CONTRACT - May 2025 - December 2025

About the role

Front Row Ventures (FRV) is looking for a Community and Events Manager to fill a temporary (6-month) maternity leave contract commencing mid May 2025.

As the Community and Events Manager at FRV, you will be integral in driving FRV’s mission to build a thriving, connected ecosystem for student-led innovation across Canada. With a pan-Canadian scope, this role is focused on building meaningful community engagement and delivering events that support and connect the diverse stakeholders that power FRV — including portfolio founders, alumni, students, partners, and the broader innovation ecosystem.

Reporting to the Managing Director and leading three teams of part-time students, you will strategically advance FRV’s presence both virtually and at in-person events. You’ll lead efforts to grow FRV’s presence and amplify our impact across the innovation ecosystem by driving strategic partnerships, strengthening community ties with alumni and founders, and delivering high-impact events that engage and inspire our network.

Key Responsibilities

Community, Partnership, and Ecosystem Engagement

• National Community Engagement: Lead and guide initiatives that connect and engage FRV’s national community of founders, alumni, and students. Ensure that FRV’s community-building efforts reach all members across Canada, fostering collaboration and growth across geographies.Partnership Engagement: Maintain strategic partnerships with organizations, universities, and corporate sponsors across Canada in support of HQ initiatives. Work closely with the Managing Director to ensure that partner agreements are being met and initiatives are enhanced where possible.

Event Strategy and Execution

• End-to-End Event Leadership: Manage impactful events that advance FRV’s mission, from local gatherings to national events. Ensure each event strengthens community ties, reinforces FRV’s values, and delivers value to stakeholders across all active regions.

Marketing, Communications, and Brand Development

• Content Strategy & Ecosystem Impact: Champion FRV’s impact by overseeing content that highlights the successes of our portfolio companies, alumni, and ecosystem events across Canada. Position FRV as a thought leader within the Canadian venture community.Omni-Channel Engagement: Use digital and in-person channels to create a cohesive FRV presence. Actively engage with FRV’s stakeholders, enhancing visibility and maintaining connections across our entire ecosystem.

Who you are

You are a strategic and autonomous leader with a passion for building communities and running events that inspire and drive innovation. Thriving in a matrixed role, you are energized by working at the intersection of community engagement and ecosystem development. As a self-starter and a go-getter, you are resourceful, adaptable, and prepared to take on high-level responsibilities within a fast-paced, growth-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications, or a related field.Professional Experience: 2+ years of relevant experience in community engagement, event management, partnership development, or marketing within the startup, tech, or venture capital sector, ideally with experience in pan-Canadian roles.Skills: Strong communication, leadership, and organization abilities. Proven experience managing relationships across diverse stakeholder groups and geographies.

You will thrive in this role if you

• Are a natural connector and communicator, energized by managing a diverse portfolio of projects.
• Enjoy fast-paced, dynamic work environments and approach challenges with a proactive, can-do attitude.
• Are organized, detail-oriented, and able to anticipate and address needs efficiently.
• Work well under pressure, handling multiple priorities with ease.
• Are passionate about fostering a vibrant, innovative community where relationships and ideas flourish.

Travel

• Travel Requirements: Occasional travel will be necessary to attend events and collaborate with key stakeholders across FRV’s Canadian network.

What we offer

• Competitive compensation package, commensurate with experience.
• Two weeks of paid vacation, pro-rated based on our standard 4-weeks-per-year policy.
• The chance to join a rapidly growing venture firm, contributing directly to the Canadian early-stage startup ecosystem.
• Collaboration with a team of dedicated, ambitious, and supportive colleagues committed to your professional growth.
• Exclusive access to leaders in venture capital, unique networking opportunities with emerging tech innovators, and ongoing mentorship.

Applying at FRV

Front Row Ventures values diversity and inclusion and is committed to creating a respectful environment for all employees.

How to apply?

Please email Aislinn Shoveller (aislinn@frontrow.vc) with your resume.

Kindly note that all candidates must be legally authorized to permanently work in Canada.

We appreciate your interest in working with us; however, only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Did you know that men will typically apply for a job when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, but women will often only apply if they meet 100% of them? Front Row Ventures is committed to building our team to reflect the change that we want to see in the world.

Front Row Ventures values diversity and inclusion and is committed to creating a respectful environment for all employees. Currently, 43% of our student team members self-identify as women, and more than 67% as BIPOC.

Who we are

FRV is Canada’s leading university-focused and student-operated VC firm.

With a $5.5M pan-Canadian fund closed in 2023, we are the largest pool of capital in Canada exclusively dedicated to investing in student-led startups with a presence on 20+ university campuses across Canada.

With our unique operational model involving students on both sides of the funding equation, not only do we bridge the gap of pre-seed funding for student entrepreneurs but we also offer student participants a first experience in VC with the opportunity to develop direct and privileged relationships with VC firms and eventually facilitate the rise of talent in the tech industry.

Our ecosystem is home to 50+ Canadian stellar investors (including major investors such as Inovia Capital, exited entrepreneurs and partners from prominent Canadian VC firms) and an extended global network of 300+ alumni, 60+ portfolio companies, corporate partners, and ecosystem builders.

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Front Row Ventures is a registered nonprofit organization.