Vice President, Commercialization and Talent

Alberta Innovates / InnoTech Alberta

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

As Vice President, Commercialization and Talent, you will play a critical leadership role in advancing Alberta Innovates’ strategic priorities and delivering on its Business Plan. Serving as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will lead an integrated portfolio spanning entrepreneurship, commercialization pathways, innovation networks and the development of innovation talent to accelerate Alberta’s innovation ecosystem.
In this role, you will design and execute high-impact strategies and programs that strengthen the province’s entrepreneurial pipeline, expand access to capital for innovation-driven ventures, and enable the adoption and commercialization of emerging technologies. You will also champion initiatives that build and sustain a highly skilled innovation workforce across Alberta.
This is a highly visible executive position requiring visionary leadership, strategic acumen, and deep engagement across the innovation ecosystem. You will serve as a catalyst for collaboration, economic growth, and technological advancement, positioning Alberta Innovates as a leader in fostering a dynamic and globally competitive innovation economy.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business, Engineering, Public Administration, Information Technology).
• Minimum of 15 years in progressively senior leadership roles.
• Proven leadership in innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, or public-sector transformation.
• Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional teams, driving organizational change, and building strategic partnerships.
• Familiarity with investment services, capital markets, and commercialization pathways.
• Highly developed expertise in Canada’s, and ideally Alberta’s, innovation ecosystem, including applied R&D, commercialization, and talent development.
• Advanced understanding of innovation systems, public-sector governance, and economic development.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills across government, industry, academia, and investment communities.
• Sound judgment; ability to make timely decisions with incomplete information; effective risk assessment and mitigation.
• Ability to build trusted relationships and influence through negotiation, persuasion, and consensus building across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Issues management and crisis communications expertise; ability to craft clear, consistent messages under pressure.
• Team building, coaching, and development across multidisciplinary functions.
• Vendor/agency management; brand governance; campaign planning and measurement.

Nice To Haves

• Strategic and forward-thinking – sees the big picture, anticipates trends, and translates vision into action
• Ecosystem builder – excels at forming strong partnerships across industry, academia, and government
• Results-driven leader – focused on outcomes, impact, and measurable value creation
• Influential and credible – able to engage executives, investors, and policymakers with confidence
• People-focused – builds, develops, and inspires high-performing, diverse teams
• Collaborative and cross-functional – breaks down silos and aligns teams around shared goals
• Innovative and curious – energized by emerging technologies and new ways of driving economic growth
• Adaptable and resilient – leads effectively through complexity, ambiguity, and change
• Client- and stakeholder-centric – prioritizes user experience and ecosystem needs in decision-making

Responsibilities

• Set and execute strategy for entrepreneurship, commercialization, and innovation talent development aligned with corporate and provincial priorities
• Oversee investment strategies, including capital deployment, co-investment opportunities, and investment services (due diligence, market insights)
• Drive integrated, client-centric programs that advance innovation, commercialization, and ecosystem growth alongside colleagues that lead industry verticals
• Identify emerging trends and position Alberta Innovates as a leader in innovation and economic diversification
• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing leadership team aligned to a shared vision
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture
• Champion change management, talent development, and succession planning
• Lead strategic partnerships across industry, academia, government, and global networks
• Expand market access and commercialization opportunities for Alberta innovators
• Represent Alberta Innovates with government, stakeholders, and at key forums and events
• Oversee program design, delivery, and continuous improvement to ensure measurable impact
• Establish and monitor KPIs, ensuring strong performance, accountability, and outcomes
• Lead financial management, resource planning, and operational effectiveness
• Provide strategic advice and reporting to the Board and executive leadership
• Ensure alignment with governance, risk management, and compliance requirements

Benefits

• Competitive compensation aligned with internal classification and pay bands
• Comprehensive benefits, including health and dental coverage and pension benefits
• Vacation starting at three weeks, plus paid time-off programs that support balance
• Opportunities for learning and professional development
• A respectful, inclusive work environment that values collaboration and diverse perspectives
• Flexible work arrangements, where operationally feasible

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive