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The Opportunity

Location: Fort McMurray, Albertan

Employment Type: Full-Time Contract (3 years)

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Keyano College, as the contract holder and host institution for the Wood Buffalo Regional Innovation Network (WBRIN), is seeking a Manager to support the delivery and coordination of WBRIN’s mandate. The ideal candidate is collaborative and community-centered, comfortable operating in cross-sector environments, strategic, entrepreneurial, and proactive. The successful candidate will be credible with government, industry, Indigenous, and academic partners, and capable of balancing the expectations of Alberta Innovates and regional partners while advancing the goals of the Wood Buffalo Regional Innovation ecosystem.

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While administratively hosted by Keyano College, WBRIN operates as a visible, community-centered innovation hub serving entrepreneurs, startups, industry, Indigenous partners, and key parties of our ecosystem across the region.

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Position Overview

The WBRIN Manager provides strategic leadership and operational management of the WBRIN, a regional innovation ecosystem initiative funded through the Regional Innovation Network (RIN) program of Alberta Innovates. The position is responsible for advancing innovation, entrepreneurship, and venture development across the Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo region by supporting founders, strengthening ecosystem capacity, and fostering collaboration among industry, community organizations, Indigenous partners, and post-secondary institutions.n

As part of the Research and Innovation team, the WBRIN Manager will foster opportunities that connect WBRIN programming with the host community, including students, staff, and faculty, contributing to the broader regional innovation ecosystem.

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The Manager ensures alignment with:

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- RIN’s mandate and performance framework of Alberta Innovates
- Community and industry innovation priorities
- Strategic direction from the WBRIN Governance Committee
- The host institution’s role in supporting regional innovation outcomes

Note: this is not a remote or hybrid work opportunity, you will be required to work on campus and relocate to Fort McMurray, AB.n

About Us

Keyano College is a comprehensive post-secondary educational institution located in Fort McMurray, nested in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on traditional Treaty 8 territory. We are a strategic community partner that meets both the training and talent upgrading needs of industry, as well as the personal enrichment and cultural needs of the Wood Buffalo community. We take pride in offering a secure work and study environment that embraces Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. Our students and customers come from all walks of life and so do we. That is why we are committed to hiring great people from a variety of backgrounds because it makes our employee community stronger.n

Duties & Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Ecosystem Development
- Lead implementation of the Wood Buffalo Regional Innovation Network strategy in alignment with Alberta Innovates’ RIN program framework.




- Develop annual operational plans aligned with Alberta Innovates performance targets and regional ecosystem priorities.
- Identify ecosystem gaps and develop initiatives that enhance entrepreneurial support, commercialization pathways, and innovation capacity.
- Strengthen regional competitiveness by aligning innovation programming with key regional sectors (e.g., energy, sustainability, digital innovation, trades, health, and emerging technologies).
- Represent WBRIN at Regional Innovation Manager meetings and provincial Alberta Innovation Network (AIN) forums.
- Ensure entrepreneurs receive coordinated, high-quality support that reduces barriers to innovation, improves access to capital and expertise, and increases venture success rates.

- Governance & Key Partner Management

- Serve as primary liaison to the WBRIN Governance Committee, Collaborative partners, and key Rightsholders to ensure strategic alignment and support for the network's mission.
- Facilitate governance meetings with clear agendas, documented decisions and tracked action items.
- Support the Governance Committee in exercising independent oversight of WBRIN's strategic direction in accordance with Alberta Innovates guidelines.
- Maintain strong, trust-based relationships with ecosystem partners including municipalities, Indigenous communities, economic development agencies, industry leaders, and post-secondary institutions.
- Ensure transparent and proactive communication with Alberta Innovates as the program funder.

- Program Development & Delivery

- Lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of entrepreneurship and innovation programs aligned with regional needs.
- Oversee

Apply on Kit Job: kitjob.ca/job/2ihwq9

📌 Contract - Manager, Wood Buffalo Regional Innovation Network (Fort McMurray)
🏢 Avanti Software
📍 Fort McMurray