Indigenous Business Lead - 0004T3

Posting Date: Aug 23, 2024, 11:21:40 AM

Primary Location: Ontario-Ottawa

Job Type: Permanent

Schedule: Full-time

Description

Export Development Canada (EDC) is a financial Crown corporation dedicated to helping Canadian businesses make an impact at home and abroad. EDC offers financial products and knowledge to help Canadian businesses confidently enter new markets, reduce financial risk, and grow their business.

When you join our team, you’ll be helping Canadian businesses learn the endless possibilities that open to them through export and help bring their vision, passion, and innovation to the world. Your knowledge and expertise will support more than 25,000 Canadian businesses and their customers in as many as 200 markets worldwide. You’ll work amongst the best and brightest in an inclusive, collaborative environment that fosters professional development and success. And you’ll know that you’re making an impact every day – for businesses, for Canada and for the people you work with.

Are you ready to make an impact? Join EDC, recognized as a Top 100 and Top Family-Friendly Employer, as we take on the risk so Canadian businesses can take on the world. #LI-Hybrid

Team & Job Overview:

Inclusive Trade is embedded in EDC’s strategic pillars in the promotion of responsible and inclusive business for all, leading to a more equitable and sustainable economy. We are committed to strengthening our impact by enabling more Canadian businesses owned and led by members of equity-seeking groups to realize their international growth potential with confidence. We are focused on removing barriers and ensuring our services and solutions are relevant and can be accessed by Canadian exporting businesses owned or led by women, Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized Canadians, people with disabilities, and those from the 2SLGBTQ community. EDC has set some bold goals to increase support for more diverse exporters so that they can share in the benefits and opportunities that flow from trade.

The Inclusive Trade team is accountable for implementing and evolving EDC’s strategy to strengthen and communicate our value proposition to help more Canadian companies owned and led by members of underserved groups. We build and manage relationships with like-minded partners including financial institutions, government and private organizations, to increase our reach and engagement, foster inclusive trade ecosystems and serve more diverse companies. The team develops and executes strategic initiatives, external stakeholder relations and strategic partnerships to ensure that more companies owned by equity-seeking groups can access EDC financial and non-financial products and services delivered with and through our partners.

As the Indigenous Business Lead, the successful candidate will represent and communicate with external audiences the support that EDC provides to underserved segments of the Canadian business landscape, with a focus on the Indigenous exporter community. The positive impacts will be realized when Indigenous businesses are better served and able to access the tools they need to grow and be successful. Ultimately, the EDC Indigenous Business Lead will serve the broader Indigenous community and open more doors and markets for Indigenous communities. This role is a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with a passionate and dedicated team, and colleagues across EDC, to build organizational knowledge and capabilities to deliver on the expected Inclusive Trade outcomes by increasing the number of indigenous companies served with EDC solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

External Stakeholder Relations:

• Develop and implement an Indigenous engagement strategy, including budget management and reporting, to advance EDC’s relationships with key Indigenous business organizations.

• Propose, and in collaboration with the broader team, manage outreach programs and activities, maintaining ongoing relations with external stakeholders and Indigenous community leaders, including business associations and financial institutions.

• Liaise with government partners and other public and private sector counterparts to build relationships and advance common objectives.

• Clearly communicate EDC’s commitment and support to a network of stakeholders, including government and media.

• Represent EDC corporately, providing thought leadership in the market, at the Board level, ESG council, etc.

Business Development:

• Collaborate with internal EDC teams to proactively engage with current and prospective Indigenous customers across all business segments, identifying and developing new opportunities.

• Build awareness and foster relationships to create conditions that encourage Indigenous companies to seek EDC solutions, resulting in lead generation.

• Offer advice and ecosystem navigation support to Indigenous businesses of all sizes.

• Support EDC transaction deal teams with deal memos, and transaction-relevant information to help ensure successful economic participation and outcomes for Indigenous Nations and communities.

• Understand Indigenous components of financing transactions and support engagement with Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners with whom EDC can work to facilitate access to capital for Indigenous businesses and community impact.

• Provide referrals to stakeholders and partners when appropriate and collaborate with them on deals involving Indigenous-owned businesses.

Internal Stakeholder Relations:

• Lead the development and organizational alignment of a near-term strategy and longer-term roadmap to improve accessibility and service relevance of EDC to Indigenous businesses.

• Support the creation and implementation of sustainable and effective policies and innovative financial and non-financial solutions that are tailored to Indigenous businesses.

• Serve as a liaison on Indigenous concerns, acting as a reference for internal briefing notes, research, reporting, market intelligence, thought leadership, training, communications, and general advice in the workplace, marketplace, and community. Able to draw from established networks to ensure accuracy across Indigenous cultural practices and knowledge.

• Gather and share market intelligence through interactions with the Indigenous business community.

• Understand the complexities of historic obstacles experienced by Indigenous peoples in Canada, including Human Rights principles, legislation, UNGP, UNDRIP, and FPIC.

Per EDC’s Special Hiring Policy for Underrepresented Groups, priority will be given to persons belonging to the following Underrepresented Group: Indigenous People.

For the purpose of this posting, an Indigenous Person is defined as a person who is a North American Indian or a member of a First Nation, Métis, or Inuit. North American Indians or members of a First Nation include status, treaty or registered Indians, as well as non-status and non-registered Indians. Those who identify as Indigenous are also included in this definition.

Screening Criteria:

• Demonstrated interest and understanding of Indigenous business issues and challenges.

• Demonstrated experience of no less than 10 combined years working in or with the Indigenous business community and a well-developed network within the ecosystem of organizations supporting and advancing Indigenous business in Canada.

• University degree in business, finance, economics, international relations, or a related area.

• Relationship Management and/or business development within financial services, or related experience.

• Experience in and/or or good knowledge of commercial and corporate lending, credit knowledge.

• Experience developing long-term strategies.

• Knowledge of best practices in sales and/or relationship management.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to establish and maintain good personal and public relations.

• Experience with managing budgets.

• Ability to meet travel requirements.

Assets:

• Strong connections with Indigenous communities through demonstrated volunteer or community work and participation in cultural activities.

• Good knowledge of EDC’s financial solutions.

• Bilingual in both official languages (English & French) and/or knowledge of any Indigenous language(s).

• Public speaking experience.

• Knowledge or experience in international business.

Don’t Think You Meet Every Requirement?

If you are passionate about EDC’s mission to support Canadian businesses globally, we encourage you to apply even if your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification.

Salary Range:

Business Development 19: Salaries are based on qualifications and experience and typically range from $120,000 - $164,268 plus a performance-based incentive.

Location:

• Export Development Canada is a hybrid work environment.

• This role may be performed from EDC’s headquarters in Ottawa, or from a Community Hub in Toronto/Mississauga, Montreal/Laval/Brossard, Calgary/Edmonton, Vancouver, or Halifax.

• Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates.

EDC's Commitment to Employment Equity:

EDC is committed to employment equity and achieving a diverse workforce. EDC actively encourages applications from women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and members of the 2SLGBTQI community. If selected for an interview, please advise us if you need any special accommodation.

How to apply

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. : Application deadline : Sep 20, 2024, 10:59:00 PM EDC is committed to employment equity and actively encourages applications from women, Aboriginal people, persons with disabilities and visible minorities. If selected for an interview, please advise us if you require special accommodation. Candidates must meet the requisite government security screening requirements. :

Req ID: 0004T3