Enable job alerts via email!
Managing Director
Small Economy Works
Canada
Remote
CAD 95,000 - 120,000
Full time
Generate a tailored resume in minutes
Land an interview and earn more. Learn more
Job summary
A leading nonprofit organization is seeking a Managing Director to bridge community vision with operational excellence. This executive role involves overseeing significant projects, managing diverse teams, and forging strategic partnerships. The candidate will thrive in dynamic environments and drive organizational growth aligned with Indigenous world-views and relational accountability.
Benefits
Qualifications
- Minimum 5–10 years in senior operations or program management.
- Demonstrated responsibility for projects exceeding one million dollars.
- Ability to build respectful relationships across Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners.
Responsibilities
- Oversee multi-million-dollar projects funded by federal and territorial partners.
- Supervise a team managing operations, finance, and communications.
- Identify and secure new funding streams and develop strategic alliances.
Skills
Education
Job description
Direct message the job poster from Small Economy Works
Location: Yukon, NWT, Nunavut, Northern Provinces preferred (remote within Canada considered) with 30% travel across Canada
Reports to: CEO
Start Date: August-September 2025
Salary Range: $95,000-$120,000 based on Experience and Location, adjusted for regional cost of living plus full benefits
About Small Economy Works
Small Economy Works (SEW) exists to help small communities thrive economically, culturally, and socially. We design and deliver entrepreneurial training, youth employment programs, social innovation projects, and AI-supported e-learning, all grounded in deep respect for Indigenous knowledge systems and local priorities.
Our approach is community-rooted, land-based, and healing-informed. We weave deep human centered training with traditional knowledge and cutting-edge digital tools to create safe spaces where culture, connection, and community flourish together. We believe that people – especially in rural, remote, and Northern communities – have the power to lead positive change when equipped with entrepreneurial mindsets and skills.
Our programs span Northern and Indigenous entrepreneurship, employment training, public sector innovation, and AI-powered education. We currently operate across Nunavut, NWT, Yukon, Labrador and Nova Scotia in partnership with Indigenous governments, post-secondary institutions, and development corporations. We are exploring partnerships in Northern Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Our participants include youth, early-career professionals, emerging entrepreneurs, and community leaders.
Our stakeholders come from many walks of life: emerging entrepreneurs, early-career professionals, youth leaders, and community champions who believe business can be a vehicle for collective well-being.
Signature initiatives such as Inspire and Initiate demonstrate strong completion and venture-launch rates. Building on this momentum, SEW is adding a national micro-grants platform, partnering with the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and collaborating with Tamarack Institute to scale place-based solutions across the country.
About the Managing Director Role
As Managing Director, you will be the organizational bridge between community vision and operational excellence grounding strategy in Indigenous world-views, relational accountability, and practical action.
You will:
- Oversee complex, multi-million-dollar projects funded by federal and territorial partners, ensuring compliance and impact
- Supervise a team of experienced managers who lead program delivery, operations, finance, and communications
- Represent SEW in national forums, Indigenous government meetings, academic partnerships, and funder discussions
- Identify and secure new funding streams, develop strategic alliances, and help chart SEW’s next stage of growth
You thrive in dynamic environments, balance grassroots relationships with government protocols, and are equally comfortable pitching a multi-year partnership or rolling up your sleeves to edit a proposal.
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
Organizational Leadership & Team Management
- Lead and coach 3 – 5 managers who oversee regional program teams, finance and operations, curriculum and e-learning, and communications
- Build team cohesion across timezones, establish clear performance expectations, and support HR processes including hiring, training, and performance reviews
- Identify internal capacity needs and support restructuring or recruitment as needed
- Track external consultants ensuring all workplans align and work is being conducted in the most cost effective,
- Maintain a culture of accountability, learning, and respect across diverse teams and regions
- Serve as a liaison between internal delivery teams and external partners, including Indigenous governments, academic institutions, and funders
- Negotiate memoranda of understanding, contribution agreements, and fee-for-service contracts that align with SEW’s mission Represent SEW in operational-level partner discussions
- Ensure new initiatives, including those involving digital learning, AI tools, and systems design - are integrated thoughtfully and responsibly into the organization’s work
Strategic Planning
- Co-create and implement SEW’s rolling three-year strategic plan, translating broad objectives into measurable milestones and budgets
- Plan project needs and assign resources (planning, scheduling, monitoring and reporting).
- Guide an ongoing brand-refresh process, ensuring that all communications reflect SEW’s values and speak consistently to partners and participants
- Maintain a living theory of change, tracking key performance indicators for community impact, participant success, and organizational sustainability
Financial & Operations Oversight
- Oversee organizational and program budgeting processes in collaboration with operations and program staff and the external accounting team
- Ensure financial forecasts, salary recovery strategies, and cost controls are in place and monitored regularly
- Serve as the main operational point of contact for funders, coordinating narrative reports, financial claims, and site visits
- Oversee risk management for travel, youth safety, data privacy, and contractual obligations
- Communicate project plans clearly, aligning staff and partners around shared goals, roles, and timelines
- Hold regular one-on-one meetings with each manager, providing coaching, feedback, and pastoral care
- Identify cross-program insights, break down silos, and foster whole-organization sense-making
- Intervene early to address internal tensions, modelling restorative dialogue and mutual respect
Location: Yukon, NWT, Nunavut, Northern Provinces preferred (remote within Canada considered) with 30% travel across Canada
Reports to: CEO
Start Date: August-September 2025
Salary Range: $95,000-$120,000 based on Experience and Location, adjusted for regional cost of living plus full benefits
About Small Economy Works
Small Economy Works (SEW) exists to help small communities thrive economically, culturally, and socially. We design and deliver entrepreneurial training, youth employment programs, social innovation projects, and AI-supported e-learning, all grounded in deep respect for Indigenous knowledge systems and local priorities.
