Director, Edmonton Community Development Company (ECDC)

The Organization

Established in 2017 as a partnership between the Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF), Homeward Trust and the United Way and supported by land investments from the City of Edmonton, the Edmonton Community Development Company (ECDC) seeks to help communities invest in themselves through community engagement and redevelopment. We are seeking an experienced and visionary professional to join our leadership team as Director, Edmonton Community Development Company.

The Opportunity

Over the past eight months, ECDC has conducted extensive community, interest-holder and Board engagement to develop a renewed mandate focused on collaboration with municipal leaders and communities to build essential social infrastructure for community economic benefit. The new Director will be charged with developing the strategy to help bring this mandate to life.

The Director and their team are ECF staff members contracted to provide operational services to ECDC. Reporting to the ECF Vice President of Community Impact and the ECDC Board of Directors, the Director is responsible for leading overall organizational strategy and managing day-to-day operations, as well as supporting the Board of Directors and Shareholders to ensure effective governance of the organization.

Key Roles & Responsibilities: 

• Strategy Development & Execution:
  • Partner with the Board and shareholders in developing the strategic plan that brings the new organizational mandate to life.
  • Develop strategic partnerships that will bring innovation, funding (project and operational) and other resources to the ECDC.
  • Build a strategy to conduct asset mapping with partners to identify social infrastructure gaps and opportunities .
  • Determine the staffing and resourcing requirements needed to fulfill the organization’s mandate.
  • Stay abreast of Community Economic Development trends and their potential for local applications.

• Community Engagement & Relationship Development:
  • Develop and implement effective approaches to gather community input and create and execute community economic development plans collaboratively with communities.
  • Serve as primary spokesperson for the ECDC by communicating the vision to communities and other stakeholders.
  • Continue to build awareness and understanding of ECDC in Edmonton.
  • Develop and foster relationships with key interest-holders and potential partners such as the City of Edmonton, Business Improvement Area leaders, Community Leagues and more.

• Operations and Administration:
  • Provide leadership in project development, project management, organizational and financial plans with the Board of Directors and staff and implement plans and policies.
  • Support all aspects of human resource management. Identify and implement staffing and contracting requirements for efficient operations, maintaining a strong culture and work climate that attracts and retains staff and drives the organization’s mandate.
  • Maintain the fiscal integrity and financial stability. This includes submitting a proposed annual budget to the Board and quarterly financial reports that accurately reflect the financial condition of the organization.
  • Research, secure and manage funding including grants, loans, contracts and co-funding agreements.
  • Maintain official records and documents and ensure compliance with funding requirements, federal, provincial and municipal regulations.

The Ideal Candidate

As the ideal candidate, you will possess the following qualifications:

• University Degree in Community Development, Urban Planning, Business Administration or related field.
• A minimum of 8 years progressively responsible experience in urban planning, economic development, community development and development financing including a minimum of 6 years leadership and management experience. Equivalent combinations of related post-secondary and work experience will be considered.
• Formal training in Community Economic Development (CED) is preferred.
• Experience in non-profit management and community engagement with members of diverse communities.

A proven track record in designing and managing innovative approaches to support community engagement and economic development.

Additional requirements include:

• Excellent leadership, communication, relationship and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with demonstrated experience in program design, development, and implementation.
• Business and financial acumen including experience with project, budget, and risk management.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills, ensuring clear communication and active engagement.
• Experience with infrastructure development projects such as residential or commercial real-estate is an asset.
• Understanding of social finance, social enterprise models, impact measurement, and sustainable business practices.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and adapt to change in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven capacity to coach, mentor and support others to enhance their development, performance and success.
• A passion for driving positive social change and supporting underserved communities in Edmonton.

If you have all these qualities and love the opportunity to be part of an organization that truly makes a difference, we would like to hear from you!

What we Offer  

We value diversity, equity, and inclusion and welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We also offer a competitive salary and benefits package, professional development opportunities and a supportive work environment including:

• A 35-hour standard work week.
• Downtown work location with free parking available.
• Extended Health, Dental and Short/Long Term Disability Benefits, Life Insurance and a Health Spending Account.
• A 9% contribution to our group RRSP.

How to Apply 

We’re excited to partner with Involvi Human Resources! This Edmonton-based firm is assisting us in our search for top talent.  To apply, send your cover letter and resume to Recruitment@involvi.ca. 

This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.