Funding Specialist

**Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) **is a new provincial agency that will serve as a go-to resource for Intellectual Property (IP) expertise to help researchers and companies maximize the value of their IP, strengthen their capacity to grow and compete in the global market.

Location: This is a hybrid opportunity within Ontario. We have offices in both Kitchener and Toronto where the team meets to collaborate and on an as-needed basis.

The **Funding Specialist **manages and administers the full cycle funding process to ensure IPON is providing appropriate IP funding to eligible clients in alignment with the agency's mandate that ensures value for money and maximizes economic impact.

**Responsibilities**:

- Manage the funding process end to end, including:

- issuing a funding call by coordinating with communications, updating collateral, communicating timelines and criteria to clients
- receiving, reviewing and approving statements of work (SOW) to ensure they are appropriate, meet eligibility criteria, and are completed correctly
- managing documentation, coordinating approval processes, and data entry to update tracking worksheets
- receiving and reviewing invoices to ensure they match the approved SOWs, coordinating internal approvals and payments through finance
- updating forecasts and reporting to track funding and advise on timelines and risks throughout the year
- Act as the internal expert on funding calls, answering staff questions and proactively communicating timelines, process, forecasts and expectations
- Recommend and implement process improvements to ensure funding is effectively managed and distributed
- Maintain procedure documentation to support IP funding approvals and payments procedures
- Communicate with clients to advise on timelines and funding criteria, procedures, provide clarification and follow up on outstanding documentation
- Responsible for the SOW form and incorporate changes as required
- Track actual expenses against budget regarding approved SOWs, invoices, and payments to provide updates to leaders
- Track and maintain reporting and dashboards on key metrics including number of SOWs approved, number of clients that received funding, amount of funding provided, number of IP assets protected, etc.
- Maintain high standards of integrity and confidentiality

**Qualifications**:

- Postsecondary education in policy, business, law, or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent
- 3+ years of experience as a law clerk, or an administrative/coordinator role with IP knowledge
- An understanding of law firm billings and legal services
- An understanding of procedures (corporate, financial, investment)
- Critical thinking skills to analyze SOWs in line with process, cost and services provided
- Ability to take ownership of a process, manage it independently and make process improvements
- Ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with internal and external parties to maintain progress
- Time management skills to manage multiple steps and plan effectively for funding cycles
- Strong MS Office skills, including Excel, PowerAutomate, PowerPoint and Word to effectively display, present and track information
- Maintain integrity and confidentiality in line with bylaw and agency mandate

The annual salary range for this role is $65,796 - $89,054 plus benefits and pension.

**Sounds like you? Join our growing team today**

Intellectual Property Ontario is committed to the core principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005: dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity. Our goal is to ensure that all Ontarians can access our services and information when and how they need them, without barriers.

If you require any assistance or accommodation alternatives during the recruitment process, please contact us at hr[at]ip-ontario.ca

Une version française est disponible sur demande.