City : Vancouver

Category : Full time

Industry : Educational Services

Employer : University of British Columbia

Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Business Development, Level C

Job Title

Strategic Partnerships Manager

Department

School of Biomedical Engineering | Faculty of Medicine | Provost and VP Academic

Compensation Range

$7,622.83 - $11,886.67 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.

Posting End Date

February 3, 2026

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

Job End Date

Ongoing

 

 

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 School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is a partnership between the Faculties of Applied Science and Medicine, established in 2017. The School is a nucleus for education and training, research, and innovation in biomedical engineering, creating new knowledge, new academic and training programs, and fostering translation and innovation. Its vision is to transform health and healthcare for all, achieved through innovative research and education at the convergence of engineering, medicine and biology. Through collaborative, innovative, and interdisciplinary approaches and building on UBC’s academic and research excellence, the School of Biomedical Engineering aspires to be a global leader in biomedical engineering research, education and translation. The SBME has two locations on Vancouver’s campus, the Gordon B Shrum building and the Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). For more information about the School of Biomedical Engineering, please visit https://www.bme.ubc.ca/.

The Strategic Partnerships Manager will build relationships and create opportunities between SBME stakeholders (faculty, student, staff and alumni) and external organizations (including industry, health care, government, and not-for-profits) and communities, across British Columbia, nationally and internationally. The incumbent will work with UBC partners at the Department, Faculty and Central levels (ex: Development, Co-op, Government Relations and Alumni UBC offices) as a connector to both SBME as well as current and potential external stakeholders. In addition, the Strategic Partnerships Manager will oversee the SBME Innovates incubator space. Finally, the Strategic Partnerships Manager will be expected to strengthen new and existing relationships with key contacts in academic institutions, health research organizations, industry sponsors, and funding agencies.

Organizational Status

The Strategic Partnerships Manager reports to the School Director. The incumbent will act as a key liaison with external partners and work collaboratively with other managers in SBME, including the Research Manager and the Manager, Communications, Culture & Engagement.

Work Performed

• Leverages domain expertise in the SBME to lead the relationship building between SBME researchers and collaborators from industry, government and the not-for-profit sector.

• Develops strategies for expanding the opportunities for SBME stakeholders via partnerships with other UBC units and external partners locally, nationally and internationally.

• Initiates, leads and evolves studies to identify partnership opportunities will improve business effectiveness.

• Proactively connects SBME faculty with other relevant resources within Innovation UBC, the broader VPRI Portfolio and other UBC departments, faculties and research centres.

• Creates new and builds existing relationships with key local, national, and global organizations to increase awareness of opportunities for SBME researchers.

• Prepares engaging slide decks for partnership presentations and pitches to current and new partners.

• Forges relationships with companies and other partners that have research opportunities for SBME faculty; helps to maintain and build these relationships.

• Supports the dialogue and decision making with SBME principal investigators that enables the prioritization, maintenance, growth of partnerships by understanding the strategic and tactical needs/expectations of both the School and the partner organization.

• Leads and organizes quarterly meetings of SBME’s Industry Advisory committee and its three subcommittees (education, partnerships, and commercialization), and liaise regularly with the committee’s co-chairs.

• Works in conjunction with Research Manager and other UBC partner departments to draft portions of team grant applications (e.g. CREATE applications, PacifiCan, etc.).

• Maintains relationships with business development directors and managers across the UBC campuses and at other top research institutions.

• Supports the SBME Innovates offerings and policies, strategizing with Innovation UBC, HATCH Venture Builder, and other local, national and international stakeholders and attracting and interacting with industry partners.

• Enhances educational programming with post-education skills and professional development (e.g. SBME Propels professional development series, Career Accelerator program, Amplitude Pre-Amp program, micro-certificates in the area of innovation leadership).

• Collaborates with other SBME staff in planning annual events such as Innovation and Industry Breakfast and SBME Symposium to strengthen relationship between research activities and impact.

• Develops and delivers programs that orient SBME researchers to leading practices in partnership development, in collaboration with other portfolios such as External Relations and Development & Alumni Engagement.

• Develops and delivers programs that guide SBME trainees career choices. Recruits and establishes a network of professionals across diverse careers who contribute to the program by sharing their career knowledge and experience with SBME trainees. Engages in outreach of SBME alumni for mentorship and career advice to current trainees.

• Collaborates with Government Relations colleagues and others to ensure government stakeholders have a clear communication channel with the SBME leadership team and SBME faculty.

• Forges relationships with companies and other partners that have co-op, internship and full-time job opportunities for the trainees in SBME.

• Maintains relationship with the Faculty of Applied Science Co-op office, and assists in connecting industry and other partners for co-op placement opportunities for SBME undergraduate students, and internships and post-graduation job opportunities for SBME graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.

• Works with various development teams at UBC on development or implementation of corporate and foundation grant seeking and fundraising.

• Builds and maintains relationships with appropriate life sciences associations and alliances, such as Life Sciences BC and BIOTECanada.

• Tracks appropriate metrics under this portfolio, providing summarized data at SBME leadership meetings, as part of SBME annual report and to other UBC partners.

• Supports the planning, execution, and evaluation of large and complex initiatives that will contribute to the recently launched strategic plan of the School.

• In collaboration with the Manager, Communications, Culture & Engagement proactively seeks out opportunities to highlight SBME’s innovation success stories to disseminate to a broad audience.

• Develops and seeks out thorough partnerships professional development activities for SBME trainees, including undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, in partnership with the Manager, Communications, Culture & Engagement.

• Carries out any other related duties as necessary.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This role has a significant client-facing component, both internally and externally. The Strategic Partnerships Manager will be an ambassador the School of Biomedical Engineering and its internal stakeholders at UBC. The position is accountable for recommendations and decisions that can affect the economic viability and effectiveness of a range of partnership initiatives. Poor judgement or decision making can cause a reputational risk for the University, and may result in lost opportunities for researchers, students, staff and partners.

Supervision Received

The Strategic Partnerships Manager reports to the Director of Partnerships & Community Engagement and works closely the SBME Director and well as with other School leadership including the Director of Strategic Planning & Operations, Director of the Undergraduate Programs, the Director of the Graduate Programs and the Director of Research. Must be highly self-directed, take initiative, and work independently within policies and procedure. Work is reviewed by the assigned Director(s).

Supervision Given

May supervise another staff member in this portfolio.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of six years related experience in an appropriate business specialization, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Post-graduate degree in molecular biology, microbiology, biochemical engineering, biomedical engineering, bioengineering or similar is considered an asset.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and cross-cultural sensitivity.

• Relevant experience working with scientists and administrators in an advanced research environment, and direct professional experience in business development in the life sciences sector.

• Outstanding ability to speak and write clearly and persuasively, and to present complex information to a range of partners.

• Advanced skills in synthesizing data into clear and concise visual assets (e.g. slides, infographics, white pages, etc.)

• Demonstrated success in creating and supporting multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral teams and facilitating connections.

• Ability to be highly self-directed, taking initiative, and working independently under the general direction.

• Ability to actively listen to partners and faculty, identify areas of common interest, and to create a compelling case for partnering with the SBME.

• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to engage with and motivate a broad range of stakeholders.

• Excellent analytical skills and ability to solve problems in a creative and efficient manner are essential.

• Demonstrated experience in identifying and cultivating funded partnerships with academic and corporate organizations and research consortiums.

• Significant experience in business development, marketing, strategic planning, or management consulting, with proven success in revenue generation.

• Ability to exercise tact and discretion when handling sensitive and/or confidential matters.

• Ability to travel to partners in the local ecosystem and to attend local and international conferences and events.