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The Opportunity

Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta
Employment Type: Full-Time Contract (3 years)

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Manager ensures alignment with:

- 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.

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 safe work and study workplace 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.

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

2. 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.

3. Program Development & Delivery

- Lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of entrepreneurship and innovation programs aligned with regional needs.
- Oversee full program lifecycle: concept development, partner alignment, budgeting, delivery, evaluation, and improvement.
- Support entrepreneurs through ecosystem navigation, referrals, and connection to provincial innovation supports.
- Develop scalable models that increase access to capital, mentorship, commercialization expertise, and growth pathways.
- Ensure programming aligns with Alberta Innovates' performance expectations and directly contributes to measurable regional impact.

4. Institutional Collaboration & Innovation Integration

- Leverage the strengths and assets of the host institution to enhance regional innovation capacity.
- Facilitate pathways for student, faculty, and staff participation in entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives where appropriate.
- Connect entrepreneurs with applied research expertise, student talent, industry training programs, and the institution's innovation infrastructure.




- Contribute to strengthening the host institution’s role as a regional innovation contributor while maintaining WBRIN’s community-centered mandate.

5. Financial Stewardship & Funding Development

- Manage the WBRIN operating budget with accountability, transparency, and fiscal discipline.
- Ensure full compliance with Alberta Innovates funding agreements and reporting requirements.
- Collaborate with ecosystem partners to identify and pursue complementary funding opportunities (e.g., Alberta Innovates, PrairiesCan, RMWB).
- Optimize resource allocation to maximize ecosystem impact and long-term sustainability.

6. Reporting, Metrics & Compliance

- Ensure accurate and timely reporting through Alberta Innovates systems (including CIS and related tools).
- Track and report performance indicators including entrepreneur engagement, venture creation and scale, job creation, capital attraction, and ecosystem capacity metrics.
- Maintain rigorous standards of data integrity, documentation and evaluation.
- Participate in provincial evaluations, surveys and program reviews as required.

7. Public Representation & Ecosystem Promotion

- Serve as a visible ambassador for WBRIN within the region and across Alberta’s innovation ecosystem.
- Promote innovation culture through public speaking, ecosystem events, community engagement and strategic communications.
- Lead or coordinate innovation-focused events that elevate regional awareness and participation.
- Strengthen the WBRIN brand as a trusted hub for entrepreneurship and innovation support.

Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration or related field.
- A master’s degree is considered an asset.
- 5+ years of experience in economic development, entrepreneurship support, innovation programming, or ecosystem leadership.
- Experience managing government-funded programs and reporting requirements.
- Proven success in community engagement and multi-partner collaboration.
- Experience in budget management and financial accountability.
- Familiarity with Alberta Innovates and the Alberta Innovation Network ecosystem is a strong asset.

Please note that if your education was received internationally, upon hire we will require you to provide an international education assessment completed through WES, IQAS or one of the other IRCC approved designated organization.

Compensation and Benefits

- Compensation is based on education and experience.

Additional Information

At Keyano College, we are committed to fostering an equitable, caring and resilient environment where everyone feels valued and connected to the common goal and the college community. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and encourage candidates who will contribute to the diversity of the College to apply.

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue through the selection process will be contacted.

Company

Keyano College

Location

Fort McMurray, Alberta

Opening Date

12-03-2026

Starting Date

04-05-2026

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

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