About MaRS
MaRS Discovery District (@MaRSDD) is a charitable organization and North America’s largest urban innovation hub, dedicated to helping high-growth technology companies succeed. With a focus on climate, health sciences and other emerging technologies, MaRS supports startups tackling some of the world’s most pressing issues. Through its world-class facilities, strategic programs and partnerships, MaRS accelerates the adoption of groundbreaking Canadian technology and bolsters a globally competitive innovation ecosystem. MaRS is the place where you can play a meaningful role in the innovation economy.
About the opportunity
MaRS is seeking a part-time Advisor, Biotech/Lifesciences (Independent Contractor) with significant first-hand experience founding, building and scaling a biotech, pharmaceutical or life sciences company.
The ideal candidate is a former founder or CEO who has successfully navigated the journey from scientific discovery and technology development through product and clinical development, strategic partnerships and company growth. You understand what it takes to translate compelling science into a commercially viable product and a scalable business.
Drawing on your experience in product strategy, clinical and regulatory pathways, IP, funding, and team building, you will guide Canadian biotech and life sciences founders through key growth challenges.
You will advise MaRS portfolio companies, providing scientific and commercialization guidance to help early-stage founders achieve technical and commercial milestones.
Additionally, you will support MaRS’s health programs and sector partnerships.
Advisors do not operate as employees of MaRS.
Scope of work
You will work with the MaRS team to support Advisory efforts to founders and management teams on:
- Scientific and commercial translation – Help founders translate scientific discoveries into commercial opportunities by assessing differentiation, product-market fit, positioning, and required evidence.
- Product development and commercialization strategy – Guide founders in creating actionable roadmaps linking technical, regulatory, and commercial milestones to overall strategy.
- Technology and product strategy – Advise on product definitions, indication selection, platform vs. product strategy, development sequencing, and key technical decisions.
- Clinical and regulatory development – Assist companies in navigating clinical pathways, regulatory requirements, and evidence needed to maximize value and support commercialization.
- Commercial validation and market strategy – Help founders identify key stakeholders, test assumptions, evaluate competition, and establish market-entry and adoption strategies.
- Intellectual property and competitive positioning – Work alongside legal and technical experts to strategically align IP, freedom to operate, and defensibility with long-term advantage.
- Strategic partnerships and business development – Support founders in identifying, engaging, and negotiating with pharma, biotech, healthcare, and research partners.
- Deal and partnership readiness – Assist founders with value propositions, partner priorities, diligence materials, and negotiation prep for licensing and collaborations.
- Building and leading an executive team – Advise founders on transitioning to corporate leadership, recruiting talent, addressing skill gaps, and scaling organizational capabilities.
- Milestone and company development planning – Help establish technical, commercial, and operational milestones that de-risk the company and drive growth.
- Preparing for entry into global markets – Offer practical guidance on international expansion, global market dynamics, and global partner pathways.
Work with the MaRS team to support the delivery of best-in-class programs:
- Assess client needs and plan service delivery in collaboration with the MaRS team to maintain a high-quality bar for venture programs.
- Provide input into company assessments, commercialization readiness and program strategy.
- Help identify critical scientific, product, commercial and organizational gaps that may prevent a venture from progressing.
- Where complementary to existing MaRS services and networks, make connections to your network - including industry executives, scientific experts, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, customers, strategic partners, talent and other ecosystem participants who can help companies advance.
- Work collaboratively with the MaRS Health Sciences team to identify opportunities where industry relationships and domain expertise can accelerate venture progress.
- Share intelligence on biotech/pharma trends, emerging technologies, commercialization models, and market dynamics.
- Lead or support sessions on commercialization, product development, partnering, company building, and founder transitions.
- Provide strategic and operational input to maximize program value for ventures.
Engagement Structure:
- You will be assigned through connections to ventures by the MaRS team or through direct outreach by founders via marketing efforts of your profile to the MaRS portfolio
- Monthly deliverables will vary and are based on current needs; no minimum or guaranteed number of hours is offered.
- Advisors are engaged as independent contractors, not as employees of MaRS.
- Advisors are expected to work autonomously.
Areas of Engagement
Beyond what is outlined in the Scope of Work, Advisors may be engaged to contribute in one or more of the following ways, depending on the needs outlined in the monthly work plan:
- Provide individual advisory to ventures outside the biotech/ life sciences sector, as appropriate, and make connections to your network for MaRS clients
- Support the creation and delivery of programming and content. This might include:
- Small group advisory sessions and other 1:many experiential learning programs
- Peer groups and other networking activities
- Provide insights to content for MaRS platforms like the Startup Toolkit, and contributing thought leadership through articles, speaking engagements and other forums
- Provide insights and knowledge to MaRS corporate projects including sessions for corporate partners, special venture cohorts, and more
- Support MaRS operational excellence and administration including by:
- Providing input to shape decisions on programs, venture portfolio, and strategy decisions
- Logging all interactions with MaRS ventures in Salesforce (or any other mechanism directed by MaRS) and providing a detailed monthly summary of work performed.
- Any additional work or activities will be mutually agreed upon in advance
What you bring
You are a seasoned biotech / life sciences founder or CEO who has personally helped translate scientific innovation into products, partnerships and commercial opportunities.
- Proven founder, mentor, board member, or advisor experience supporting early-stage (Seed to Series A) life sciences ventures.
- Deep scientific credibility to engage founders on technical questions and connect them to commercial outcomes.
- Strong analytical skills and conceptual thinking to solve complex problems under uncertainty.
- Passion for business building and developing emerging biotech entrepreneurs.
- Personal accountability and dedication to exceeding goals and objectives.
- In-depth knowledge of early-stage milestones (i.e. license negotiations, regulatory and preclinical development) for high-growth, science-based ventures.
- Fluency across industry, academic, healthcare, government, and innovation ecosystems.
- Advanced scientific/clinical training (PhD, MD, or equivalent experience) strongly preferred; business training or commercial experience is an asset.
- Direct mentorship experience with first-time founders or early-stage management teams.
- Practical, founder-oriented mindset focused on biomedical entrepreneurship and commercialization.
- Strong judgment to challenge assumptions, provide key introductions, and prioritize high-impact milestones.
Advisors are independent contractors (not MaRS employees) and are not eligible for employee benefits, vacation, or statutory entitlements.
Advisors are responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and business expenses.
Our Applicant Tracking System, BambooHR, does not use Artificial Intelligence (AI). From time to time MaRS may use AI in our screening, assessment, and selection processes.
