Manager, Industry Engagement

Overview:
The Manager, Industry Engagement will identify, interact with and engage industry partners in engineering research programs. The incumbent will work with senior Waterloo Engineering staff and faculty to identify and pursue prospects for increased or new engagement, and to facilitate and ensure proper, timely follow
- up by the Faculty of Engineering with industry and other external partners. The incumbent will continuously serve as a conduit that can match, and then meld industry needs with academic capacity

**Responsibilities**:
Establish and Maintain Relations with Industry Partners
- Foster meaningful interactions that will lead to collaborative research projects and research chairs and other forms of partnership
- Build and increase the Faculty of Engineering’s profile in targeted areas of research expertise
- Liaise effectively with management, technical and administrative staff in companies of various sizes and sectors
- Coordinate the participation of industry partners in the preparation of collaborative research proposals, to aid in leveraging industry sponsored funding
- Organize and host events to profile Engineering researchers and build connections with industry

Liaison on Campus
- Work closely with the Director of Engineering Research and colleagues in the Engineering Research Office to further industry engagement on research programs and funding proposals
- Collaborate with relevant parties as appropriate, including research centres and institutes as well as the Office of Research, Co-operative Education, Marketing and Communications, Graduate Studies, and Advancement

Support for Strategic Research Initiatives
- Assist the Director of Engineering Research and others in facilitating faculty interactions with industry partners
- Represent the Faculty of Engineering at targeted industry meetings and events

Identification of Opportunities
- Assess emerging trends, determining prospective research opportunities
- Liaise with government funding agencies including the Tri-councils, Ontario Centres of Excellence, and Mitacs to be aware of their existing and new funding programs
- Liaise with members of the Kitchener-Waterloo innovation ecosystem including the Accelerator Centre, Communitech, and Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation.

Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required; Masters and/or PhD preferred; will consider technical degrees other than Engineering with exceptional relevant experience as indicated below
- Minimum 5 years industry R&D experience, preferably involving collaborative research with academia, or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Strong technical background and ability to quickly grasp new technologies at a high level
- Experience with researching and analyzing corporate mandates to assess a company’s suitability as a research partner
- Conversant with industry’s research & development approach and able to translate to academic terms
- Ability to match faculty competencies in advanced engineering research areas with industrial demand
- Demonstrated ability to build and manage effective partnerships with internal and external clients
- Shows maturity, tact, and diplomacy at all times
- Strong time management, project management, and problem solving skills
- Exceptional communication skills; written, verbal and presentation
- Confidence with cold-calling prospects
- Demonstrates active listening and empathy
- Skillful negotiation and mediation ability
- Ability to work with confidential information
- Detail orientation
- Timely triage and response to unsolicited requests/inquiries
- Team player also capable of working independently and proactively
- Administrative skills: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Client relationship management (CRM), WCMS

Equity Statement:
The University of Waterloo is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.