Director, Economic Development

KIRAH Executive Search & Leadership Advisory has partnered with kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation Enterprises (KFNE) to lead the search for its next Director, Economic Development.

KFNE is the economic development enterprise of kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation (KFN), focused on advancing long-term economic opportunities, responsible land development, commercial partnerships and sustainable value creation for the Nation.

This is a senior executive mandate reporting directly to the KFNE Board of Directors.

The Director will be responsible for advancing KFNE’s business strategy and overseeing a broad operating portfolio that includes asset management, land governance, property planning and development, commercial leasing, business development, site operations, corporate administration and financial stewardship. KFNE Director Economic Developm…

This opportunity will appeal to an entrepreneurial and commercially minded leader who understands how to move complex development initiatives forward while building trusted relationships with First Nations leadership, governments, municipalities, community stakeholders, developers, engineers, regulators and commercial partners.

About kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation Enterprises

KFNE supports the broader economic vision of kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation through responsible business development, land stewardship, strategic partnerships and commercial growth.

The organization’s work brings together land development, commercial real estate, leasing, infrastructure, business development, strategic partnerships, investment, governance and community and government relations.

KFNE is entering an important stage of organizational development.

Its immediate priorities include land leasing, land-development planning, securing services for existing commercial properties, strengthening stakeholder relationships and developing strategic business partnerships. Pasted text

The successful Director will have the opportunity to help shape the next stage of KFNE’s growth while building the organizational capability required to support that strategy.

The Leadership Opportunity

The Director, Economic Development will serve as KFNE’s senior operating and economic-development leader.

Reporting directly to the KFNE Board of Directors, the Director will translate the Nation’s broader economic vision into an executable business strategy and operating plan.

The role combines economic development, commercial real estate, land development, infrastructure, business development, joint ventures and partnerships, financial stewardship, government relations, community engagement, organizational leadership and Board-level accountability.

The Director will manage the day-to-day operations of KFNE within the authority and parameters established by the Board. Pasted text

There is currently no dedicated Economic Development team. The incoming Director will therefore have the opportunity to develop and build the function as KFNE grows and additional business needs are identified. Pasted text

This is an executive mandate requiring the ability to move between strategy, commercial negotiations, development planning, stakeholder engagement, organizational leadership and practical execution.

The Leadership Mandate

Economic Development Strategy

The Director will:

• Develop and execute KFNE’s economic-development and business strategy.
  
• Build a roadmap that supports the Nation’s long-term economic security.
  
• Establish growth objectives and translate strategy into practical operating priorities.
  
• Identify new revenue streams, investment opportunities and commercial partnerships.
  
• Support Nation-owned businesses and future business-development initiatives.
  
• Build the organizational capability required to execute KFNE’s evolving economic-development strategy.
  

Land Development & Commercial Real Estate

The Director will:

• Lead commercial real-estate and land-development activities.
  
• Advance land-leasing and development-planning priorities.
  
• Support planning for future phases of development.
  
• Coordinate infrastructure and servicing requirements for commercial properties.
  
• Navigate permitting, licensing and regulatory requirements.
  
• Work with municipalities, engineers, utilities, contractors and other technical partners.
  
• Support commercial leasing and property-management activities.
  
• Evaluate development opportunities through both commercial and community lenses.
  

KFNE’s immediate priority is to secure the required services for existing commercial properties that have already been leased and begin planning the next stages of development. Pasted text

Strategic Partnerships & Business Development

The Director will:

• Develop strategic business partnerships.
  
• Negotiate joint ventures and other commercial arrangements.
  
• Assess new commercial opportunities.
  
• Identify new sources of revenue.
  
• Support strategic investments.
  
• Build relationships with developers, investors and other business partners.
  
• Advance public-private and infrastructure partnerships.
  
• Represent KFNE in complex external negotiations.
  

The successful candidate will need the commercial judgement to recognize opportunity while also assessing risk, long-term value and alignment with the Nation’s objectives.

