Role Overview
- Position: Hackathon Project Lead
- Employment Type: Contract (3 months)
- Experience: 1-2 years of project management, consulting, workshop design or large event execution experience
- Location: Canada (Toronto-based highly preferred, as there is an expectation that you will spend a couple of days per week working in our downtown coworking space)
- Start Date: ASAP (Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis)
As a Hackathon Project Lead, you will be responsible for designing, planning, managing, and executing large-scale internal hackathons and innovation learning programs for our clients. You will work closely with internal teams, clients, and technology partners (such as AWS, Microsoft, Google and IBM) to deliver seamless, high-energy, and impactful hackathon experiences.
This role requires strong project management skills, creativity in problem-solving, and a passion for innovation and program experiences. You’ll need to be detail-oriented, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and be comfortable working with senior executives, technology partners and corporate teams.
Key Responsibilities
Client Project Responsibilities
- End-to-End Hackathon Management – Plan, execute, and oversee corporate hackathons and innovation programs from initial inception to the post-event wrap-up and retrospective.
- Stakeholder Coordination – Liaise with Fortune 500 clients, internal teams, and external partners to ensure alignment on project objectives, timelines, and deliverables.
- Event Logistics & Execution – Manage logistics for in-person, hybrid, and virtual hackathons, including venue coordination, technology setup, and overall participant experience.
- Participant Engagement & Support – Facilitate pre-event onboarding, team matchmaking, and ongoing communication to ensure a highly engaging hackathon environment.
- Content & Workshop Development – Curate educational content, in collaboration with industry experts and partners on AI, design thinking and how to pitch like a pro.
- Facilitation & Presentation – Lead engaging hackathon kick-offs, mentor check-ins, final round judging and award ceremonies, ensuring a smooth and memorable participant journey.
- Post-Event Reporting & Impact Analysis – Capture key insights, metrics, and outcomes to deliver compelling post-event reports and case studies for our clients.
Internal Responsibilities
- Continuous Improvement – Identify opportunities to enhance Onova’s hackathon playbook, methodologies, and best practices.
- Technology & AI Fluency – Stay ahead of emerging AI tools and platforms, integrating them into hackathon experiences for greater impact.
- Business Development Support – Contribute to pitch decks, proposals, and client discussions to expand our hackathon offerings and meet new prospective clients.
- Cross-Team Collaboration – Work with Onova’s other business units, including Earth (our hackathon platform), to enhance our hackathon services and overall operational efficiency.
- Thought Leadership & Content Creation – Establish yourself as a thought leader in AI and innovation by sharing key learnings, insights, and trends through blog articles and LinkedIn posts. Contribute to Onova’s growing content library by highlighting best practices, interesting case studies, and emerging technologies within the corporate innovation space.
What We Look For
Success Factors
- Strong Growth Mindset & Receptiveness to Feedback – You actively seek opportunities to improve, embrace challenges, and quickly apply feedback to refine your approach and execution.
- Startup Hustle & Ownership Mentality – You take initiative, work proactively, and are willing to put in the effort required to make every hackathon a success. You are self-motivated and take full ownership of your work.
- Thrives in Ambiguity & Takes Initiative – You excel in fast-moving environments where there may not be clear-cut instructions. You take ownership of solving problems and driving impact without waiting for direction.
- Emotional Intelligence & Self-Awareness – You are highly self-aware, able to navigate complex team dynamics, and communicate with empathy, vulnerability and a high degree of emotional intelligence.
- Highly Detail-Oriented & Organized – You ensure that no detail is overlooked, effectively manage multiple moving parts, and maintain structure and clarity in your work.
- Project Management Excellence – You have a proven ability to lead projects, manage deadlines, and coordinate multiple stakeholders to deliver high-quality outcomes.
- Confident & Persuasive Communicator – You can articulate ideas clearly, inspire confidence in clients and team members, and lead effective discussions with senior stakeholders.
- Leadership & Team Management – You have a strong ability to manage and guide teams, ensuring that everyone is aligned, motivated, and executing their tasks effectively.
Requirements
- 1-2 years of experience in project management, consulting, event execution, or innovation programming.
- Bachelor’s degree in business, technology, or a relevant field.
- Experience managing large-scale events or corporate learning programs is a strong asset.
- Familiarity with AI, startup methodologies, and corporate innovation best practices is a plus.
- Must be eligible to work in Canada (or able to secure a work permit before commencing full-time work).
Why Join Onova?
- Work with Global Fortune 500 Companies – Lead innovation programs for some of the world’s biggest brands and global consultancies.
- Entrepreneurial & Fast-Paced Culture – Be part of a team that values creativity, experimentation, and bold ideas. We hire top, like-minded talent. You will be surrounded by a group of ambitious employees that will motivate and inspire you.
- Hybrid Work Model – Flexibility to work remotely, with in-office collaboration in Toronto.
- Personal & Professional Growth – Access to personal mentorship and a high-growth career trajectory. Our goal is to make your time here as rewarding as possible and a launchpad for your career, whether within or outside of Onova. We aim to build and inspire the next generation of elite employees, executives, and entrepreneurs.
- Exciting Perks & Retreats – Participate in semi-annual cottage retreats where we run our own internal Onova Hackathons, along with team socials and personalized gifts to celebrate special occasions.
