Indigenous Business Liaison

Are you a champion for Edmonton’s local economy? Do you bring a customer-focused experience to helping businesses start, grow and invest in Edmonton? The City of Edmonton invites dedicated professionals to champion Indigenous entrepreneurship and advance economic reconciliation across our community.

Reporting to the Manager of Business Support Programs, the Indigenous Business Liaison connects Indigenous entrepreneurs and business owners directly with municipal resources, programs, and provides navigation support. In this role, you will build authentic relationships across the regional economic ecosystem while providing vital strategic support to eliminate barriers to business growth. Additionally, you will support key corporate commitments, including the Edmonton Advantage: Edmonton’s Economic Development Strategy and the Indigenous Procurement Framework.

What will you do?

• Provide one-on-one business navigation support to Indigenous entrepreneurs and business owners to assist with launch, operations, permitting, licensing, and expansion.
• Apply an Indigenous worldview and Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) perspective to evaluate municipal service delivery and eliminate systemic barriers.
• Build and sustain partnerships with business associations, community partners, nation-owned enterprises, and entrepreneur support organizations, actively collaborating with formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) partners to advance shared economic priorities.
• Act as an internal advisor to project teams, committees, and leadership on economic reconciliation, policy initiatives, and inclusive economic development.
• Translate complex municipal bylaws, zoning regulations, and licensing processes into plain language.
• Plan and deliver equity-informed presentations, workshops, trade shows, and educational sessions for engagement participants.
• Support corporate strategies and internal alignment, specifically advancing the Edmonton Advantage, Indigenous Framework, and Indigenous Procurement Framework
• Prepare briefing materials, Council reports, presentations, and policy recommendations for senior leadership and City Council.
• Manage project deliverables, performance metrics, and work plans within scope and budget.

• Degree in Business, Economics, Indigenous Relations, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4 years leading economic development projects or programs in public administration or a corporate setting working directly with leadership on strategic business planning.
• Minimum of 1 year directly collaborating with underrepresented business owners, Indigenous business owners, Nations, or economic development corporations.

Assets:

• Professional certification in Project Management, Change Management, or Strategic Planning.
• Formal Indigenous cultural awareness and reconciliation training.
• Lived experience within Indigenous communities, cultures, and governance structures.

Skills required for success:

• Deep familiarity with Indigenous history, cultures, and local economic environments.
• Practical application of UNDRIP, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action, and MMIWG Calls for Justice.
• Strong verbal and written communication competencies, with expertise in drafting reports and delivering persuasive presentations to senior decision-makers.
• Effective cross-functional collaboration and coalition-building with diverse collaborators.
• Proven project management execution, including performance measurement and strategic delivery.
• Political acumen and diplomacy when handling complex, culturally sensitive, and high-profile priorities.
• Skilled facilitation in guiding businesses through regulatory frameworks, zoning, and municipal processes.
• High tolerance for ambiguity and proactive problem-solving within emerging service areas.
• Alignment to our Cultural Commitments and Leadership Competencies ()
• Embracing a culture of equity, diversity, reconciliation and inclusion.

Conditions of Employment:

• Applicants may be tested.

Work Environment:

• Note: This position ​may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement ​with ​the flexibility to work from both home and the worksite as per the Letter of Understanding between the City of Edmonton and Civic Service Union 52.
• The weekly hours of work for this position are currently under review and may change at a future time. Any changes will be made in accordance with the City of Edmonton/Civic Service Union 52 collective agreement, and the incumbent will be notified in advance.
• This role works primarily in an indoor setting.
• Availability to attend events during the evenings and weekends may be required from time to time.
• This is a public-facing role and requires engagement and interaction with diverse people from various backgrounds with different needs, expectations and emotional states.

The City of Edmonton values applicants with a diverse range of skills, experiences and competencies, and encourages you to apply. We strive to provide reasonable access and accommodations throughout the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about our benefits .

Up to 1 temporary full-time for up to 11 months

Hours of Work: 33.75 hours per week

Salary Range: $53.027 - $66.501 (Hourly)

Recruitment Consultant: JF/SO

Edmonton rests in the heart of Treaty Six territory in Alberta and the homelands of the Metis Nation.