Commercialization Facilitator

This position has a term length of two years.

Location - This role is in-person at North Campus, Edmonton.

The Department of Biochemistry in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry is seeking a Commercialization Facilitator to join the PRAIRIE Hub for Pandemic Preparedness.

The PRAIRIE Hub is one of five federally funded Canadian pandemic preparedness hubs and works across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba to advance research translation, training, commercialization, and biomanufacturing readiness.

The Commercialization Facilitator will work proactively with Canada Biomedical Research Fund / Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund (CBRF-BRIF) Stage 2 teams and researchers working on pandemic preparedness initiatives across the Alberta-Saskatchewan-Manitoba PRAIRIE Hub region. The role identifies gaps and next steps in research translation with a particular focus on connecting teams to appropriate pathway planning, regulatory, manufacturing, funding, investor, and partnership resources.

The role will help establish a consistent approach for assessing commercialization readiness across the PRAIRIE Hub portfolio.

The successful candidate will help teams develop and use practical tools and materials to move promising research outputs toward use. This may include Target Product Profile outlines, evidence and decision summaries, process-development and scale-up plans, manufacturing-readiness and technology-transfer materials, regulatory, quality, funding, and partnership documents, and follow-up actions with relevant partners and advisors.

• Provide translation and commercialization advice to CBRF-BRIF Stage 2 teams and researchers working on related pandemic preparedness initiatives across the PRAIRIE Hub region.
• Assess project readiness, evidence gaps, funding fit, partner needs, timing, risks, and practical next steps.
• Proactively work with teams to prepare commercialization readiness materials, such as Target Product Profile outlines, decision summaries, business case elements, and process development pathway outlines.
• Build and maintain relationships with industry partners, investors, funders, government programs, regulatory and manufacturing advisors, service providers, and potential end-users.
• Coordinate introductions, partner meetings, roundtables, institutional supports, specialist advice, external consultants, and follow-up actions.
  Maintain tracking records and prepare brief notes, summaries, updates, and reports on commercialization activity, readiness outputs, engagement, and progress toward deliverables.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, science, engineering, health, or a related field; equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Approximately five years of relevant experience in commercialization, innovation programs, business development support, technology transfer, venture-building support, industry partnerships, or related work, preferably in the life sciences or health sector.
• Experience sufficient to work credibly with senior academic investigators, institutional leadership, industry partners, investors, funders, regulatory/manufacturing advisors, and potential end-users with limited day-to-day supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to build and use a professional network to connect teams with partners, subject matter experts, funders, service providers, or other resources.
• Practical experience in several of the following areas: business cases, funding applications, partnership development, product planning, market entry or adoption planning, regulatory or quality planning, manufacturing or scale-up planning, investment readiness, or transition toward clinical testing or commercialization.
• Demonstrated ability to assess project maturity, fit with funding programs, partner expectations, commercialization timing, and when specialized advice is required.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to prepare briefing notes, meeting summaries, introductions, concise summaries, and decision-support materials.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to take a consultative approach with academic teams, institutional partners, and external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and comfort using tracking tools such as Excel, Google Sheets, or CRM-style systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA, graduate degree, or additional training in commercialization, innovation, business development, regulatory affairs, biotechnology, or a related field.
• Industry experience, or direct experience working with industry to advance products toward clinical testing, commercialization, manufacturing, adoption, or investment.
• Life sciences background in areas such as biomanufacturing, vaccines, diagnostics, biologics, public health, or related fields.
• Familiarity with CDMOs/CMOs, manufacturing readiness, technology transfer, regulatory/quality planning, or product-development activities associated with clinical testing or commercialization.
• Familiarity with funding, procurement, or adoption pathways in health systems, government, public health, laboratory networks, or related settings.
• Familiarity with biosecurity, biodefence, health security, or pandemic preparedness initiatives.

Application Instructions

Click "Apply Now" to submit your resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, please describe your relevant experience in commercialization, life sciences translation, partnership development, technology transfer, innovation programs, funding pathway development, or related work. Applicants are also encouraged to describe their experience working with academic teams, industry partners, funders, investors, regulatory/manufacturing advisors, or other external stakeholders. Review of applications will begin after the posting closes. Interviews are expected to take place shortly thereafter.

This position is subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the collective agreement between the Governors of the University of Alberta and the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package.