Our approach is community-rooted, land-based, and healing-informed. We weave deep human centered training with traditional knowledge and cutting-edge digital tools to create safe spaces where culture, connection, and community flourish together. We believe that people – especially in rural, remote, and Northern communities – have the power to lead positive change when equipped with entrepreneurial mindsets and skills.
Our programs span Northern and Indigenous entrepreneurship, employment training, public sector innovation, and AI-powered education. We currently operate across Nunavut, NWT, Yukon, Labrador and Nova Scotia in partnership with Indigenous governments, post-secondary institutions, and development corporations. We are exploring partnerships in Northern Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Our participants include youth, early-career professionals, emerging entrepreneurs, and community leaders.
Our stakeholders come from many walks of life: emerging entrepreneurs, early-career professionals, youth leaders, and community champions who believe business can be a vehicle for collective well-being.
Signature initiatives such as Inspire and Initiate demonstrate strong completion and venture-launch rates. Building on this momentum, SEW is adding a national micro-grants platform, partnering with the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and collaborating with Tamarack Institute to scale place-based solutions across the country.
About the Managing Director Role
As Managing Director, you will be the organizational bridge between community vision and operational excellence grounding strategy in Indigenous world-views, relational accountability, and practical action.
You will:
- Oversee complex, multi-million-dollar projects funded by federal and territorial partners, ensuring compliance and impact
- Supervise a team of experienced managers who lead program delivery, operations, finance, and communications
- Represent SEW in national forums, Indigenous government meetings, academic partnerships, and funder discussions
- Identify and secure new funding streams, develop strategic alliances, and help chart SEW’s next stage of growth
You thrive in dynamic environments, balance grassroots relationships with government protocols, and are equally comfortable pitching a multi-year partnership or rolling up your sleeves to edit a proposal.
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
Organizational Leadership & Team Management
- Lead and coach 3 – 5 managers who oversee regional program teams, finance and operations, curriculum and e-learning, and communications
- Build team cohesion across timezones, establish clear performance expectations, and support HR processes including hiring, training, and performance reviews
- Identify internal capacity needs and support restructuring or recruitment as needed
- Track external consultants ensuring all workplans align and work is being conducted in the most cost effective,
- Maintain a culture of accountability, learning, and respect across diverse teams and regions
Partnerships & Innovation
- Serve as a liaison between internal delivery teams and external partners, including Indigenous governments, academic institutions, and funders
- Negotiate memoranda of understanding, contribution agreements, and fee-for-service contracts that align with SEW’s mission Represent SEW in operational-level partner discussions
- Ensure new initiatives, including those involving digital learning, AI tools, and systems design - are integrated thoughtfully and responsibly into the organization’s work
Strategic Planning
- Co-create and implement SEW’s rolling three-year strategic plan, translating broad objectives into measurable milestones and budgets
- Plan project needs and assign resources (planning, scheduling, monitoring and reporting).
- Guide an ongoing brand-refresh process, ensuring that all communications reflect SEW’s values and speak consistently to partners and participants
- Maintain a living theory of change, tracking key performance indicators for community impact, participant success, and organizational sustainability
Financial & Operations Oversight
- Oversee organizational and program budgeting processes in collaboration with operations and program staff and the external accounting team
- Ensure financial forecasts, salary recovery strategies, and cost controls are in place and monitored regularly
- Serve as the main operational point of contact for funders, coordinating narrative reports, financial claims, and site visits
- Oversee risk management for travel, youth safety, data privacy, and contractual obligations
Team Cohesion & Culture
- Communicate project plans clearly, aligning staff and partners around shared goals, roles, and timelines
- Hold regular one-on-one meetings with each manager, providing coaching, feedback, and pastoral care
- Identify cross-program insights, break down silos, and foster whole-organization sense-making
- Intervene early to address internal tensions, modelling restorative dialogue and mutual respect
Required Experience:
- Minimum 5–10 years in senior operations, program management, or organizational leadership
- Demonstrated responsibility for multi-stakeholder, government-funded initiatives exceeding one million dollars annually
- Grant writing experience and history of securing revenue for a mission driven organization
- Solid grasp of financial management, HR processes, compliance requirements, and remote team dynamics
- Cultural humility and proven ability to build respectful relationships across Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners
Preferred:
- Lived experience in Northern and Indigenous communities
- Background in economic development, education innovation, workforce training, or social enterprise
- Familiarity with digital tools, e-learning platforms, or data-informed program design
- Experience with supporting youth who face barriers such as mental health challenges, poverty and or community violence
- Competitive salary and benefits, with professional development opportunities
- Flexible work environment grounded in purpose, integrity, and collaboration
- Experience travel across Canada’s Northern provinces and territories
- Opportunity to play a leading role in scaling a nationally recognized organization at the intersection of community, innovation, and systems change
We strongly encourage First Nations, Inuit and Métis candidates to apply. We also welcome allied candidates with deep, demonstrated experience in community-rooted leadership. We are committed to equity in hiring and respectful partnership in all aspects of our work.
To apply, please apply through the link on our website and alongside your resume, please include a cover letter that tells us what interests you about this role and our organization.
Apply by July 24th at Midnight. SEW hopes to have the successful Candidate start in the role by September 2nd, 2025 at the latest.
- Seniority levelExecutive
- Employment typeFull-time
- Job functionBusiness Development and Sales
- IndustriesEducation Administration Programs
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Small Economy Works by 2x
Get notified about new Managing Director jobs in Canada.
New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada 3 months ago
We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
job faster
Follow us
