Director, Development and Indigenous Relations

Phelps; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Phelps in Ottawa, Canada, seeks a Director of Development and Indigenous Relations to lead strategies at the intersection of Indigenous relations, reconciliation, community development, economic growth, and investment opportunities.

The role builds partnerships with Indigenous communities, governments, organizations, and investors, guiding opportunities from strategy to implementation and ensuring alignment with community priorities and long-term value creation.

Qualifications

• Experience working with Indigenous communities, governments, and partners.
• 7+ years in investment opportunities, economic development, or community-led development including Indigenous lands or communities.
• Post-secondary degree in business, public administration, Indigenous governance, or related field.
• Proven ability to build partnerships and advance strategic opportunities.
• Strong communication, facilitation, research, and advisory skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategies integrating Indigenous relations, reconciliation, community development and investment.
• Identify and advance development opportunities with Indigenous communities and stakeholders.
• Support governance readiness, partnership models and implementation pathways.

Skills

Communication

Facilitation

Research

Advisory

Education

Post-secondary degree in relevant discipline

Job description

Director, Development and Indigenous Relations

About our client

Our client is a national organization dedicated to advancing sustainable economic growth and community prosperity across Canada. Through research, strategic partnerships, investment opportunities, and collaboration with governments, Indigenous communities, industry leaders, and stakeholders, the organization helps create opportunities that strengthen communities, support long-term development, and generate meaningful economic and social benefits.

About the role

The Director, Development and Indigenous Relations plays a leadership role in advancing initiatives at the intersection of Indigenous relations, reconciliation, community development, economic growth, and strategic investment. The role leads and contributes to the development of strategies, partnerships, and projects involving Indigenous communities, governments, organizations, and businesses. Working collaboratively with Indigenous partners, public sector stakeholders, industry representatives, investors, and internal teams, the Director helps identify and advance opportunities that align with Indigenous priorities, support sustainable development, foster meaningful partnerships, and deliver long-term benefits for communities.

Key Accountabilities

• Build and maintain respectful, collaborative relationships with Indigenous communities, governments, organizations, and partners to support meaningful engagement and shared objectives.
• Design and advise on engagement approaches that respect Indigenous protocols, community priorities, local decision-making processes, and inclusive participation.
• Facilitate collaboration among Indigenous, public sector, private sector, and community partners, helping navigate complex issues, build consensus, and advance shared opportunities.

Strategy & Opportunity Development

• Lead and contribute to strategies that bring together Indigenous relations, reconciliation, community benefit, economic development, and investment opportunities.
• Identify and advance strategic development and investment opportunities involving Indigenous communities, organizations, governments, and Indigenous-led entities, ensuring initiatives align with community priorities, local context, and long-term value creation.
• Assess and strengthen the readiness of priority opportunities, including governance considerations, partnership models, community alignment, enabling conditions, and implementation pathways.

Investment & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead or support engagement with public, private, and community-sector stakeholders, helping communicate opportunities in a manner that reflects cultural, economic, and community development priorities.
• Contribute to the development of business cases, briefing materials, presentations, and other strategic documents that effectively communicate opportunity potential, readiness, risks, community benefits, and partnership considerations.

Advisory, Research & Insights

• Provide subject matter expertise and strategic guidance to internal teams on Indigenous relations, reconciliation, economic development, investment opportunities, and partnership opportunities.
• Conduct research and provide analysis on Indigenous economic development, investment trends, community development opportunities, stakeholder priorities, and emerging issues.

Qualifications

• Experience working with Indigenous communities, organizations, governments, and partners, with a strong understanding of Indigenous relations and reconciliation.
• At least 7 years of experience in investment opportunities, economic development, partnership development, major project development, or community-led development, including work involving Indigenous lands, communities, governments, organizations, or Indigenous-led entities.
• Post-secondary degree in a relevant discipline, such as business, public administration, Indigenous governance, economic development, planning, community development, or a related field, or an acceptable combination of education, training, and experience.
• Proven ability to build partnerships, advance strategic opportunities, and support investment and development projects.
• Strong communication, facilitation, research, and advisory skills, coupled with sound judgment and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments.

Salary Range: $120,336 to $150,420

AI will not be used in the candidate screening process.