This Partnerships Manager position at the University of British Columbia's School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) involves developing and implementing external partnership, innovation, and commercialization activities. The role focuses on building sustained relationships with various external organizations to create opportunities for SBME faculty, trainees, and ventures, and provides operational oversight for SBME Innovates.
Responsibilities
Develop and implement partnership-development, industry-engagement, innovation, and commercialization plans and activities in support of SBME's strategic priorities
Cultivate senior-level relationships with industry, health-care organizations, governments, not-for-profit organizations, funders, investors, incubators, accelerators, professional associations, and academic partners locally, nationally, and internationally
Develop and actively manage a partnership pipeline; assess and prioritize prospective relationships based on strategic fit, mutual value, readiness, and potential impact; and advise School leadership and faculty on cultivation, stewardship, and growth of strategically important external relationships
Identify areas of shared interest between external organizations and SBME researchers and leaders; frame partnership opportunities and guide discussions regarding mutual value, strategic alignment, and institutional fit
Identify and develop opportunities for strategic collaborations that advance SBME priorities in research, education, innovation, translation, entrepreneurship, and societal impact
Develop and implement engagement plans for strategic partners, ensuring regular communication, stewardship, and progression of opportunities from initial discussion through active collaboration
Work closely with the Research Manager to align partnership opportunities with faculty expertise, emerging research priorities, educational programs, and strategic institutional objectives
Work closely with the Manager, Major Initiatives to transition mature partnership opportunities into formal funding proposals, strategic initiatives, collaborative programs, and funded projects; retain primary responsibility for partner cultivation and stewardship while the Manager, Major Initiatives leads proposal development and project implementation, as appropriate
Create presentations, briefing materials, concept notes, partnership proposals, and business cases for prospective and current partners
Work with Government Relations and School leadership to coordinate engagement with government stakeholders and advance awareness of SBME priorities, initiatives, and impact
Build and maintain relationships with life-sciences associations, innovation organizations, hospitals, health authorities, research institutes, and strategic alliances, and represent SBME at relevant meetings, conferences, and ecosystem events
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Lead the planning, coordination, and continuous development of the annual UBC Vancouver Industry Breakfast and other strategic engagement forums that strengthen connections between SBME and industry, health-care, government, and innovation-sector partners
Lead the Industry Advisory Board, including membership strategy, recruitment, governance, meeting planning, stakeholder engagement, follow-up activities, and implementation of recommendations that advance SBME's partnership, innovation, and commercialization objectives
Support the establishment, implementation, and ongoing operation of external advisory bodies and stakeholder-engagement mechanisms, including a future Community Stakeholder Board, ensuring meaningful input from patients, communities, health-system partners, not-for-profit organizations, and other stakeholders in support of SBME's strategic priorities
Develop and convene strategic roundtables, workshops, networking events, and partnership forums that foster collaboration among academia, industry, health-care organizations, governments, community groups, and innovation-sector partners
Provide operational oversight and coordination for SBME Innovates, including its growth, service model, partnerships, governance processes, operating practices, and long-term sustainability
Develop and manage SBME's commercialization and venture-development pipeline, from early identification of promising research and technologies through connection to technology transfer, venture development, incubation, mentorship, and financing resources
Advise prospective and resident ventures and connect founders with Innovation UBC, investors, accelerators, mentors, professional service providers, sponsors, and sources of dilutive and non-dilutive funding
Identify, develop, and maintain sponsorship, funding, and partnership opportunities that support SBME Innovates, strategic hubs, educational initiatives, and other School priorities, coordinating with UBC Development and Alumni Engagement where philanthropic activity is involved
Develop and deliver education and engagement programs in entrepreneurship, commercialization, company creation, partnership development, and knowledge translation for faculty, staff, and trainees, including relevant components of SBME Propels and major School events
Collaborate with Co-operative Education and other UBC partners to expand experiential learning, internship, exchange, training, and employment opportunities for SBME trainees through external partnerships
Support the development and implementation of strategic initiatives involving external stakeholders, including industry, government, health-system, and community partners, as assigned by School leadership
Collaborate with the Communications team to profile partnership, innovation, and commercialization successes and maintain effective partner-facing communications and engagement materials
Contribute partnership intelligence, ecosystem insights, and external perspectives that inform School planning, priority setting, and decision-making
Establish portfolio measures, maintain relationship-management systems, evaluate outcomes, and prepare reports, analyses, and recommendations for School leadership
May supervise staff, students, or contractors supporting the partnerships and innovation portfolio
Perform other related duties consistent with the scope and classification of the position
Requirements
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
Nice to have:
Graduate degree in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, life sciences, health sciences, or a related field is an asset
Demonstrated success developing complex, mutually beneficial relationships across academic, industry, health-care, government, and not-for-profit settings
Experience supporting research commercialization, technology translation, venture creation, incubators, or accelerators
Strong understanding of the life-sciences and biomedical innovation ecosystem, including research, intellectual property, venture financing, and non-dilutive funding pathways
Strong understanding of the role of the university in the biotech landscape in BC and Canada
Outstanding written, oral, and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific and technical information for varied audiences
Ability to listen closely, identify common interests, navigate competing priorities, and build a persuasive case for partnership
Experience developing sponsorships, funded partnerships, or other revenue-generating relationships
Excellent judgement, diplomacy, and discretion in handling confidential or commercially sensitive matters
Strong planning, negotiation, facilitation, and stakeholder-management skills
Ability to work independently, travel locally, and attend national or international meetings as required
Important Details
Job end date: Ongoing
Application deadline: October 29, 2026
About the Company
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. It serves as a nucleus for education and training, research, and innovation in biomedical engineering, aiming to transform health and healthcare through innovative research and education at the convergence of engineering, medicine, and biology. The SBME has two locations on Vancouver’s campus: the Gordon B Shrum building and the Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) building.
The University of British Columbia is a public research university in British Columbia, Canada.
