Director, waterNEXT (Part-Time) 

Foresight Canada is a growing organization with an exciting mission: accelerating the growth and impact of cleantech ecosystems across Canada. We bring together industry, government, academia, investors, and innovators to address today’s most urgent climate issues. Join us! We’re looking for a Director, waterNEXT.

waterNEXT is Canada’s water technology network, operated as a strategic initiative of Foresight Canada. We work across multiple sectors — from resources to utilities — to accelerate the commercialization and adoption of innovative technologies for the world’s most pressing water challenges. Our mission is to support Canadian water technology ventures and innovators from problem-driven ideation to successful adoption, aligning innovation to industry and community needs and reducing time-to-market for competitive water technologies.

As a member of the Foresight’s waterNEXT team, you will report to the Director of Sector Innovation. You will be responsible for waterNEXT’s strategic direction, advising on technological and geographic areas of focus, potential collaboration partners, and sources of funding. This includes working with the partnerships team to identify potential corporate partners to fund waterNEXT activities, as well as provincial and federal funding opportunities.

Your personal goal is to be Foresight’s connection point to the water innovation ecosystem in Canada, and to maximizing the contribution of water across multiple sectors, municipal and industrial, to making Canada the first G7 country to achieve carbon neutrality. You have an established network in the Canadian water space and will work on continuing to grow that network as part of your work in this role.

The successful applicant will be a true community builder that is passionate about reducing Canada’s climate impact through technology innovation, and about the potential for Canada to develop a globally-recognized, sustainable water innovation ecosystem.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities:

• Work with the VP Partnerships to identify and communicate value to likely industry supporters and partners and Work with the Director of Sector Innovation to set and execute on the strategic direction for waterNEXT.
• Lead external stakeholder engagement and business development with water-related industry, government, academia, investors, and innovators.
• Oversee proposal development, corporate partnerships, funding strategy, and budgeting for waterNEXT.
• Contribute to the development of waterNEXT’s technology adoption strategy and programming.
• Support Foresight staff as they manage and execute waterNEXT programs and activities, including recruiting new ventures and partners into Foresight’s water tech training programs.
• Gather and share information on critical water innovation developments in Canada and globally.
• Represent waterNEXT at strategically important conferences and events.

Experience:

• Minimum ten years relevant experience in the water sector.
• Undergraduate degree in a related discipline or equivalent experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• Strong understanding of technology innovation and adoption processes.
• Proposal writing and corporate partnerships experience is preferred.
• Experience in the clean technology industry is an asset.

Job Type:  Part-Time (20 – 40 hrs / month)
Rate: Hourly or retainer (key is best fit and experience for the role)

About Foresight

Foresight is Canada’s cleantech accelerator. In collaboration with our Helix 5 partners – innovators, industry, investors, government, and academia – Foresight is relentlessly driving cleantech innovation in Canada. Our audacious goal is that Canada be the first G7 country to reach net zero. Our mission is to accelerate the growth and impact of cleantech ecosystems across Canada to achieve deep decarbonization and net-zero climate targets through problem-driven innovation.

Since inception in 2013, Foresight has made a meaningful impact in the cleantech innovation ecosystem. We have supported 890+ ventures in our accelerator programs, 150+ industry partners through our industry programs, and 300+ investor firms through our various access to capital programs. Foresight’s leadership has helped secure $1.31 billion in capital, $390 million revenues, and 7,150+ high-paying jobs for our ventures with an economic impact of over $2+ billion. Our domestic and international engagement includes collaboration with 2,000+ stakeholders and partners. We have a strong history of strategy, ecosystem mapping, and partnership building that positions Canada as a global leader in cleantech innovation.

We strongly encourage applications with the experience and skills for the position from diverse backgrounds and communities to apply! We also invite interested individuals to reach out with any questions or requests for accommodation through the application or interview process.  

The team at Foresight is passionate about solving pressing environmental problems and bringing transformative technologies to market. Apply online today to join this dynamic team.