross-sector partnerships with universities, industry, government, and investor communities.
• Strong ability to establish measurement frameworks(KPIs, dashboards, reports) that capture program and ecosystem impact.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and negotiation skills, with experience representing organizations to external stakeholders at senior levels.
• Leadership experience , including supervision, coaching, and development of staff or volunteers in collaborative environments.
• Ability to anticipate challenges, design solutions, and make decisions in fast-paced and evolving contexts.
• Familiarity with prize competitions, accelerators, milestone-based innovation programs, or ecosystem convening platforms is an asset.
• Entrepreneurial, strategic, and adaptive mindset , with the ability to contribute to both national ecosystem-building and Hub sustainability.

Note the title of this role may evolve, depending on how the hub's partnerships, programs and services evolve to Partnerships and Ecosystems Manager.

Application Deadline: November 10, 2025

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is classified in theProfessional Career Band, Level P3 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

About XPRIZE:

XPRIZE is the recognized global leader in designing and executing large-scale competitions to solve humanity's greatest challenges. For 30 years, our unique model has democratized crowd-sourced innovation and scientifically scalable solutions that accelerate a more equitable and abundant future. Learn more at xprize.org.
After 30 years of successful impact, and engaging 174 countries, for the first time XPRIZE is establishing physical hubs in strategic locations across the globe in partnership with visionary founding partners, to further strengthen and build local communities who will participate in creating innovative solutions to build a more hopeful future. The hubs are established in partnership with Public and private sector partners with a shared mission and vision of the future.

The Canada Hub acts as a national and regional focal point for XPRIZE to create awareness about XPRIZE's mission and specific global competitions, to attract and increase the number of innovators who participate in these competitions, to create an ecosystem of partners who would be instrumental in supporting the local entrepreneurs who compete in the XPRIZE competitions in launching and building successful Solutions and scaling business toward creating the intended global impact.

The Canada Hub is made possible by the generous support of XPRIZE visionary founding member, University of Calgary.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments __(equity@ucalgary.ca ) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca ).

_Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role. _

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.