The DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University is committed to developing innovative business leaders through excellence in education, research, and community engagement. With undergraduate, graduate, executive, and doctoral programs, DeGroote fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment that prepares students to address complex business challenges and create meaningful impact in their organizations and communities.
Through strong partnerships with industry, alumni, entrepreneurs, and community stakeholders, the School delivers experiential learning opportunities that bridge theory and practice. DeGroote is recognized for its commitment to student success, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advancing business knowledge that contributes to economic and social prosperity.
Reporting to the Director, Finance & Administration, the Senior Manager, Entrepreneurship is responsible for leading and advancing entrepreneurship programming, initiatives, and strategic partnerships that support the growth of entrepreneurial talent and ventures within the DeGroote School of Business and the broader McMaster community.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Senior Manager, Entrepreneurship plays a key role in the advancement of the Faculty’s standing as a leader in entrepreneurial opportunities and advances the use of the Faculty’s knowledge toward the generation of companies, jobs, and prosperity in Canada.
The Senior Manager, Entrepreneurship provides leadership toward the overall Faculty/University mandate to deliver a high level of professional service to the entrepreneurship community, including faculty members, students, research staff, alumni, and representatives of partner institutions and sponsor organizations.
The role will also receive functional direction and leadership from the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs and the Associate Dean, Graduate Programs to support alignment of entrepreneurship initiatives and programming across undergraduate and graduate academic priorities.
ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Strategic Leadership
• Provides strategic leadership for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of entrepreneurship education and programming within the Marinucci Entrepreneurial Bridge and across the Faculty.
• Supports multi-year strategic planning and facilitates entrepreneurship initiatives for the portfolio within the broader priorities of DeGroote, McMaster University, and the evolving national and regional innovation ecosystem.
• Establishes, monitors, and analyzes key performance indicators (KPIs) to inform program direction and demonstrate institutional impact to donors, leadership, and funding partners.
• Conducts market analyses, ecosystem scans, and environmental reviews to identify emerging opportunities, competitive trends, and sector-specific needs in entrepreneurship and venture creation.
• Provides regular strategic and program recommendations regarding entrepreneurship to the Faculty.
• Fosters cross-faculty and interdisciplinary collaboration by partnering with academic leaders, research institutes, and administrative units to execute on pan-university entrepreneurial initiatives that expand institutional visibility and impact.
• Advises Faculty leadership on strategic opportunities where entrepreneurship programming can accelerate McMaster’s innovation agenda, strengthen external partnerships, and enhance the faculties reputation as a driver of economic growth.
Stakeholder Relations & Community Engagement
• Cultivates strong working relationships with key stakeholders across campus entrepreneurship groups including The Forge, MILO, the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Science, and central student affairs to support and amplify the university’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Represents DeGroote in external entrepreneurship networks, identifying and advancing partnership opportunities that support faculty-led and university-based startup ventures.
• Develops and maintains strategic relationships with investors, companies, government bodies, and external organizations to improve access to capital and support the commercialization of research through startups.
• Acts as a faculty representative in the regional and national innovation ecosystem, building DeGroote’s profile as a hub for entrepreneurial education and applied research.
• Advocates for and promotes the achievements of faculty and student ventures to industry, government, and funding partners, enhancing institutional visibility and securing strategic collaborations.
• Plans and manages major events (annual and ad hoc) to strengthen relationships with the entrepreneurial community and showcase the DeGroote School of Business.
• Works in partnership with Marketing and Communication on communications to promote entrepreneurship initiatives through events, media, and digital platforms.
• Identifies and resolves challenges impacting partnerships and venture collaborations, advising on investment proposals and agreement terms in alignment with university policies and legal guidance.
Entrepreneurial Program Development & Curriculum Leadership
• Continuously contributes to evolving and improving entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship programs to ensure relevance and alignment with industry needs, student aspirations, and emerging innovation practice.
• Oversees co-curricular activities for entrepreneurship programming including bootcamps, residencies, masterclasses, and innovation-focused courses.
• Facilitates cross-faculty collaboration to expand access to entrepreneurial education and interdisciplinary innovation opportunities for students across all faculties.
• Partners with faculty and experiential learning teams to design and manage hands-on learning initiatives that simulate real-world business environments and support venture creation.
• Serves as a partner to Faculty working on curriculum development and ensures alignment with commercialization best practices, regulatory considerations, and market needs.
• Oversees the operation and enhancement of student-focused support spaces and resources—such as the Digital Learning Studio and Rapid Prototyping Studio—ensuring they meet the needs of aspiring entrepreneurs.
• Implements continuous improvement processes including program evaluation, outcomes tracking, and data-informed iteration.
Venture Support, Commercialization & Innovation Pathways
• Leads and collaborates on initiatives aimed at advising and mentoring students and recent graduates through all phases of new business creation, promoting their long-term entrepreneurial success.
• Strengthens commercialization pathways by coordinating support across campus ecosystem partners including The Forge, MILO, the McMaster Seed Fund (MSF), and relevant external accelerators.
• Supports faculty and student innovators navigating intellectual property, market analysis, regulatory factors, venture validation, and translational funding.
• Facilitates connections with mentors, industry partners, investors, and accelerators to ensure founders receive coordinated, stage-appropriate support.
• Provides oversight of business development advisory services including market assessment frameworks, pitch preparation, and venture growth support.
Metrics & Performance Reporting
• Leads the collection, consolidation, and reporting of entrepreneurship-related metrics to meet internal requirements and the expectations of donors and external funding agencies.
• Works collaboratively with campus partners to share best practices for venture creation within the academic environment, targeting engagement across faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and students.
• Provides regular program updates, outcome data, and strategic recommendations to the Director of Finance & Administration, Dean.
Financial Management
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders to identify and secure funding that supports entrepreneurship at McMaster, with a focus on the sustainable growth of the DeGroote Spark Fund and related programming.
• Identifies, pursues, and secures revenue-generation opportunities related to Entrepreneurship including grants and government programs
• Works in partnership with DSB Advancement on sponsorships, and philanthropic partnerships.
• Supports the preparation of commercialization plans and application reviews to strengthen the faculties’ s position in securing financing for research-driven startup ventures.
