Manager, Community and Partnerships - Hunter Hub

Description

The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking (Hunter Hub) under the Office of the President invites applications for a Manager, Community and Partnerships. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 36 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking is the University of Calgary's home for entrepreneurial thinking, supporting the University's vision to become Canada's most entrepreneurial university. The Hunter Hub creates opportunities for students, faculty and staff to develop entrepreneurial mindsets, explore new ideas and translate ideas into impact through programming, partnerships and community engagement.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Manager, Community and Partnerships leads the development and delivery of community engagement, events and strategic partnership initiatives that strengthen the Hunter Hub's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The position oversees the team responsible for events and community experiences, builds relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and develops strategies to engage businesses, alumni, industry partners, entrepreneurs and other organizations in support of the Hunter Hub's objectives.

The Manager is a key public-facing ambassador for the Hunter Hub and plays an important role in growing its profile, reach and impact. The position is accountable for team performance, partnership development, program and event outcomes, and continuous improvement informed by performance metrics and stakeholder feedback.

The role operates in a dynamic environment and requires flexibility to support occasional evening and weekend activities.

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

Community Engagement, Events and Team Leadership

• Develop and implement community engagement strategies, events and initiatives that strengthen the Hunter Hub's entrepreneurial ecosystem and support the University's entrepreneurial thinking priorities.
• Lead the planning, delivery and continuous improvement of events, community experiences and engagement activities that connect students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs, alumni and external stakeholders.
• Provide leadership to the community and events team, establishing priorities, assigning responsibilities, setting performance expectations and ensuring accountability for deliverables and results.
• Lead cross-functional project, event and programming teams comprising staff, coaches, mentors, university stakeholders and partners, external organizations and volunteers.
• Manage recruitment, onboarding, professional development, coaching and performance management of direct reports.
• Develop and maintain operational policies, procedures, service standards and processes to support consistent, effective and inclusive community engagement.
• Support programming teams in developing and implementing initiatives such as Innovation Sandbox, helping connect participants with relevant resources, expertise, networks and opportunities.
• Monitor participation, engagement, satisfaction and other performance measures to assess effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
  
  

Strategic Partnerships and Ecosystem Development

• Develop and implement strategies to engage external businesses, alumni, industry partners, entrepreneurs, community organizations and other stakeholders in the Hunter Hub's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Identify target businesses, organizations and stakeholders whose expertise, networks, resources and interests align with Hunter Hub priorities and can create meaningful opportunities for students, faculty, staff and start-ups.
• Build, cultivate and steward strategic relationships that support collaboration, entrepreneurship, innovation and the delivery of Hunter Hub initiatives.
• Develop and manage partnership agreements, membership arrangements, sponsorships, partner activations and related commitments, ensuring expectations are clear and deliverables are fulfilled.
• Identify opportunities for industry-specific events, alumni engagement, collaboration and other initiatives that connect the University with external expertise and resources.
• Serve as a knowledgeable, public-facing ambassador for the Hunter Hub, representing its priorities and opportunities to internal and external audiences.
• Establish and maintain relationships across the University and the broader innovation ecosystem to advance the Hunter Hub and the University's entrepreneurial thinking and innovation initiatives.
• Monitor partnership performance, engagement and value, using results to strengthen existing relationships and inform future partnership development.
  
  

Performance Measurement, Communications and Profile Development

• Establish objectives, key performance indicators and reporting processes for community engagement, events, partnerships and related initiatives in alignment with Hunter Hub priorities.
• Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data, including participation, engagement, partner contributions, stakeholder feedback and outcomes, to assess effectiveness and inform decisions.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for the Executive Director on performance, opportunities, risks, partnership outcomes and areas for improvement.
• Work collaboratively with communications and marketing colleagues to increase the Hunter Hub's visibility, strengthen its reputation and communicate its activities, partnerships and impact.
• Identify opportunities to grow the Hunter Hub's profile through external relationships, industry engagement, events, collaborations and participation in relevant networks.
• Use performance data and stakeholder feedback to improve programming, community experiences, partnership approaches and team processes.
• Ensure that activities and initiatives demonstrate measurable value and contribute to the Hunter Hub's strategic objectives.
  
  

Budget and Operational Management

• Develop, monitor and manage budgets for community engagement, events and partnership activities, ensuring resources are used effectively and expenditures align with approved plans.
• Oversee procurement, financial tracking, sponsorship-related financial commitments and other administrative requirements associated with the portfolio.
• Identify opportunities for cost sharing, sponsorship support and other resources that enhance the sustainability and reach of initiatives.
• Coordinate with Finance, Communications, programming teams and other university service areas to support effective planning and delivery.
• Identify operational risks, address emerging issues and implement process improvements to support effective and consistent delivery.
• Provide strategic and operational advice to the Executive Director on community engagement, events, partnerships, performance and emerging opportunities.
  
  

Qualifications / Requirements:

• A bachelor degree in business, communications, marketing, event management, community development or a related field.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in community engagement, strategic partnerships, stakeholder relations, events, programming or a related area.
• Experience leading teams, including recruitment, staff development, performance management and accountability for results.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing strategic partnerships, sponsorships, partner activations and stakeholder relationships.
• Experience leading complex events, programs or projects involving multiple internal and external contributors.
• Experience developing operational policies, procedures, agreements and service standards, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to establish performance measures, analyze results and use data to inform decisions and recommendations.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, negotiation, project management and organizational skill.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, manage competing priorities and work effectively in a dynamic environment.
• Knowledge of entrepreneurship, innovation ecosystems, post-secondary environments or community-building initiatives is an asset.
• Experience with Microsoft Office and customer relationship management (CRM), event management or other business systems is an asset.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
  
  

Application Deadline: November 10, 2026

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 the Management Career Band, Level M2 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 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 ii' taa'poh'to'p 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.

The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

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 ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).

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.