ventureLAB INNOVATION CENTRE
o/a ventureLAB
Chief of Staff/Executive Assistant — Job ID 202419
Position Profile
About ventureLAB
ventureLAB is a leading global founder community for hardware technology and enterprise software companies in Canada. Located at the heart of Ontario’s innovation corridor in York Region, ventureLAB is part of one of the biggest and most diverse tech communities in Canada. Our initiatives focused on raising capital, talent retention, commercializing technology and IP, and customer acquisition have enabled thousands of companies to create over 6,800 jobs and raise more than $420 million in investment capital
Our Mission
Powering HardTech founders to build and scale globally competitive ventures that advance Canada's knowledge-based economy.
Our Vision
Born Global. Built to Scale. Inclusive by Design. Inspire a new generation of global founders who choose Canada to scale IP-rich tech titans creating innovative hardware and scale-ready enterprise software solutions that transform communities and establish a blueprint for a more sustainable, inclusive tech ecosystem.
Our Values — Team RIVIR
- Relentless: We are tenacious and resilient. We follow through and remove roadblocks so together we succeed and go further.
- Inclusive: We are empathetic, open-minded and collaborate respectfully so that we build trust with each other and value diverse opinions, ideas and perspectives to learn and make better decisions.
- Visionary: We inspire bold futures with our founders, team, partners and community by challenging each other respectfully and thinking differently.
- Innovative: We celebrate ingenuity and empower the team to create new ideas, processes and strategies. We are curious and resourceful by asking questions for clarity.
- Results: We are proactive and plan. We are accountable and focused. We are direct and transparent through fact-based discussions.
ventureLAB is made up of passionate, driven individuals, and is growing quickly. It is a fast-paced, flexible environment where individual contributors make a big difference and work collaboratively to achieve shared goals. We are proud to be one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures and a Great Place to Work®.
General Responsibilities
Reporting to the CEO, the Chief of Staff/Executive Assistant (EA) will be responsible for providing integral executive, administrative and development support to the President & CEO and the Leadership Team. The EA serves as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders on all matters pertaining to the President & CEO. The EA serves as support for the Leadership Team, organizes outreach on behalf of the President & CEO and oversees special projects.
The EA will be an experienced, reliable and organized individual with a strong customer service and can do attitude. The EA will have prior track record in administrative and office management roles and a proven track record of creative problem-solving and change management in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial driven organization and must at all times uphold a strict level of confidentiality.
Responsibilities
Executive Support
- Supports the President & CEO with daily administrative duties and completes a broad range of administrative tasks including managing the President & CEO's calendar and scheduling appointments, scheduling and managing travel plans and itineraries, completing expense reports, composing and preparing correspondence, arranging agendas and preparing documents for meetings.
- Communicates with staff on the President & CEO and Leadership Team’s behalf and coordinates logistics with high level meetings both internally and externally, where appropriate coordinating and collaborating with the Marketing & Communications teams. Also coordinates meetings and strategic activities with the Leadership Team.
- Communicates on behalf of the Leadership Team with Board Members and other senior stakeholders as directed.
- Supports the President & CEO in their external commitments, including services on external boards, committees and other groups.
- Supports the Leadership Team with administrative duties as required.
- Serves as President & CEO's administrative liaison to the Board of Directors and manages Board activities which include coordinating, scheduling and confirming attendance for quarterly Board Meetings, the Annual General Meeting, new Board member orientations; compiling, assembling and distributing Board meeting materials and records minutes for Board meetings.
- Coordinates Finance and other Board Committee meetings, maintains confidential files and contact information.
Management Liaison
- Participates as an adjunct member of the Leadership Team including assisting in scheduling, attending meetings. May be asked to represent the President & CEO and Leadership Team at designated internal meetings as required.
- Assists in coordinating agenda, track actions and open issues for Leadership Team meetings. Prepares minutes, action register and follows up on assigned action items.
Other responsibilities
- Coordinate with other departments to ensure priority processes and policies as directed by the Leadership Team are implemented and in place on schedule and with quality.
- Supports HR related matters including drafting emails and letters for reviews, contracts and agreements as directed.
- Arranging, coordinating or providing support at ventureLAB internal and external events, which may include support of the Events team in coordinating logistics as well as greeting and signing in visitors/guests.
- Manage any speaking or external meeting requests for the President & CEO in collaboration with the Marketing & Communications teams.
- Develop and sustain a high level of rapport and professionalism with team members, companies, partners and other stakeholders.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of ventureLAB's strategic goals and objectives as well as the overall management of the organization.
Essential Skills and Qualifications
- Demonstrate professionalism and are capable of managing their work load and prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong organizational, logistics, and time management skills that reflect ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy
- You are calm in the storm and demonstrate an ability to organize and keep positive in ambiguous situations and dynamic environments with changing priorities.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in administrative roles with experience working and providing support for senior management.
- Strong Team Player and Commitment to Deliver Outstanding Customer Service
- Demonstrated initiative and responsiveness; proactive approach to your work with an ability to think fast on your feet.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relations with stakeholders, including staff, board members, senior level executives and external partnersStrong communication skills both written and verbal
- Ability to work independently and with professional discretion, holding confidential information in the strictest of confidence; Stellar reputation for integrity and ethical conduct
- Strong judgment and creative problem-solving skills including negotiation and conflict resolution
- Proficient with Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Dropbox and G-Suite
- Passion for the ventureLAB Mission, Vision and Culture Values
How to Apply
Apply to hr@venturelab.ca quoting “Chief of Staff/Executive Assistant - Job ID 202419” in the subject line. Include your resume and a brief note telling us why you’d be a great addition to the ventureLAB team. Early submissions are encouraged as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
In addition to salary, ventureLAB offers a comprehensive benefits package, learning and development opportunities and 4 weeks vacation.
At ventureLAB, we value diversity, inclusion, and respect. Diverse experience, perspectives, and backgrounds bring great ideas and create stronger teams — we embrace it, because we know that by including everyone, we all thrive. Accommodations are available on request for candidates with disabilities taking part in the recruitment process.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only qualified candidates will be contacted.
Response to COVID-19
Effective December 1, 2021, all newly hired employees will be required to provide proof of full vaccination (first and second dose) against COVID-19 of a vaccine currently approved by Health Canada or provide documentation to support an exemption based on grounds covered by the Ontario Human Rights Act (i.e. medical exemption).