Government, Municipal & Stakeholder Relations

The Director will build and maintain trusted relationships with kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation leadership and community, the City of Port Coquitlam, other levels of government, neighbouring communities, developers, engineers, utilities, regulators, financial institutions, investors and industry partners.

KFNE has identified the ability to work effectively across multiple levels of government and stakeholder groups as a non-negotiable requirement for this search. Pasted text

The Director must be capable of building credibility across both community and commercial environments.

Infrastructure & Project Leadership

The Director will:

• Coordinate servicing and infrastructure requirements.
  
• Work with civil engineers and technical consultants.
  
• Engage local utility providers.
  
• Support contractor coordination.
  
• Navigate municipal approvals.
  
• Obtain permits and licences.
  
• Oversee project priorities, timelines and risk.
  
• Ensure alignment between development activity and the broader operating plan.
  

Financial Stewardship & Commercial Performance

The Director will carry executive oversight for KFNE’s financial and commercial performance in partnership with the Board and finance function.

The role will:

• Work with the Board on business plans and budgets.
  
• Oversee operating and capital planning.
  
• Monitor financial performance.
  
• Support cash-flow and investment decisions.
  
• Support achievement of Board-approved revenue, margin and cash-flow objectives.
  
• Ensure responsible stewardship of organizational assets.
  
• Support long-term capital planning.
  
• Maintain effective controls, reporting and compliance.
  
• Assess the financial implications of development and commercial opportunities.
  

The current financial mandate is in the single-digit millions, with further financial and P&L detail to be discussed with candidates during the selection process. Pasted text

Governance & Board Partnership

Reporting directly to the KFNE Board of Directors, the Director will operate within a governance environment where transparency, accountability and sound judgement are essential.

The Director will:

• Keep the Board informed regarding strategy, operations, financial performance and risk.
  
• Provide recommendations to support informed decision-making.
  
• Manage KFNE’s day-to-day operations within delegated authority.
  
• Strengthen organizational controls and governance practices.
  
• Support effective decision-making structures.
  
• Maintain accountability for implementation of Board-approved priorities.
  

Organizational Leadership & Team Building

KFNE currently operates with a lean structure.

The KFNE office currently includes an Executive Assistant and Senior Accountant, while Saskay Land Development currently includes a Site Superintendent and five General Labourers. Pasted text

The Director will be expected to:

• Provide leadership across the organization.
  
• Build the Economic Development function over time.
  
• Identify future capability and staffing requirements.
  
• Establish operating rhythms and accountability.
  
• Strengthen collaboration across functions.
  
• Develop clear organizational priorities.
  
• Create a culture of execution and continuous improvement.
  

The successful candidate will be comfortable building organizational capability while remaining closely connected to execution.

Key Priorities

KFNE’s immediate priorities include:

• land leasing
  
• land-development planning
  
• securing services for existing commercial properties
  
• planning future stages of development
  
• strengthening relationships with the Nation
  
• strengthening relationships with the City and other levels of government
  
• building relationships with neighbouring communities and stakeholders
  
• developing strategic business partnerships
  
• building the Economic Development function as the organization grows. Pasted text
  

The Leader KFNE Is Seeking

KFNE is seeking an entrepreneurial, commercially astute and relationship-driven executive.

The successful candidate will be capable of operating comfortably across strategy, development, real estate, commercial negotiations, government relations, community engagement, infrastructure, finance, governance and organizational leadership.

This person must be able to navigate complexity without losing momentum.

They will need to understand how to move development projects forward through multiple layers of government, regulation, infrastructure, community interests and commercial stakeholders.

The strongest candidates will combine commercial discipline with diplomacy, political awareness and respect for the long-term interests of the Nation.

Requirements

The successful candidate is expected to bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Urban or Regional Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance or a related discipline.
  
• Approximately 8–10+ years of progressive leadership experience in public-private partnerships, municipal real estate, urban development, economic development or a closely related environment.
  
