Velocity is hiring a Business Advisor specializing in health and regulated industries

Interested in making a direct impact on the startup community in the Waterloo Region and beyond? Velocity is hiring a Business Advisor to do just that and more. At Velocity, you will become an integral part of Canada’s most productive startup incubator, where an awesome community of entrepreneurs is solving global problems by building scalable startups. 

We are seeking an advisor with experience launching health technology companies or has entered other highly regulated industries. Demystifying and navigating regulatory steps and quality systems are critical for founders who are commercializing medical technologies. A strong candidate has such first-hand experience launching products or businesses in a regulated industry.

The successful candidate will join a high performing, tight-knit Velocity team that focuses on Velocity’s startup incubation mission, while interacting with other members of the team that focus on Velocity’s entrepreneurship pipeline building activities at the University of Waterloo campus.

Reporting to the Director, the incumbent will be one of five Business Advisors directly supporting founders and startups working out of the Velocity Incubator. The Business Advisor team is composed of people with first-hand startup experience (who have either founded or been part of the early stages of a startup themselves). They use this first-hand experience, combined with their other industry experiences, to support founders via:

• 1:1 coaching of early/growth-stage startups
• Meeting with companies on an ongoing basis
• Supporting the creation of programs, events, and infrastructure
• Leveraging and extending the Velocity support network of other domain experts

Additional responsibilities include:

• Reviewing and interviewing prospective startups applying to Velocity including assessing companies for potential investment from the Velocity Fund.
• Managing companies use of Velocity resources and space
• Making startup acceptance and exit decisions
• Representing Velocity at key events, tours, and with partnerships

The Business Advisor team supports ~50 companies. Each advisor has a portion of that portfolio that they are the primary advisor on, enabling them to develop deeper relationships and an understanding of their portfolio companies and founders. 

We take pride in our commitment to building deep and lasting relationships with the founders we support. Our Business Advisor team can dig in and “get their hands” dirty, and this is possible because of the full-time nature of this team and their orientation toward the complex, messy, and difficult-to-navigate challenges of startups.

We have a strong preference for this position to be full-time, but for exceptional candidates, we would consider part-time (e.g., minimum three days per week). A high degree of organizational abilities, interpersonal acumen, and problem solving are required to assist startups and founders while balancing Velocity’s multiple priorities, partners, facilities, and programs.

Feeling uncomfortably excited about this opportunity? Do you think you’re a great fit? We’d love to hear from you. Please apply with a resume and letter of interest to careers@velocityincubator.com

Our first review of applications will start on January 1 with interviews tentatively scheduled for mid-January.

We will do our best to consider applications submitted after that date.

Position details

• 3 year contract
• Salary band: Staff position, USG 12
• Target (we have some flexibility) start: February 2022

Vaccination Requirement Statement

All employees and visitors of the University of Waterloo are required to provide proof of being fully vaccinated or have an approved accommodation. You can provide proof of vaccination or apply for an accommodation on our Campus Check-in website. For more information, please refer to the University of Waterloo website: Vaccination Requirement.

Equity Statement 

Velocity, a department of 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. 

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.