Advisor, Food and AgTech Mission

About MaRS

MaRS Discovery District (@MaRSDD) in Toronto is one of the world’s largest urban innovation hubs.

MaRS supports promising high-growth companies to scale their businesses globally, while tackling key societal challenges in areas such as Health, Cleantech, Finance, Transportation, AI, and others. In addition to helping start-ups launch, grow and scale, the MaRS community is dedicated to cross-disciplinary collaboration, commercialization of discoveries, and driving ideas to impact.

MaRS is the place where you can play a meaningful role in our innovation economy.

We understand qualifications on a posting can be daunting. If you're passionate about the opportunity 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 applicants, 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 search process. Please reach out to [email protected] 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 opportunity

MaRS is seeking Advisors (independent contractors) to support our highest potential companies to address critical talent needs, including hiring, organizational development, and team scaling. This role requires a strategic thinker with hands-on experience in recruitment, workforce planning, culture building, and talent retention at a scaling technology company. 

The ideal Advisor will be comfortable balancing high-level strategy with tactical techniques to help companies as they scale. Advisors provide strategic guidance to executive teams and provide connections to talent, customers, and experts. 

Advisors do not operate as employees of MaRS.

Scope of Work

You will work with the MaRS team to support the delivery of best-in-class programs:

• Assess client needs and plan service delivery in collaboration with the MaRS team


• Provide input into company assessments and program strategy 


• Make connections to your network  — to talent, experts, vendors, resources, specialized advisors
  

Engagement Structure

• You will be assigned through a ‘Monthly Work Plan’ that outlines specific deliverables to be completed that month.


• Monthly deliverables will vary and are based on current needs; no minimum or guaranteed number of hours is offered. 


• Advisors are engaged as independent contractors, not as employees of MaRS.


• Advisors are expected to work autonomously.

Areas of Engagement 

Advisors may be engaged to contribute in one or more of the following ways, depending on the needs outlined in the monthly work plan:

• Provide individual advisory to MaRS companies that are part of the inaugural venture cohort for MaRS’ Food and AgTech Mission, a program designed to accelerate the adoption of food and agricultural technologies in Canada. As part of this, the Advisor shall make connections to their network to support program cohort companies in their growth.


• Support the design and delivery of corporate programming for MaRS’  Food and AgTech Mission, which will include a cohort of several corporate participants. This support could include:
  
  
  
  • Small group advisory sessions
  
  
  • Informing design and delivery of strategic roundtables, trends presentations, visioning disruption exercises, venture showcases, and 
  
  
  • Peer group facilitation and other networking activities
    
  
  
  
  


• Advisory would include one-on-one commercialization and go-to-market support. 


• Any additional work or activities will be mutually agreed upon in advance

What you bring

The following criteria defines the work experience required to support these ventures:

• You are/were an executive who scaled a food and ag-technology company to commercialization and achieved at least $20M capital raised; or, you bring experience from the food and agriculture sector as an adopter of innovation.


• We will give preference/priority to individuals who:


• bring 10+ years of industry/founder experience


• held such as role within the past 2-5 years


• have raised amounts substantially in excess of $20M


• have experience negotiating deals with investors outside of Canada
  


• Some experience as a mentor, coach or consultant to developers of new innovations, particularly in the food and agriculture sector.


• Evidence of analytical and interpretive skills, conceptual thinking, and an ability to solve complex problems


• Demonstrated passion for building businesses and commercializing new food and agriculture-related products


• Personal accountability and commitment to achieving and exceeding goals and objectives


• Knowledge of commercial practices for high growth food and ag businesses.


• Familiar with the “language” and terminology of industry, finance, government, and the academic community.

Advisors are not considered employees of MaRS, and no employee benefits, vacation, or statutory entitlements apply.

Advisors are responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and business expenses.

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