Senior Manager, Learning Solutions

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 requirements 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 [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 Position

This is a permanent, full-time position. This role exists to transform our collective startup knowledge into a scalable, high-value Learning Product. You are the architect of the "Master Curriculum" that powers our live sessions, digital learning products, and critical partnerships. In the role you will be responsible for defining and executing a blended learning strategy that integrates live programming, digital content, and online learning tools into cohesive, high-impact experiences for founders. You will oversee the evolution of our learning ecosystem, ensuring that all offerings work together to deliver practical, accessible, and personalized support. In addition, you will lead key partner relationships, including ownership of a major strategic partnership and associated contract. This includes aligning on shared objectives, ensuring high-quality execution, and identifying opportunities to deepen impact and collaboration. As the leader of the Learning Solutions team, you will set direction, drive performance, and build a high-functioning team responsible for delivering innovative, scalable programming. The person in this role is a strategic leader and operator. They connect vision to execution, manage complex stakeholder environments, and continuously combine their passion and practice in how learning is delivered to entrepreneurs.

Key Responsibilities

Blended Learning Experience Design - Modular Curriculum Architecture

• Define and lead the strategy for blended learning across live events, digital content, and online platforms
• Design integrated learning journeys,that combine multiple formats into cohesive founder experiences
• Customize “plug-and-play” learning modules that can be customized for different founder stages, particularly pre-seed to Series A and partner-specific needs
• Identify opportunities to enhance personalization, accessibility, and scalability of learning experiences
• Document process and version controls so that partner white-labeling is seamless and fast 
  

Program Delivery

• Oversee the development and delivery of a portfolio of learning programs and experiences and be lead on certain initiatives especially where a key partnership is involved
• Ensure alignment and cohesion across events, digital products, and learning initiatives
• Identify opportunities to enhance the personalization and accessibility of the digital library; including opportunities that will differentiate MaRS for the future
• Guide program iteration and continuous improvement based on data, feedback, and ecosystem insights
• Balance innovation with operational excellence in program delivery
  

Partner Enablement & Contract Success

• Lead relationships with key internal and external partners, including ownership of a major strategic partnership, ensuring execution of deliverables and high-standard expectations are met
• Oversee the execution of partnership agreements and contractual deliverables; ensuring that partner objectives translate into specific curriculum paths that leverage existing assets
• Align on goals, success metrics, and reporting requirements
• Identify opportunities to expand and deepen strategic partnerships
  

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and develop the Learning Solutions team, including roles across events, programming, and digital content
• Set clear priorities, goals, and performance expectations
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing, and innovative team culture
• Provide coaching and mentorship to support team growth and effectiveness including coaching the team specifically on Instructional Design and Content Strategy
  

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Drive innovation in how learning is designed and delivered across formats
• Encourage experimentation with new models, tools, and approaches to blended learning
• Stay informed on trends in digital learning, founder support, and ecosystem needs
• Translate insights into actionable improvements across the portfolio
  

Requirements

• Strong understanding of Andragogy (adult learning) and Instructional Design
• 5+ years’ work experience in building a multi-modal curriculum from scratch
• 3+ years' experience in people management and coaching
• 3+ years' customer facing experience ideally in  managing large clients/ partners
  
• Familiarity with "Content as a Service" (CaaS) or modular content management.
• Knowledge of agile product management including problem discovery, market sizing, competitor analysis, prioritization, traction methods, team organization, road mapping and measurements of success  
• Superior interpersonal and relationship management skills, ability to build strong networks with a high degree of emotional intelligence and self-awareness
• The ability to take a messy founder problem and turn it into a 3-step framework.
• Exceptional public speaker with strong verbal and written communication skills
• Intrinsic ability to lead and motivate people to achieve common goals
• Self-starter with a commitment to achieving and exceeding goals and objectives to make an impact
• Strong negotiations skills and ability to pitch/ sell products
• Ability to work in high stress situations
• Ability to communicate with tact/sensitivity
  

Nice to Haves

• Product management certification or similar
• Leadership training/education
• Bachelor’s degree preferably in Business Administration, Engineering, Science or equivalent education or experience
• Experience in people management and coaching
• Experience in setting and executing product strategy from start to finish
  

Applications will close at 12pm EDT on May 1, 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: $90,000 to $110,000, up to a 10% discretionary incentive, extended healthcare benefits, wellness spending account, GRRSP matching, and paid time-off

Our Applicant Tracking System, BambooHR, does not use Artificial Intelligence (AI). From time to time MaRS may use AI in our screening, assessment, and selection processes.

#LI-MDD