Job Board

Director, Strategic Marketing and Partnerships

Salary Range: $72,480 to $108,710 Annually

Job Type : Full Time – Monday–Friday (40 hours)

Proposed Start Date: August 15, 2025

Overview:

McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) is Canada’s premier research and innovation park, supporting startups, businesses, and research and offering collaborative space to transform ideas from vision to commercial reality. Our mission is to help companies grow. MIP serves as a bridge between academia and industry, supporting researchers with commercial aspirations and enabling students to develop their ideas through our incubator and accelerator programs. Additionally, we connect industry with the technical expertise of McMaster University and other academic institutions. MIP is an integral part of Hamilton’s innovation ecosystem where anyone can find a multiplicity of resources to help begin their journey.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director, Strategic Marketing and Partnerships provides leadership in developing and executing marketing and partnership strategies that enhance MIP’s brand and reputation. This role plays a key part in promoting research commercialization, attracting new business opportunities, and fostering collaborative relationships with stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Marketing

• Execute comprehensive marketing strategies to strengthen MIP brand.

• Develop marketing campaigns promoting MIP’s innovation programs, business opportunities, and success stories.

• Lead strategic storytelling and thought leadership efforts to communicate MIP’s unique value proposition to diverse stakeholders effectively.

• Oversee MIP’s digital communication platforms with a focus on strategic alignment and audience engagement.

• Champion the adoption and integration of innovative digital marketing technologies to extend

MIP’s reach and engagement.

• Collaborate with McMaster University and key partners to align marketing and communication strategies.

• Leverage market research, competitive analytics, and performance data to inform marketing strategies and optimize impact.

Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

• Establish, nurture, and sustain strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Initiate and manage collaborations that attract new ventures and drive ecosystem development.

• Facilitate partnership opportunities that support tenant growth and program development in collaboration with internal teams.

• Oversee the tenant renewal process in alignment with MIP’s strategic priorities and McMaster University policies.

• Cultivate relationships that strengthen MIP’s capacity to scale programs, attract investment, and lead within innovation ecosystems.

Tenant Relations & Experience (Strategic Focus)

• Support tenant retention through proactive strategic relationship-building and collaborative engagement initiatives.

• Monitor tenant experience data and trends to support continuous improvement.

• Lead and create strategic community-building and networking initiatives that foster tenant collaboration and strengthen MIP’s innovation ecosystem.

Additional Skills

• Proven ability to lead strategic marketing, branding, and partnership initiatives that drive visibility and engagement.

• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills with experience engaging diverse stakeholders at senior levels.

• Proficiency in leveraging digital marketing platforms and data analytics to support strategic objectives.

• Strong project and event management capabilities, focused on cross-functional and high-impact initiatives.

• Analytical and strategic thinker with the ability to translate insights into actionable business strategies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field; a graduate-level degree is considered an asset.

• A minimum of 5 –7 years of progressive experience in marketing, communications, or partnership development, preferably within innovation, technology, or research-driven environments, is an asset.

• Experience in digital marketing is an asset.

How to Apply:

Interested in being part of an incredible organization? We look forward to hearing from you! Please submit your cover letter and resume by July 31st, 2025 to hr@mcmasterinnovationpark.ca

Employment Equity Statement

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster Innovation Park strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity and has a strong commitment to employment equity. McMaster Innovation Park seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact: Suzanne Prashad directly at: sprashad@mcmasterinnovationpark.ca to communicate accommodation needs.