Director, Indigenous Relations

EBC Inc.; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

5 weeks vacation

Insurance coverage

RRSP + DPSP

Telemedicine

Training & development

Employee assistance program

Wellness committee

Inclusive workplace

Best Managed Companies

Job summary

EBC Inc. is seeking a Director, Indigenous Relations to lead the nationwide Indigenous relations strategy, forging partnerships with Indigenous communities and supporting business development, preconstruction, and operations teams across Canada.

You will guide engagement, procurement, and consultation efforts—ensuring alignment with ESG commitments, growth objectives, and regulatory frameworks while promoting reconciliation across projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field.
• Minimum of 10 years in business development, government/community relations, or strategic partnerships.
• Proven experience building respectful, collaborative Indigenous relationships.
• Experience in construction, infrastructure, energy, or natural resources sectors.
• Strong knowledge of Indigenous rights, consultation, and engagement frameworks.
• Willingness to travel across Canada; eligible for federal security clearance.
• Bilingual English and French communication with partners nationwide.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement the company’s national Indigenous Relations strategy.
• Support business development and preconstruction with IPP integration.
• Develop frameworks for consultation, engagement, procurement, and partnerships.
• Represent EBC with Indigenous Nations, communities, and government stakeholders.
• Ensure alignment of Indigenous initiatives with ESG goals and growth objectives.
• Track and report on economic participation and partnership commitments.

Skills

Relationship-building

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Strategic leadership

Cultural awareness

Communication

Public affairs

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Economic Development, Public Affairs, Community Relations, Law or related

Job description

At EBC, we do more than build projects. We build careers, strong teams, and achievements that leave a lasting mark on Canada’s landscape. Every day our teams push the boundaries of what is possible, delivering large-scale projects on time and on budget, including the most ambitious ones. Behind this success are passionate, committed people who take pride in what they accomplish together.

From civil infrastructure and building construction to industrial and major civil projects, EBC offers opportunities that match your potential, with challenging and rewarding work across Canada.

This position may be based in Québec City, Montréal, Brossard, Ottawa, or Mississauga.

Key Responsibilities

The Director, Indigenous Relations is responsible for defining and implementing the company’s national Indigenous Relations strategy. As a strategic leader, this individual develops sustainable partnerships with Indigenous communities while supporting the business development, preconstruction, and operations teams in their consultation, economic participation, and community engagement efforts.

1. Business Development and Preconstruction

• Support Business Development teams in identifying, pursuing, and strengthening opportunities that involve Indigenous partners;
  
• Provide guidance to proposal teams in developing competitive and compliant Indigenous Participation Plans (IPPs) that align with client requirements and project objectives;
  
• Collaborate with Preconstruction teams to incorporate Indigenous perspectives, considerations, and engagement strategies from the earliest stages of project planning;
  
• Develop strategies that promote meaningful participation opportunities for Indigenous businesses, workers, suppliers, and service providers;
  
• Contribute to client presentations, qualification processes, and strategic proposals by integration Indigenous relations and partnership considerations.
  

2. Partnership Development and Community Engagement

• Establish and maintain trusted, long-term relationships with Indigenous Nations, communities, governing bodies, economic development organizations, and Indigenous-owned businesses;
  
• Develop frameworks and structured approaches to support consultation, community engagement, economic partnerships, procurement, and employment initiatives;
  
• Identify and advance opportunities for long-term collaboration and mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous communities and businesses;
  
• Represent the company in its interactions with Indigenous communities, organizations, governing bodies, and government stakeholders, fostering respectful and constructive relationships;
  
• Provide guidance and support to operational teams in their engagement and consultations with Indigenous communities and rights-holders affected by projects.
  

3. Corporate Governance, Leadership and Strategic Influence

• Develop, implement, and continuously evolve the company’s national Indigenous Relations strategy;
  
• Establish strategic priorities, objectives, and performance measures related to Indigenous initiatives and commitments;
  
• Advise senior leadership on strategic considerations, emerging issues, risks, and opportunities related to relationships with Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations;
  
• Ensure alignment between Indigenous Relations strategy and the organization’s ESG commitments, growth objectives, and operational prioritities;
  
• Champion leading practices in Indigenous engagement, consultation, partnership development, and procurement;
  
• Design and implement programs, policies, practices, training initiatives, and tools that support the integration of reconciliation principles across the organization’s operations and decision-making processes;
  
• Develop and maintain tracking, reporting, and accountability mechanisms related to Indigenous economic participation, partnership commitments, and corporate objectives.
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Engineering, Business Administration, Economic Development, Public Affairs, Community Relations, Law or a related discipline;
  
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in business development, government relations, community relations, or strategic partnerships;
  
• Demonstrated experience developing and sustaining respectful, collaborative relationships with Indigenous Nations, communities, organizations, and Indigenous-owned businesses;
  
• Experience in the construction, infrastructure, energy, or natural resources sector;
  
• Strong understanding of issues related to reconciliation and Indigenous rights, consultation, and engagement;
  
• Strong knowledge of the regulatory, legal, and policy frameworks relating to Indigenous rights, consultation, and engagement;
  
• Excellent relationship-building, negotiation, influencing, stakeholder management, and complex problem-solving skills;
  
• Ability to travel frequently across Canada, including remote areas;
  
• This position requires eligibility to obtain a federal security clearance;
  
• Bilingualism (English and French), given the need to collaborate effectively with internal and external partners across Canada.
  

Desired Profile

• Strategic leader with a strong ability to influence and build alignment;
  
• Proven ability to build and sustain trusted, long-term relationships with diverse stakeholders;
  
• High degree of political acumen and cultural awareness;
  
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong results orientation;
  
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and representation skills;
  
• Ability to thrive in complex and evolving environments;
  
• Collaborative, inclusive, and relationship-driven approach grounded in mutual respect;
  
• Genuine commitment to reconciliation and to building lasting relationships with Indigenous Peoples.
  

Conditions offered by EBC

• Competitive salary and advantageous bonus plan;
  
• 5 weeks of annual vacation;
  
• Flexible group insurance program upon entry;
  
• Group RRSP with employer contribution to a Deferred Profit-Sharing Plan (DPSP);
  
• 24-hour access to a virtual doctor (telemedicine);
  
• Training and development programs;
  
• Employee assistance program;
  
• Active social club and health and wellness committee;
  
• Diverse, innovative and stimulating environment;
  
• A company built on values of respect, integrity and a job well done;
  
• Firm recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies.
  

EBC welcomes applications from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis candidates and is committed to fostering an inclusive, culturally safe workplace.