Date Posted: 18:08:04 2026-05-01
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatechewan, Canada
Contact Person: htorr@leadershipsource.ca
Company/Business Name: Ag-West Bio
Phone: 3065431666
Mobile:
Website:
Apply Online
Saskatchewan’s agricultural bioscience sector is entering a defining period of opportunity. With world-class research capacity, deep agricultural expertise, an ambitious innovation ecosystem, and growing global demand for sustainable food, fuel, feed, fibre, and bio-based solutions, the province is exceptionally well positioned to lead.
At the centre of this opportunity is Ag-West Bio, Saskatchewan’s bioscience industry association and bioeconomy catalyst. Since 1989, Ag-West Bio has helped move research to market and grow biobusiness in the province by supporting entrepreneurs, connecting partners, convening the ecosystem, promoting science, and advancing commercialization in agricultural and food biosciences.
Ag-West Bio is now seeking a progressive, credible, and highly relationship-driven President and Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization into its next chapter.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President & CEO will provide strategic leadership to advance Ag West Bio’s established mandate, strengthen its impact, and ensure effective delivery on its role as a trusted connector, convenor, and catalyst for commercialization across Saskatchewan’s ag bio landscape.
The next CEO will inherit a strong legacy, a capable team, and a mandate with renewed focus and momentum. A recent needs assessment affirmed Ag West Bio’s current direction and identified opportunities to deepen impact, improve alignment, and accelerate progress. The CEO will build on this foundation by translating the assessment outcomes into clear priorities, practical work streams, strengthened partnerships, and measurable results—while continuing to build confidence with government, industry, research institutions, investors, entrepreneurs, members, and ecosystem partners.
This role calls for a leader who can operate with sophistication across agriculture and bioscience, innovation and commercialization, public policy and private enterprise, research and market adoption. The successful candidate will be a strong systems thinker and consensus builder, with the judgment to identify gaps and overlaps, the diplomacy to reduce fragmentation, and the credibility to bring independent organizations together around shared priorities.
The ideal candidate will bring senior leadership experience in agriculture, bioscience, agri-food, innovation, commercialization, economic development, investment, industry association leadership, public policy, or a related ecosystem-facing environment. They will understand how ideas move from research to market, how early-stage companies grow, and how capital, policy, partnerships, and market pull influence commercialization outcomes.
This is a role for a builder, broker, translator, and catalyst. The successful candidate will lead through influence rather than authority, creating alignment without ownership, momentum without duplication, and trust across organizations with different mandates, histories, and priorities. They will be strategic and pragmatic, ambitious and disciplined, entrepreneurial and accountable.
As President & CEO, you will help define Ag-West Bio’s next era of contribution, strengthen relationships with provincial government and key ecosystem partners, expand national and interprovincial connections, support investment readiness and commercialization pathways, and lead a small, agile team with clarity, care, and confidence.
This is an exceptional opportunity for a leader who believes Saskatchewan can be a world leader in agricultural bioscience commercialization, and who has the credibility, courage, and collaborative instincts to help make that ambition real.
Qualifications & Experience
• The successful candidate will bring a compelling combination of sector credibility, commercial orientation, strategic leadership, and ecosystem-building experience. While no single career path is prescribed, the Board will be seeking evidence of:
• Senior leadership experience in agriculture, bioscience, agri-food, innovation, commercialization, economic development, investment, public policy, industry association leadership, or a related sector-facing environment.
• Strong knowledge of Saskatchewan’s ag-bio, agri-food, bioscience, or broader innovation ecosystem.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across government, industry, research institutions, entrepreneurs, investors, funders, and ecosystem partners.
• Experience advancing commercialization, entrepreneurship, business development, investment readiness, corporate innovation, or market-facing sector growth.
• Proven ability to lead through influence, build alignment, and navigate complex multi-stakeholder environments.
• Strong governance, financial, and organizational leadership experience.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to represent Ag-West Bio credibly with senior government, industry, and public-facing audiences.
• A graduate degree in business, agriculture, public policy, innovation, science, or a related field is preferred. An equivalent combination of senior-level experience, sector credibility, and demonstrated leadership impact will also be considered.
Prior CEO experience would be welcomed but is not essential. The Board is open to an accomplished senior leader or first-time CEO who brings the right mix of ecosystem credibility, commercial acumen, strategic judgment, humility, and leadership potential.
Salary:
