Partnerships Development Coordinator

About Queen's University

Queen’s University is the Canadian research intensive university with a transformative student learning experience. Here the employment experience is as diverse as it is interesting.

We have opportunities in multiple areas of globally recognized research, faculty administration, engineering & construction, athletics & recreation, power generation, corporate shared services, and many more.

We are committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcome applications from individuals from equity seeking groups such as women, racialized / visible minorities, Indigenous / Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, persons who identify in the LGBTQ+ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.

Come work with us!

Job Summary

The Queen's Partnerships and Innovation (QPI) team supports the Research Portfolio’s mission to be an essential catalyst for advancing research and knowledge mobilization, strengthening Queen’s local, national and global impact.

QPI staff develop and facilitate partnerships to advance the research enterprise at Queen’s and the commercialization of inventions, and to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem in Kingston and Eastern Ontario by collaborating with not-for-profit and for-profit organizations and creating programs and services that contribute to the regional innovation ecosystem.

With support from external funding, QPI also offers various programs and services to accelerate the growth of companies within Kingston and Eastern Ontario.

Reporting to a Partnerships Development Officer (PDO), the Partnerships Development Coordinator (PDC) provides support to the Director, Research and Innovation Partnerships, and to the PDOs.

The PDC undertakes research (which includes technical aspects of medical sciences), benchmarking, surveys, data collection, input and analysis, due diligence, and the drafting and-or preparation of proposals, presentations, briefing notes and reports.

Additionally, the PDC has responsibility for planning and executing specific projects. Activities also include, but are not limited to, planning, coordinating and supporting campus visits and other events, arranging meetings and conference calls, and documenting / circulating accurate meeting minutes.

From time to time, the PDC will participate in meetings, led by the Director or one of the PDOs, involving Queen’s faculty members, post-doctoral fellows, and students, and-or entrepreneurs, startups, and representatives from industry, government, or local hospitals and other partners.

This position may require the incumbent to occasionally work flexible hours including evenings and weekends to accommodate events and / or meetings.

Job Description

Provide input to partnership development strategies and support related initiatives :

oResearch global industry trends, identify leading edge research and development (R&D) being performed at Queen’s and by researchers at other academic institutions in Ontario and Canada, and identify companies performing R&D in Canada.

oUndertake SWOT analyses to identify Queen’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities (including potential synergies with researchers and Centres and Institutes at Queen’s, and opportunities for collaboration) and Threats (including the competitive landscape).

oAssist with linking company inquiries re : Queen’s expertise and technology to Queen’s / Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) researchers and infrastructure / assets;

conduct outreach to Queen’s / KHSC researchers; coordinate campus visits and manage associated logistics.

oWith guidance from the Director and / or PDOs, conduct research and follow-up in response to requests for partnership development support from faculty members.

oIdentify funding opportunities and support the preparation of funding applications being led or supported by the Director or PDOs.

oWith guidance from PDOs, work with researchers to prepare marketing materials and update / leverage platforms to promote Queen’s specialized research infrastructure.

oDocument all leads and related interactions and activities in customer relationship management system.

oDevelop methodologies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for accessing, analyzing, and leveraging data and for capturing, monitoring and advancing leads in a timely manner.

Support QPI’s technology due diligence and licensing processes and projects :

oTriage Invention Disclosure Forms and perform initial review; conduct patentability & Freedom-to-Operate searches; undertake thorough research to benchmark specific technologies and understand market opportunities.

oWith guidance from PDOs, prepare marketing materials and update / leverage platforms, including social media, industry and match-making platforms, to promote Queen’s technologies;

identify target companies and contact persons; perform initial outreach.

Support QPI’s innovation ecosystem projects and activities :

oCollect and record client data in customer relationship management system and various other QPI spreadsheets and databases, ensuring data availability, accuracy and timeliness to inform QPI’s decision-making processes and communication strategies.

oProvide support to entrepreneurs and startups as may be required.

oCollect and analyze client data to provide metrics for and narrative contributions to monthly, quarterly and annual performance reports.

Work closely with the Director and PDOs to ensure the integrity of all initiatives and projects :

oPrepare data analyses, briefing notes, presentations and complex reports for the Director and-or for the PDOs; contribute to the writing of proposals in collaboration with QPI staff members, researchers, and-or key partner organizations.

oPerform administrative tasks such as scheduling and coordinating meetings, preparing and circulating agendas, ensuring documents and records of interactions and meetings are logged and filed in accordance with QPI SOPs, and ensuring leads are pursued and follow-up is completed on time.

oMake recommendations to improve SOPs and lead implementation of improvements when appropriate

Undertake other duties as delegated in support of the department.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS :

Working knowledge or experience in one or more of the following :

obiotherapeutics, clinical trials, drug discovery, life sciences, medical devices

• University Degree(s) in Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology, or Health Sciences, with evidence of strong technical knowledge and skills. Graduate degree preferred.
• Three years of practical experience in benchmarking and conducting research, utilizing and leveraging technology platforms, synthesizing findings, and preparing reports and presentations.
• Experience utilizing and strategically leveraging social media platforms.
• Proficiency in all aspects of MS Office specifically Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Experience managing events and-or projects, including coordination of multiple stakeholders.
• Experience with inputting to and leveraging a customer relationship management system is desirable.
• Experience in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL SKILLS :

• Superior analytical capability; ability to collect, synthesize and interpret large amounts of information, and make recommendations for consideration and action.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills with the ability to cope with multiple demands, manage competing priorities and meet multi-faceted strict deadlines.
• Excellent computer and office skills including Excel database management, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Customer Relationship Management platform.
• Ability to learn and adapt to new technologies.
• Strong project coordination techniques to achieve results on time; outcome- and results-oriented.
• Ability to learn new and unfamiliar tasks quickly with minimal guidance; ability to take initiative and to assess and establish priorities.
• Ability to assume responsibility for implementation and completion of special projects and make recommendations as required.

DECISION MAKING :

• Determine which analytical methodologies and tools to use.
• Determine when to refer more complex problems or issues to supervisor.
• Determine and implement appropriate practices and procedures to efficiently meet the goals of various projects.
• Determine which companies and people to contact.
• Determine when sufficient research, investigation and due diligence has been done.
• Determine appropriate response to administrative inquiries and decide when new information calls for further action such as distribution or verification.

Redirect to more senior staff or other individuals as required.

• Determine the appropriate content, format and layout of proposals, briefing reports, and presentations.
• Display sound judgment, set priorities and determine which project requires the most attention, within inflexible time constraints.
• Make recommendations regarding office administration procedures; suggest and help implement changes.
• Determine content of draft correspondence and minutes. Develop meeting materials and documentation. Make decisions regarding dissemination of information and methods of communication.

Employment Equity and Accessibility Statement

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen’s is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, visible minorities, Aboriginal Peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

The University provides support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant's accessibility needs.