We’re growing the team at Natural Products Canada – please help us find the right person for this exciting and important role!

Regional Director (British Columbia)

The world is demanding cleaner, greener solutions to help preserve and protect the health of people, animals and the planet. Natural Products Canada (NPC) is committed to making Canada a key figure in the development of those solutions—from sustainable sources of protein to feed our growing population, to creating compostable plastics from vegetable waste.

NPC is the driving force behind Canada’s Natural Product Innovation Cluster–a strategic community of SMEs, research institutes, corporations, investors, government departments, and service providers who support the development and commercialization of naturally-derived products and technologies in food production and value-added agriculture; bioproducts and sustainability; human nutrition, health and wellness; animal health and nutrition; and water and waste management.

As part of its role in the Cluster, NPC offers a suite of Commercialization Programs to help companies and researchers advance high-potential products and technologies; provides connection and innovation scouting services to industry and investors through its Innovation Hub; and leverages its new investment fund, NPC Ventures, to help develop and de-risk promising Canadian opportunities. NPC has over 800 opportunities in its pipeline, has completed 13 investments, and has experienced two exits. Established in 2015, NPC has received financial support from a range of public and private entities, including the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund, administered by the department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and the Centre of Excellence in Commercialization and Research (CECR) program, administered by the Networks of Centres of Excellence.

Summary:

The Regional Director (RD) is the primary point of contact between NPC and its key stakeholders in British Columbia and beyond, including SMEs and start-ups, research institutes, corporations, investors, government agencies and other experts and organizations involved in the advancement of innovative natural products and technologies. The RD plays a critical role in identifying and evaluating high potential opportunities and connecting regional and national people and resources to accelerate the commercialization process for natural products and technologies. This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer and requires a skilled and engaged individual that is highly motivated to identify, align, and optimize existing assets, and foster strategic partnerships and investment to ensure commercial success. The position is located in British Columbia and requires the ability to work from a home office.

Responsibilities:

• Identify, evaluate, and foster the growth of high potential opportunities from industry and research institutes in British Columbia.
• Leverage regional and national resources and relationships to advance high potential opportunities.
• Facilitate connections between BC-based opportunities and national/international investors and corporations to accelerate research, development and commercialization of natural products and technologies.
• Ensure that key stakeholders, clients and partners are apprised of relevant NPC programs, services, opportunities and strategic initiatives.
• Work closely with Foresight, NPC’s node partner in BC, and others, to maximize networks, resources, and knowledge-sharing.
• Travel as required, in keeping with COVID provincial or federal travel directives, throughout British Columbia, Canada and internationally.

Experience and Skills Required:

• Established track record of leading successful commercialization efforts in the public or private sector in areas of interest to NPC, including food production and value-added agriculture; bioproducts and sustainability; human nutrition, health and wellness; animal health and nutrition; and water and waste management.
• Experience in scientific, technology, product and/or business model assessment.
• Business development experience.
• Intellectual property management experience.
• Superior networking and relationship-building skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset.
• Strong team player with excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with strong time-management and organizational practices.
• Proven focus on measurement and results.
• International experience is desirable.
• Regulatory and/or marketing experience is desirable.

Qualifications:

• A degree in a pertinent scientific discipline and a Master of Business Administration.  An equivalent combination of education and experience may also be considered.
• Minimum 7-10 years of experience.

NPC strives to make its policies, programs and workplace inclusive, respectful and barrier-free. We encourage applications from women, Indigenous peoples, veterans, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities and persons of all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions.

Interested individuals are invited to forward a resume and cover letter to [email protected] on or before October 22, 2021.

We thank all interested parties; however, only those applicants under consideration will be contacted.