Executive Director, Hunter Hub

at  The University of Calgary

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERTISE

• Undergraduate degree in a related field; a master’s degree preferred;
• A minimum of ten years’ experience in an entrepreneurial environment (start up or SME);
• A high degree of personal integrity;
• Professional and communication skills commensurate with an executive position;
• Familiarity or experience working in a post-secondary setting would be an asset;
• Credibility with the entrepreneurial community is important;
• Passionate about entrepreneurial thinking and its impact on community;
• Ability to inspire a broad range of stakeholders, including students and the wider community, to support and engage with the Hunter Hub;
• Energy to build and create a new initiative with clear direction and outcomes;
• The capacity and desire to be a strong ambassador of the University of Calgary’s goals and aspirations.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Executive Director (Hunter Hub) will have the overall strategic and operational responsibility for the of the Hunter Hub and for the strategic development and execution of entrepreneurial thinking initiatives, and innovation programming at the University of Calgary.
The University of Calgary established the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking (the ‘Hunter Hub’) to lead the university and larger community in entrepreneurial thinking and innovation, and to meet its commitment to become Canada’s most entrepreneurial university. The University’s Ahead of Tomorrow strategy has firmly embedded entrepreneurial thinking into its student experience and campus culture, and the Hunter Hub will play a catalytic role in building capacity in these areas.

ACCOUNTABILITIES, TASKS, AND DUTIES

• Lead the strategic direction for the Hunter Hub which aligns to the overall goals of the initiative and to UCalgary’s commitment to entrepreneurial thinking;
• Engage internal and external stakeholders to ensure a compelling and inspiring long term strategy;
• Be an internal and external champion for the Hunter Hub and entrepreneurial thinking, as well as UCalgary more broadly. Be involved in key networks and forums, as well as speaking engagements, to be positioned as a thought leader in entrepreneurial thinking;
• Build an extensive network externally to support the Hunter Hub’s activities through advice, mentorship and funding;
• Develop new innovation initiatives and programs, as well as the scale up of existing programs, to increase capacity and impact;
• Lead and manage the Hunter Hub staff, operations and finances in a prudent, responsible and accountable means;
• Provide leadership to the development of any future space plans for the Hunter Hub in coordination with other incubation/accelerator/makerspaces on campus and in the community;
• Engage with an Advisory Council on Entrepreneurial Thinking comprised of key community leaders and entrepreneurs;
• Facilitate the development of, and participation in, internal committees of key stakeholders (academic leadership, students, and faculty) to coordinate and collaborate on new entrepreneurial thinking initiatives and the scale up of existing programs;
• Develop and regularly report on clear metrics and outcomes for the Hunter Hub and entrepreneurial thinking initiatives at UCalgary;
• Facilitate and lead processes to assess initiatives and allocate funding to entrepreneurial thinking programs, as well as innovation programmingwith the Hunter Hub. Ensure that processes are in place for program evaluation;
• Engage with senior university leaders to increase support to the Hunter Hub through fundraising and appropriate government programs;