Associate Director, Entrepreneurship

Position: Associate Director, Entrepreneurship 

Location: London, ON

Position Type: Full-time, 3-year renewable contract.

Hiring Range: $85,309 - $106,636

Application Deadline: Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 11:59PM.

About Ivey Business School:

Ivey Business School acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Attawandaron peoples, where Western University and Ivey Business School are located. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous peoples, whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of the community.

Ivey Business School (www.ivey.ca) at Western University (www.uwo.ca) is Canada’s leading provider of real-world, case-based business education. Drawing on extensive research and business experience, Ivey’s faculty provides the best classroom experience, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities they need to confidently take on today’s leadership challenges and opportunities through Case-Method Learning. Ivey offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as Executive Education at campuses in London, Toronto, and Hong Kong.

The Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship exists to serve entrepreneurs from ideation and start-up, through growth, to transition.  Our vision is to build a world-class entrepreneurship ecosystem that delivers transformative education experiences, launches industry-leading ventures, facilitates the scaling of high growth ventures and positions Canada as a global leader in entrepreneurship.

Position Overview:

As the Associate Director, Entrepreneurship at the Ivey Business School you will be at the forefront of the Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship, contributing to our mission of enabling any member of the Western Ecosystem to develop as an entrepreneur for today or tomorrow.  In this pivotal role, you will lead our analysts, and maker mentors, develop programming, build local business relationships, and work collaboratively with cross-functional departments to drive engagement with student entrepreneurs and to help them achieve their potential.      

In essence, the Associate Director, Entrepreneurship acts as a bridge between the academic world and the practical world of startups and business. They bring real-world experience and insights to the university setting, helping to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Qualifications: 

1. Entrepreneur in Residence 

      Leadership:

• Lead a team of two junior advisors to serve as a mentor, advisor, and resource for students, faculty, staff, researchers and alumni who are interested in entrepreneurship and innovation.

      Mentoring and advising: 

• Mentor clients ranging from students, faculty and alumni; provide guidance on launching or growing businesses; and help translate research into commercial ventures.
• Provide guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs on topics such as ideation, business model development, fundraising, marketing, and team building.

     Workshops and seminars: 

• Conduct workshops and seminars on various aspects of entrepreneurship.  These include but are not limited to Seize your Start-up, Mini Pitch, Feed your Start-up, the Start-up Challenge, and Entrepreneurial Experience.

      Networking: 

• Connect students, staff, researchers and faculty with potential investors, partners, and other resources in the business community.

      Drive Innovation: 

• Promoting entrepreneurship: Serve as an advocate for entrepreneurship within the university and the broader community.
• Evaluate and judge startups by assessing the feasibility and potential of new ventures in competitions.
• Help to drive innovation at MIFE through supporting new programs, initiatives, relationships.
• Act as an internal champion for continuous improvement and change.

2.Maker Space Leadership 

• Build Certification Program for Maker Mentors.   There are four levels of accreditation necessary for students to become maker mentors. 
• Develop the programming for the achievement of the four levels, assuring compliance with university safety and use standards, the uploading of finalized certification training modules to OWL, and the recruiting of potential Maker Mentors.
• Work with Master Maker to build programming and engagement for students in the two MIFE Maker Spaces. 

3.Supervision 

• Provide leadership to the new certificate in entrepreneurship to be offered across campus.  This task will require coordination with other Faculties, Western Admissions and Registrar’s Office, the Entrepreneurship Area Group Teaching Coordinator at Ivey, and coordinating with the marketing team to raise awareness of the program across campus.
• Run the Job/GIG Platform as it comes online.   This task will require ties to the local business community and entrepreneurial students on campus.  The goal is to provide a matching platform for companies with work to entrepreneurial students looking for work.
• Manage MIFE’s partnership with Ivey, Hospitality and Side Car to run the Café successfully. 

4. Build Business Relationships 

• Build and leverage social and business networks within the London community and beyond to identify and secure relationships with businesses who can support the mission and vision of the Institute. Collaborate closely with the Executive Director, to build a portfolio of relationships across industries in order to best support MIFE goals and objectives.

Skills & Abilities

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree: some graduate work preferred.
• 10 years entrepreneurial experience and requisite network with a track record of founding or scaling startups.
• Preferably an industry expert or local entrepreneur with a passion for mentorship.
• Proven track record in running programs, advising students, and working in a University setting preferred.
• A proven track record in building business relationships is preferred.

Skills & Abilities

• Exceptional proficiency in mentoring early-stage entrepreneurs; students and faculty with limited business experience.
• Deep knowledge of startup lifecycles, business models, fundraising, and go-to-market strategies.
• Experience navigating pivots, failures, and resilience—and sharing lessons learned.
• Skill in asking the right questions, challenging assumptions, and providing actionable feedback.
• Patience and empathy when supporting founders at various stages of learning.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Project management expertise, with a track record of successful project delivery.
• Ability to adapt to evolving environments and a fast-paced work culture.

What We Offer:

• Flexible or hybrid work plans for many roles
• A collaborative and engaging work culture
• Opportunity to join a community of people-focused professionals
• Market competitive compensation with annual increases available 
• Generous benefits package with employer-paid premiums, including a comprehensive Health and Dental Plan, Health Care Spending Account, short- and long-term disability programs, no waiting period required.
• Enhanced mental health benefits coverage and resources.
• Life and AD&D insurance for you and your family.
• Out-of-country travel insurance.
• Employee and Family Assistance Program.
• Pregnancy and Parental top-up leave program.
• A generous group retirement savings plan with 7.5% employer contributions. 
• Vacation starting at 15 days per year plus 2 paid Ivey Personal Days.
• Paid time off during the School’s December holiday closure.
• Numerous campus-wide arts, culture, and sport events.
• Supports for professional development and career progression opportunities.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Ivey

Ivey Business School is committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Please explore Ivey’s EDI homepage for more information on Ivey's commitment to EDI, to read about Ivey’s progress in the EDI Update, and to meet Ivey’s EDI Advisory Council members.

Ivey Business School invites applications from all qualified individuals. Ivey is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace, and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodation
Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Please contact us at careers@ivey.ca to notify us of any needs related to completing the job application, and/or throughout the recruitment process.

Application:

If you're excited about joining Canada's leading business school and meet the qualifications, please submit your resume and cover letter via the Ivey Careers page by the application deadline.

*Please note only selected candidates will be contacted.