Business Partner, Sustainable Materials

Alberta Innovates (AI) is {seeking a Business Partner, Sustainable Materials to provide project management, program planning and implementation, and technical supports to ensure effective and timely development and delivery of specific Clean Resources programs and services. This position utilizes environmental scanning, visioning, and foresight to identify specific research needs to fill knowledge gaps. The Business Partner works closely with the Executive Director and members of Alberta Innovates through portfolio and project management, program planning and implementation.

Are you our next Business Partner, Sustainable Materials. You would be a good fit for this position if you: 

• Have experience aligning goals and missions related to sustainability and ensures mutual dedication to promoting eco-friendly practices and products.
• Have strong collaborative approach and capable of fostering productive and harmonious relationships with stakeholders.
• Have a strong commitment to innovation and creativity. This includes willingness to explore new ideas, technologies, and processes to improve sustainability practices.

We are game changers. 

Alberta Innovates is a provincially funded corporation with a mandate to deliver 21st-century solutions for the most compelling challenges facing Albertans. We do this by building on our province’s research and technology development strengths in the core sectors of health, environment, energy, food and fibre, and platforms such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and omics. We are working with our partners to diversify Alberta’s economy, improve our environmental performance and enhance the well-being of Albertans through research and innovation. 

Our subsidiary, InnoTech Alberta, offers a diversified range of scientific engineering and technological research and testing capabilities, and the facilities to support technology scale-up. Our multidisciplinary team has the depth of experience to work across all sectors, from energy to health to food and fibre. InnoTech Alberta offers you access to research talent, technical expertise, and unique facilities that can help accelerate technology development that serves both the private and public sector.

Intrigued? Here’s some more information about the position: 

Reporting to the Executive Director, Sustainable Materials, the Business Partner, Sustainable materials will be responsible for providing input and recommendations for program development, project management and oversight, research, analysis, compilation and dissemination of information, review and analysis of reports and studies, and proposing recommendations and course of actions on issues related to Alberta Innovates’ strategic priority areas.

The successful incumbent will be accountable for (but not limited to) the following: 

• Manage and support the development, evaluation, and implementation of initiatives and projects.
• Gather and organize information on research and innovation from stakeholders and analyze intelligence and best practices at the provincial and federal level.
• Identify trends and emerging issues, compile information, prepare summaries and reports, and disseminate to management and stakeholders.
• Participate in the analysis of project and funding through statistical and graphical analysis of funding distribution, annual trends, co-investment trends and sourcing.
• Support environmental scanning efforts to ensure staff are aware of and able to respond to research and innovation efforts within and outside of Alberta.
• Provide information on performance measures and portfolio analysis for strategic planning.
• Participate in and contribute to the development of annual reports, strategic and business plans.
• Review applications and make recommendations.
• Work with funded applicants to ensure timelines and agreement requirements are met.
• Represent Alberta Innovates’ interests on committees at the provincial and national levels.
• Collaborate with management to implement the approved communications plan.
• Cultivate and maintain effective relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to support programs and services.
• Provide expertise and support to Alberta Innovates, ministries, post-secondary institutions and private research organizations as required.
• Engage companies and groups who are motivated to work in Alberta when their interests align with the Alberta Innovates’ strategic priorities.
• Develop, improve, and implement performance measures to assess the outputs and outcomes of funded research projects and programs.
• Analyze portfolio of projects and funding through statistical and graphical analysis of funding distribution, year-on-year trends, co-investment trends and sourcing.
• Provides information on performance measures and portfolio analysis for strategic planning.
• Participate in meetings, conferences, and stakeholder workshops.
• Solicit and review peer evaluation of full proposals, interim reports, and final reports, as required.
• Raises the profile of Alberta’s research community by participation in the planning and hosting of major workshops and conferences designed to communicate the strengths and capacity of the Alberta innovation community.
• Assists in the planning and delivery of open houses, annual general meetings, workshops, and special events.
• Contribute to speaking notes and presentations, present papers at conferences, workshops, and symposia.

Educational Requirement:

• Bachelor of Science degree or master’s degree in forestry, Agriculture, Engineering, or related field
• PMP Certificate is an asset.

Experience and Qualifications we are looking for:

• 5 -7 years research and project management experience
• In-depth knowledge of Alberta’s forestry, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction, and natural resources industries.
• Operational experience and experience overseeing research.
• Experience working with technical and management professionals from government, industry, environmental agencies, and other stakeholders.

Skills Required:

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including staff, senior leaders, and external partners.
• Ability to facilitate and work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven leadership skills and knowledge of scientific principles
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail that reflects ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks, competing agendas and heavy client demands.
• Strategic thinker and results oriented; ability to identify innovative solutions to complex issues.
• Proven critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Research, writing and editing skills.
• Project management skills

Why Alberta Innovates?  

We offer our employees opportunities to work on projects that will expand their skill sets while witnessing the visible impacts of their efforts. We value the development of our employees and create opportunities for working in capacities that allow new skills to be learned. We know that the wellness of our team is the most important part of our business, so we offer a strong benefits package and generous vacation and paid time off programs to promote work-life balance.   

The final candidate will be required to undergo a security clearance. All interviewees must be able to meet the requirement specified in the Physical Demand Analysis. This document will be supplied during the interview process to the successful candidate. This competition will remain open until a successful candidate is found.  

ALBERTA INNOVATES IS COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUITY IN EMPLOYMENT AND ENCOURAGES APPLICATIONS FROM ALL QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS. WE WISH TO THANK ALL APPLICANTS FOR THEIR INTEREST. HOWEVER, ONLY THOSE INVITED FOR AN INTERVIEW WILL BE CONTACTED.