Associate Director, Operations, Transportation and Logistics Industry Programs

Associate Director, Operations, Transportation and Logistics Industry Programs - (3570)

Job Type

Conditionally Funded Term

Union

Management

Position Classification

MLV4 Management

Salary Grade

FT or PT

Full-time

Hybrid Work

This position is eligible

Location

About this Position

The mission of Mount Royal University’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is to create transformative experiences that cultivate the innovative and entrepreneurial talent essential to Alberta's continued economic prosperity. This is accomplished by delivering transformative community-engaged learning experiences. The Institute has been delivering on this mission for 14 years, including the creation of the renowned Launch Pad student program, the Trico Change maker Studio, and Scaleup and Growth Programs such as Growth Catalyst and Scale Up Week.

It is now taking on the important mission of supporting the vital transportation and logistics sector.

The Alberta logistics system is strong. It has been shaped by decades of investment, optimization, and operational excellence. The opportunity now is to grow that strength by connecting leadership, innovation, talent, and strategy in ways that support long-term resilience, competitiveness, and impact. Powered by Mount Royal University’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, these programs are being developed to help make that growth possible.

This is a rare opportunity to be on the ground floor of building a collaborative organization driven by a single outcome - impact.

Reporting to the Executive Director, this role owns the internal engine of the Programs. While the Executive Director focuses externally on partnerships, sector leadership, and ecosystem building, the Associate Director ensures the operations run with precision. They oversee budgeting, financial controls, reporting, milestone tracking, and operational delivery. They ensure the Industry Programs meets all funder commitments, including reporting, and keep MRU leadership confident that the organization is disciplined, compliant, and high performing.

This is the role that translates ambitious strategy into reliable execution.

This is a full-time conditionally funded position which is expected to conclude March 31, 2029.

Operational Leadership

• Design, implement, and continuously refine internal systems which keep operations coordinated, efficient, and predictable.
• Oversee day-to-day workflow of programs, ensuring resources, timelines, and staff are aligned to commitments.
• Serve as the primary point of continuity across multiple programs and partners.
• Leverage influence and expertise to achieve goals, rather than relying on formal authority.

Performance Management and Milestone Tracking

• Build and operate the KPI system that tracks all outcomes, including individuals trained, numbers, companies engaged, and job creation metrics.
• Ensure data collection systems meet funder requirements while minimizing burden on companies and staff.
• Lead risk mitigation planning, especially around milestone-tied funding and indirect job creation expectations.
• Lead and deliver budgeting, forecasting, cash flow tracking, and financial reporting for the Centre.
• Ensure spending aligns with eligible cost rules, milestone-linked funding, and MRU financial policies.
• Develop proactive strategies to manage risks related to milestone-dependent payments and delayed reimbursements.

Funder and Institutional Compliance

• Own all reporting obligations to funders and internal MRU governance.
• Ensure the organization stays fully aligned with agreement terms, auditability, and documentation expectations.
• Translate funder milestones into internal operational plans and staff deliverables.
• Maintain professional relationships with peers at funders, sensitive to their critical role in the project.

University Liaison

• Act as the organizations connective tissue with MRU finance, HR, legal, and other institutional entities.
• Clear internal roadblocks to enable external partnerships and programs to move quickly.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’…