Chief Operating Officer

Role Summary

Communitech at this defining moment and shape the future of Canadian Innovation in Waterloo Region. As our next Chief Operating Officer, you will step onto the executive team at a pivotal turning point as we deepen member relationships, reinvigorate our core offerings, and build a best-in-class model for account management and founder support.

Uniting our Programs & Services, Community Operations, Events, and Marketing teams under one cohesive vision, you will serve as the strategic driver behind a seamless, world-class founder experience. This role goes far beyond executive operational oversight, budget stewardship, and program design. It is an extraordinary opportunity to inspire and empower our organization to elevate how we serve the tech community in Waterloo Region. If you are an exceptional people leader eager to shape the future of a renowned community organization, drive high-value strategic growth, and leave a lasting mark on Waterloo Region’s tech ecosystem, there has never been a more exciting time to lead at Communitech.

Serving as a key member of the executive team, the COO will lead Programs & Services, Community Operations, Events and Marketing to create a unified vision and consistent, high‑quality member experience. The role combines strong people leadership, operational oversight, program design and delivery, budget stewardship, and cross-functional coordination to advance Communitech’s mission, goals, and funding commitments.

Key Responsibilities

Visionary Leadership & People Empowerment

• Inspire, mentor, and elevate cross-functional leaders and teams across Programs & Services, Community Operations, Events, and Marketing.

• Cultivate a high-performance culture by setting clear expectations, championing talent development, and guiding teams through strategic transformations.

Strategy & Executive Partnership

• Partner directly with the CEO and executive peers to architect and execute high-impact strategies that advance Communitech’s mission and secure funding objectives.

• Translate bold organizational priorities into actionable operational roadmaps, measurable KPIs, and clear accountabilities across all departments.

Program Delivery & Scale-Up Platform

• Drive the continuous evolution and growth of the Scale-Up Platform, maximizing program scalability, impact, and founder success.

• Champion a world-class, consistent founder experience across every touchpoint in the Communitech ecosystem.

• Spearhead cross-functional alignment (Programs, Operations, Marketing, Events), steward major sponsor and speaker relationships, and serve as a visible executive leader at flagship events.

Data-driven Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Harness founder feedback, data, and stakeholder insights to evaluate, optimize, and elevate service delivery.

• Embed a vibrant culture of evidence-based decision making, continuous iteration, and measurable outcomes across the organization.

Operational Distinction, Governance, and Risk

• Establish operational excellence across all central functions, ensuring execution against commitments, robust risk mitigation, and seamless cross-functional co-ordination.

• Modernize systems and frameworks to guarantee transparency, operational quality, and organizational accountability.

Finance Stewardship & Resource Optimization

• Collaborate with Finance to strategically allocate resources, oversee operating budgets, and guarantee rigorous compliance with key funding agreements.

• Co-author compelling funding proposals and deliver high-integrity reporting to key institutional sponsors.

Ecosystem Engagement & Network Influence

• Cultivate deep, trust-based relationships with founders, tech talent, corporate partners, investors, and government stakeholders to inform program design and maximize Communitech’s reach.

*This job description is not exhaustive; additional duties may be assigned as needed.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience as a founder, startup executive, or operator is considered a strong asset. Candidates who have built, scaled, or led high-growth organizations bring firsthand insight into the challenges founders face, enabling them to design more relevant programs, make informed strategic decisions, and build credibility within the innovation ecosystem.

• Demonstrated success leading multiple teams and delivering complex, multi-stakeholder programs at scale.

• Strong financial literacy and experience partnering with finance to manage program and operating budgets.

• Experience using data and stakeholder feedback to measure outcomes and improve program effectiveness.

• Track record of building followership and leading change with empathy and clarity.

• Experience working with marketing teams and integrating marketing strategies into program and community engagement (direct execution of marketing not required).

• Deep understanding of founder journeys and startup/scale-up ecosystems is a strong asset.

• Excellent communicator, collaborator, and relationship-builder with colleagues, funders, partners, and community stakeholders.

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking and operational rigor

• Outcome-focused program design and delivery

• People leadership, coaching, and change management

• Data-driven decision making and continuous improvement

• Budgeting and resource stewardship

• Strong stakeholder management and partnership skills
  

Interpersonal & Relational Competencies

• Visionary & Inspirational Leadership: Articulates an energizing strategic vision that unifies multi-disciplinary teams around ambitious goals, instilling a shared sense of purpose and pride across the organization..

• Emotional Intelligence: Navigates complex executive dynamics with exceptional self-awareness, empathy, and poise. Builds trust, aligns diverse stakeholders, and turns challenging conversations into opportunities for unity and growth.

• Strategic and People-Centred Execution: Seamlessly balances high-level strategy with operational excellence while keeping culture at the heart of change. Knows when to drive rigorous accountability and when to champion, engage, and empower the team.

• Agile Adaptability: Thrives in dynamic, fast-paced environments, leading through change with resilience, and the confidence to pivot as new opportunities emerge.

• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Champions innovation and intelligent risk-taking, bringing a proactive, bold approach to scaling and maximizing Communitech’s impact.

• Accountability & Unwavering Integrity: Sets the benchmark for authentic executive leadership, fostering a culture of radical transparency, high trust, and personal accountability.

• Empathic and Inclusive Builder: Creates a high-trust, collaborative culture that deeply respects diverse perspectives and emperors teams to perform at their absolute best.

• High-leverage Relationship-Building: Cultivates transformative, lasting partnerships across founders, tech talent, investors, corporate leaders, and ecosystem partners to amplify Communitech’s reach and influence.

Reporting & Location

• Reports to: CEO

• Direct reports: ~8

• Location: Downtown Kitchener office, Monday - Friday

• Compensation: $200,000 annual salary

• PTO: 4 weeks vacation, 2 week holiday shutdown + 4 Communitech Days

• Benefits: Health and dental effective first day of employment

If you are an exceptional executive eager to blend strategic vision with operational excellence, this is your invitation to lead. This is a high-impact moment to join the Communitech team.

To Apply

Please apply online along with your resume and cover letter.

We thank all applicants in advance; however only individuals selected for an interview will be contacted. All applications will be kept confidential. Communitech is a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including aboriginal persons, francophones, members of sexual minority groups, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, and women. We will provide any requested accommodation to candidates with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.

In compliance with Ontario’s Bill 190, we confirm that this posting represents a current, existing vacancy within our organization.

Please note that ADP’s platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) to generate an applicant’s Candidate or Profile Relevance score. This is one of many factors that will be reviewed in making interview decisions, and all applications will be reviewed by a human. Scores do not affect the visibility of an application and applicants may opt-out when applying.