About MaRS

MaRS Discovery District (@MaRSDD) is a charitable organization and North America’s largest urban innovation hub, dedicated to helping high-growth technology companies succeed. With a focus on climate, health sciences and other emerging technologies, MaRS supports startups tackling some of the world’s most pressing issues. Through its world-class facilities, strategic programs and partnerships, MaRS accelerates the adoption of groundbreaking Canadian technology and bolsters a globally competitive innovation ecosystem. MaRS is the place where you can play a meaningful role in the innovation economy.

We understand qualifications on a job posting can be daunting. If you're passionate about the role and believe you can make a meaningful impact, we want to hear from you, even if you don't meet every listed qualification. We’re always looking for great talent to join our team on planet MaRS.

We actively encourage all candidates to apply, including equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as BIPOC, racialized, women, people with disabilities, and people with diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations.

We want you to be comfortable being your most authentic self throughout our recruitment process. Please reach out to careers@marsdd.com if there’s anything we can do to make your experience more accessible and inclusive, including accommodations. Include 'Accessibility Request' in your subject line.

About the Position

MaRS is seeking a high-caliber climate program manager to lead and scale our newly launched Adaptech Accelerator program. This role is designed for a strategic leader who can balance the high-level vision of climate resilience with the rigorous operational demands of venture acceleration.

You will lead a program composed of an annual cohort of up to 10 technology startups focused on preventing, preparing for and recovering from the impacts of climate change—including floods, wildfires, extreme heat, and wind. Beyond day-to-day program management, you will be responsible for the long-term sustainability of the initiative, building the investor networks and funding pipelines necessary to cement MaRS as a global leader in climate adaptation innovation.

Because MaRS sits at the intersection of public and private sectors, the ideal candidate brings experience working with adopters of innovation, including different levels of government and industry types. They must be able to move with the speed of a startup while respecting the process and reporting requirements of a mission-driven non-profit.

Key Responsibilities

Program and Venture Leadership

• Cohort Management: Lead all aspects of the Adaptech program, providing support for up to 10 adaptation and resilience innovation startups to help them grow and scale their technologies. This includes curriculum development and delivery, plus 1:1 support to ventures including introductions to investors.
• Commercialization & Pilots: Scout opportunities for startups to pilot their tech within the public and private sectors, including managing a municipal piloting initiative.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Collaborate with MaRS’ internal teams to deliver bespoke services to the startup cohort, including Market Intelligence, Business Advisory, Capital Advisory, and Communications support.

Strategic Growth and Partnerships

• Network Building: Cultivate a robust ecosystem of investors and corporate partners to ensure adaptech startups in the cohort and the broader MaRS portfolio can access the capital and customers required to advance their commercialization efforts.
• Strategy: Develop and update, as required, a three-year roadmap for Adaptech at MaRS, including a comprehensive fundraising plan to secure renewals and identify new philanthropic or private funding sources.
• Program Sustainability: Support the MaRS philanthropy office and business development team on funding proposals and participate in conversations with potential funders/partners.
• Thought Leadership and Knowledge Transfer: Work with the MaRS marcom team to identify key trends and cohort “wins” that can inform thought leadership articles, OpEds, social media posts, case studies and research briefs that fill ecosystem knowledge gaps.

Budgeting and Reporting

• Fiscal Oversight: Working with the Senior Director and MaRS Finance team, manage the program budget, ensuring all expenses align with annual targets and organizational standards.
• Data & Impact Tracking: Oversee the tracking of key performance indicators (KPI) for the Adaptech program, and assure all connections and services delivered by MaRS to cohort ventures are logged in Salesforce.
• Reporting: Manage the delivery of semi-annual and annual progress reports to program funders and stakeholders, where required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, environmental science, engineering, or public policy.
• Master's or MBA with a focus on sustainability, finance, urban planning an asset.
• 5 years in program management, venture capital, or corporate innovation.
• General knowledge of the ClimateTech landscape and physical climate risks.
• Experience working with startups/founders and understanding their growth lifecycle.
  
• Demonstrated passion for climate action in cities, social innovation, and public policy/procurement
• Strong group facilitation and public speaking
• Critical thinking skills, including the ability to draw out key insights, craft strategic approaches and build towards the big picture
• Self-motivated and able to work independently and interdependently
• Ability to multitask and work in an open-concept, dynamic and fast moving environment
• Excellent communication (written and oral) competency in English
• Proficient in the use of G-Suite applications, Asana, Salesforce, Air Table, and popular AI tools such as Gemini, Claude and ChatGPT.
  

Applications will close at 12pm EDT on April 13, 2026. However, we may close the posting earlier if we receive a high volume of qualified applications or if the position is filled before the deadline. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada, reside in Ontario and be willing to work out of our Toronto office (101 College Street) a minimum of 3 days per week.

Salary Range: $80,000 - $93,000, up to 10% discretionary incentive target, GRSP matching, extended healthcare benefits, wellness spending account, and paid time-off.

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