Job Description

Salary:

Senior Manager, Early StagePrograms

INVEST OTTAWA VENTURE DEVELOPMENT

Reporting to the Director, Venture Programs, the Senior Manager, Early-Stage Programs willbe responsible forthe strategic direction and operational excellence of Invest Ottawas Early-Stage programs, including Startup Fundamentals, IO Ignition, IO Flex, IOTractionand priority sector programming. This role ensures continuity, quality delivery, measurable impact, and strong founder experience across the early-stage pipeline, while supporting alignment with the broader IO Venture Path.

Corporate Pay Band E: $88,000-$132,000
Hiring Salary Range: $88,000-$100,000
Reason for opening: Maternity Leave 14 Month Term
This position will be required to work onsite at Bayview Yards, minimum 10 days a month.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING:

Strategic & Program Leadership

Lead the strategic direction and operational delivery of Early-Stage Programs (Startup Fundamentals, IO Ignition, IO Flex).

Oversee development and execution of priority sector programming (including Digital Health, Clean Tech, Defence, SmartMobilityand emerging verticals).

Establish quarterly and annual program goals in collaboration with the Director; monitor performance and adjust strategies as needed.

Develop and execute plans to strengthen the early-stage pipeline and improve conversion into downstream Venture Path programs.

Founder Experience & Ecosystem Engagement

Oversee the end-to-end client journey, ensuring seamless onboarding, engagement, transition, and offboarding.

Represent Invest Ottawa within the ecosystem at relevant events.

Cultivate and manage relationships with key sector stakeholders, advisors, and ecosystem partners.

Lead monthly Early-Stage Advisor meetings to align on client progress, program delivery, and strategic priorities.

Performance, Metrics & Continuous Improvement

Own program KPIs and ensureaccurateCRM tracking and reporting.

Develop and implement evaluation frameworks to assess program effectiveness and founder outcomes.

Provide insights and recommendations to Venture leadership based on performance data.

Identifyoperational inefficiencies and implement process improvements.

Financial & Operational Management

Support budget management for Early-Stage Programs, including forecasting and operating plan adjustments.

Ensure compliance with funding requirements and support reporting obligations.

Make recommendationsregardingadvisory capacity needs andparticipatein advisor recruitment.

Team Leadership

Lead and develop direct reports, fostering a high-performing, collaborative team culture.

Provide coaching, performance feedback, and clear accountability structures.

Collaborate cross-functionally with the broader Venture team other IO departments to achieve sharedobjectives.

Other

Contribute to cross-departmental initiatives and strategic planning efforts.

Other duties as assigned by the Director.

WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED/ GAINED THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER:

7+ years of leadership experience in program management, startups, or operations.

Strong understanding of the technology landscape and the challenges faced by early-stage founders.

Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including performance management and coaching.

Experience overseeing budgets, forecasting, and reporting.

Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into execution and measurable impact.

Strong communicationskills with the ability to engage effectively across various levels of leadership.

Analytical and strategic thinker, using data to inform decisions and drive results.

Proficiencywith CRM systems and performance reporting tools.

Do you have some of these skills butmaybe notall? We still encourage you to apply as we would love to review your unique applicationand learn more about you!

At Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards, we know that diversity,inclusionand a sense of belongingness are critical success factors for globally competitive organizations and arerequiredto drive sustainable wealth creation and prosperity across our region. We prioritize the creation of an inclusive culture and infuse diversity into our programs,operationsand governance. As an equal opportunity employer thatdoesntsimply accept difference but celebrates, support and thrives because of it, we invite all qualified candidates toapply, andespecially encourage those who identify as members of underrepresented groups.

Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards are determined to provide a barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you require accommodation during any phase of the evaluation process, please contacthr@investottawa.cato request specialized accommodation. Do know, all information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

At Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards, we are focused on doing better and committed to leading by example becauseitswhatsbest for us, ourcultureand our community.

We may use an AIenabled assistant to take notes during our recruitment process to help our team stay present and engaged during interviews. The tool does not screen, assess, or select applicants, and all hiring decisions are made by people. We welcome inquiries about AI use and/or requests for accommodations at any stage of the hiring process. Personal information (including recordings, transcripts, and summaries) is safeguarded in line with our privacy policy and applicable Ontario privacy legislation.

Invest Ottawa/Bayview Yards

Open Positions

Senior Manager, Early Stage Programs (14 Month Term)