Program Officer, BFN

Date Posted: 04/13/2026
Req ID: 47664
Faculty/Division: VP - Research
Department: University of Toronto Entrepreneurship
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00059376
Existing Vacancy: Yes

Description:

About us:

The Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) portfolio supports the University of Toronto as a top public research university in the world. Our mission is to create the most supportive environment possibleso that our researchers, innovators and learners can do what they do best — advance understanding and apply new knowledge. Our work supports, fosters and promotes the research and innovation culture and activities of our faculty, staff and students, along with our partner hospitals, funding sponsors, and partners in the public and private sector. VPRI provides a full range of services including guidance to faculty, staff and students on funding opportunities, research agreement negotiation, oversight andaccountability services including research accounting, environmental health and safety, innovation and entrepreneurship, partnerships, policies and procedures, and institutional awards and honours.

University of Toronto Entrepreneurship (UTE) ispart of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation portfolio. The UTE community accelerates ideas, people, social impact, and technologies, all while striving to create an environment that is inclusive and representative of the diverse and talented innovators we serve. UTE is a central voice for entrepreneurship across U of T’s three campuses and represents a powerful network of 12+ accelerators. We are here to support, develop and celebrate our best and brightest founders and their startups througha broad range of resources, network access and entrepreneurship activities.

Within UTE, the Black Founders Network (BFN) is an initiative created after extensive consultation with internal and external stakeholders in the Black innovation community. The BFN’s mission is to create an inclusive community of Black entrepreneurs at all stages of their journey, and provide them with the networks, resources, and inspiration to launch, fund, and scale impactful startups. The BFN encompasses threepillars – Core, Accelerate, and Scale; as well as various programs to support Black talent and women. Since launching in 2021, BFN has grown quickly – supporting thousands of in line with its vision of creating a thriving community of Black founders and Black-led startups, from every industry and every stage.

Your opportunity:

Reporting to the Black Founders Network (BFN) Manager, the BFN Program Officer will provide dedicated support to deliver and continuously improve key BFN programs (including Smart Start & Accelerate programs), which support Black founders at the ideation and early traction phases, to launch and grow their businesses. They will also support the planning and execution of BFN events & initiatives which engage and grow the Black Founders Network community. If you have strong experience in supporting startups at the early stages of their growth, and a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, we invite you to apply and join our amazing team.


Your responsibilities will include:

• Implementing plans and process improvements for program and service activities
• Promoting events and programs to target audiences
• Fostering and maintaining networks to build capacity and collaboration
• Analyzing and making recommendations for programming enhancements
• Liaising with contacts to identify partnership opportunities for collaborations
• Generating reports
• Writing routine documents and correspondence

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience.
• Minimum five (5) years of relevant experience in entrepreneurial program management.
• Lived experience and active involvement with Black and other under-represented communities on initiatives or programming that advance the relevant community
• Demonstrated experience executing on large scale events with a variety of stakeholders
• Experience growing and engaging with a digital community
• Strong working knowledge of startup and entrepreneurial concepts critical for scale
• Strong time management skills and ability to prioritize tasks and responsibilities to meet strict deadlines
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, tact and diplomacy
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including public speaking
• Ability to prepare presentations, reports and correspondence with minimal review
• Superior attention to detail and accuracy
• Demonstrated ability to exercise judgment and discretion in the execution of position responsibilities
• Excellent software skills including MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Strong initiative and ability to work well in a team

Assets (Nonessential):

• Previous entrepreneurial experience as a founder or working for a startup company

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Adaptable
• Communicator
• Efficient
• Organized
• Resourceful
• Team player

Closing Date: 04/22/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 12 -- $81,312. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $103,986. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial
Recruiter: Anita Chooraman

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

A job description is available upon request