Executive Director

Edmonton Global; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Edmonton Regional Hydrogen Hub is seeking an experienced Executive Director to lead strategic and operational activities, strengthening relationships among industry, government, investors and Indigenous partners. You will translate regional hydrogen strengths into market-ready projects and investment opportunities, driving commercial outcomes in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region.

The role requires navigating complex stakeholder groups, pursuing funding, and communicating the region’s hydrogen

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level education required; graduate degree preferred.
• Experience in economic development, energy transition, or commercialization is a plus.
• Strong relationship-building with diverse stakeholders is essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with key partners and stakeholders.
• Identify sustainability and funding opportunities for hydrogen hub initiatives.
• Lead a small team to advance focus areas and partnerships.
• Convene partner tables and coordinate project teams for hydrogen opportunities.
• Share market intelligence and coordinate regional policy positions.

Skills

Executive leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Business development

Investment attraction

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Public Policy, Engineering, International Relations, Commerce or related field

Graduate degree or equivalent senior-level experience in economic development, energy transition or commercialization

Job description

The Edmonton Region is a global leader in hydrogen production and use, and the Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub has been a catalyst in growing the use of hydrogen across the Edmonton region. The Hub is a partnership consisting of the Alberta Industrial Heartland Association (AIHA), the Edmonton International Airport, Alberta Innovates and Edmonton Global. Soon to enter its sixth year of operation, the Hub continues to provide leadership and build momentum that will result in additional investment, business growth, international partnerships, and long-term economic opportunity. As one of the region’s most important opportunities, the Hub is seeking an experienced, commercially minded leader who can help turn regional hydrogen potential into long-term investment, sustainable partnerships and practical results.

As the Executive Director, you will provide leadership for the Hub’s activities. You will work with businesses, governments, investors, Indigenous partners, municipalities, industry leaders, post-secondary institutions, and regional organizations to help grow demand for hydrogen and catalyze hydrogen-related economic development opportunities across the Edmonton Metropolitan Region.

This is a highly visible leadership role for someone who enjoys building executive relationships, leading teams, creating commercial opportunities, aligning complex partner groups, and moving big ideas from discussion to decision. One day you may be working with investors or companies to advance a hydrogen opportunity; another day you may be briefing senior leaders, convening Hub partners, pursuing funding or sponsorship opportunities, preparing market intelligence, or helping remove barriers to investment and commercialization.

WHY JOIN THE HUB?

This is an opportunity to help shape one of the Edmonton Region’s most significant economic development opportunities. You will work directly with senior executives, innovative companies, industry leaders, municipalities, governments, investors, Indigenous partners, post-secondary institutions, and global partners to create meaningful economic outcomes.

Hub partners are looking for strong leaders that are empowered to take ownership, build relationships, create solutions, and see the direct impact of their work across the region. We value collaboration, transparency, continuous improvement, and a culture where people are trusted to lead and innovate.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Hub’s Executive team (AIHA, Edmonton Global, Edmonton International Airport and Alberta Innovates executive leadership), the Executive Director provides strategic and operational leadership for the Hub’s project portfolio and supports the continued evolution of the Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub. The role is recognized by external stakeholders as a credible and trusted leader who can communicate the region’s potential to domestic and global audiences. The role is responsible for translating regional hydrogen strengths into market-ready projects, partnerships, investment leads, commercial opportunities, and measurable economic outcomes.

The Executive Director will carry out a mandate to drive to commercial-scale opportunities that result in increased hydrogen demand and drive further investment, economic development and environmental benefits.

The role works closely with teams from partner organizations and with municipalities within the region and other hubs within Canada. The Executive Director will help companies, investors, and partners navigate the hydrogen ecosystem, access regional supports, understand market opportunities, and advance commercially viable hydrogen activity.

This position will involve occasional travel within Canada and internationally, as well as participation in conferences, stakeholder events, partner meetings, industrial site visits, and meetings outside regular business hours when required.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with industry, investors, governments, Indigenous partners, municipalities, Alberta Industrial Heartland Association, Edmonton International Airport, Alberta Innovates, the City of Edmonton, post-secondary institutions, and other regional organizations.