• Significant land-development experience.
  
• Strong commercial real-estate experience.
  
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with multiple levels of government.
  
• Experience working with communities, First Nations, engineering firms and other stakeholders.
  
• Experience obtaining permits and licences.
  
• Experience coordinating servicing and infrastructure requirements for properties.
  
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multidisciplinary development or infrastructure projects.
  
• Strong financial literacy, including capital budgeting, financial modelling and pro forma analysis.
  
• Experience negotiating complex commercial arrangements.
  
• Experience navigating municipal governance, approvals, consultation and regulatory environments.
  

KFNE has confirmed that land development, real estate, government relations, stakeholder engagement, permitting/licensing and property servicing/infrastructure experience are must-have areas for this search. Pasted text

Considered an Asset

The following will be considered advantageous:

• Previous experience working with or for a First Nation.
  
• Economic-development experience within a First Nations or Indigenous organization.
  
• Master’s degree such as an MBA, Master of Urban Planning or Master of Public Administration.
  
• PMP designation.
  
• CCIM designation.
  
• RPP or AICP designation.
  
• Direct experience negotiating joint ventures, land acquisitions or significant commercial leases.
  
• Experience building an economic-development function or organization.
  

Previous First Nations experience is preferred rather than mandatory. Pasted text

Cultural & Community Alignment

This role operates within the broader economic vision of kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation.

The successful candidate must therefore bring more than commercial expertise.

They will need to demonstrate:

• respect
  
• integrity
  
• cultural awareness
  
• humility
  
• relationship-building capability
  
• thoughtful community engagement
  
• responsible stewardship
  
• an understanding that long-term value includes both commercial outcomes and benefit to the Nation
  

The Director will be expected to build positive relationships with community members while representing KFNE professionally with external partners.

Location and Working Environment

The role is based onsite in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia.

The onsite working model reflects the executive nature of the mandate and the importance of regular interaction with the KFNE Board of Directors, internal team, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation leadership and departments, development partners, engineers, government representatives and other stakeholders.

Compensation

The proposed compensation range is:

$150,000 to $180,000 annually

Final compensation will reflect the successful candidate’s qualifications, experience and overall alignment with the mandate. Pasted text

Why Consider This Opportunity?

For an experienced economic-development or real-estate executive, this opportunity offers the chance to:

• report directly to the Board
  
• help shape KFNE’s economic-development strategy
  
• build an economic-development function
  
• influence land and commercial development
  
• advance major infrastructure and servicing priorities
  
• create new business and partnership opportunities
  
• work directly with government, community and industry
  
• participate in commercial negotiations and strategic investments
  
• help build sustainable long-term economic value for kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation
  

This is a role for a leader who wants to build, not simply inherit.

KIRAH’s Perspective

KIRAH believes this mandate will be particularly compelling for a leader who combines commercial real-estate and development expertise with strong government, community and stakeholder capability.

KFNE is not looking for someone who operates exclusively from a strategic distance.

The successful candidate must be comfortable moving between Board-level strategy and practical execution, from development planning and commercial negotiations to government relations, permitting, infrastructure coordination and organizational leadership.

The strongest candidate will understand that economic development in a Nation-owned enterprise requires more than identifying profitable opportunities.

It requires judgement, trust, partnership, stewardship and the ability to create sustainable value that serves both the commercial objectives of the enterprise and the long-term interests of the Nation.

Application Process

KIRAH welcomes applications and confidential expressions of interest from qualified leaders.

Candidates may apply directly or may be approached confidentially by KIRAH as part of the executive search process.

All applications and inquiries will be treated with discretion.

Candidate information will not be presented to KFNE without the candidate’s knowledge and appropriate consent.

KIRAH Executive Search & Leadership Advisory is leading this search for kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation Enterprises. Applications are being processed through destinationone Consulting’s recruitment platform as part of KIRAH’s search infrastructure.