• Identify sustainability opportunities for the Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub, including partner funding, sponsorship, grants, fee-for-service research or convening project-specific funding, and other commercial models.


• Lead a small team of internal staff and consultants that are advancing key focus areas (e.g. commercial transportation, infrastructure) and working with partners and stakeholders to accelerate hydrogen adoption.


• Create customized solutions for companies, investors, and partners to help them navigate the regional ecosystem, access required supports and advance commercially viable hydrogen activity.


• Convene partner tables, working groups, and project teams to support system coordination, advocacy, communications, demand development, and hydrogen use cases related to movement, storage, and end use.


• Gather, interpret, and share market intelligence related to hydrogen demand, production, transportation, storage, end-use cases, technologies, regulation, incentives, funding programs, and investor requirements.


• Coordinate regional policy positions and advocacy materials that support investment, demand creation, infrastructure development, public awareness, and commercialization.


• Manage program priorities, project budgets, partner deliverables, consultants, and working group activity to ensure work is delivered on time, within approved resources, and to expected standards.


• Track and report on practical KPIs, including companies investing or considering investment in the region, total value of investments, jobs created, new partnerships, champions engaged, public awareness activities, inbound and outbound missions, and project milestones.


• Support the negotiation, development, and management of agreements, memoranda of understanding, partner commitments, project plans, funding proposals, and commercially relevant initiatives.

WHAT YOU BRING

• A bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Public Policy, Engineering, International Relations, Commerce or a related field. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.


• A graduate degree or equivalent senior-level experience in economic development, energy transition, business development, public policy, investment attraction, or commercialization is preferred.


• 8-10 years of progressively senior experience in economic development, energy, cleantech, investment attraction, business development, commercialization, government relations, stakeholder relations, public policy, or a related field.


• 5+ years of senior leadership experience, including leading complex cross-sector initiatives, managing consultants or project teams, and advising executive stakeholders.


• Demonstrated experience developing partnerships, investment leads, commercial opportunities, funding models, or revenue-generating initiatives.


• Experience working with industry, government, academic institutions, Indigenous communities, investors, and regional economic development partners.


• Strong understanding of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region and Alberta’s energy, hydrogen, industrial, research, technology, and business ecosystems.


• Strong business development and investment attraction pipeline management skills.


• Exceptional executive relationship-building, communication, presentation, negotiation, consensus-building, and stakeholder engagement skills.


• Strong analytical ability and comfort interpreting market, policy, technical, financial, and stakeholder information.


• Experience with strategic planning, implementation, budgeting, reporting, and performance measurement.


• Ability to influence without direct authority and align partners around shared regional outcomes.


• A valid driver’s licence in good standing and a valid passport, as regional, national, and international travel may be required.


• Additional language capabilities, energy-related credentials, economic development credentials, project management training, or business development credentials are considered assets.

WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK HERE

The Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub is a purpose-driven organization with a regional mandate and a collaborative culture. We move at the speed of business, embrace innovation, and are committed to helping businesses succeed in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region and beyond.

This role is ideal for a connector, strategist, and commercial builder who wants to have a meaningful impact on regional economic growth. You will work with ambitious companies, influential stakeholders, investors, governments, and global partners while helping shape the future of hydrogen investment and commercialization for our region.

ABOUT THE HUB

The HUB is a collaborative initiative between Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, Edmonton Global, the Edmonton International Airport and the Alberta Innovates Hydrogen Centre of Excellence. We are committed to building a robust and globally competitive hydrogen economy in the Edmonton region. By aligning industry, municipalities, Indigenous partners, academia, and government, we are focused on accelerating the deployment of hydrogen technologies and infrastructure that will enable decarbonization across sectors, stimulate investment, and support clean economic growth in Alberta.

JOIN US

If you are passionate about energy transition, investment attraction, commercial opportunity development, and regional economic growth, we would love to hear from you.

Join us in building partnerships, creating opportunities, and helping the Edmonton Metropolitan Region lead the next chapter of the hydrogen economy.