Senior Associate, Indigenous Economic Development

Company Description

Axxcelus is an advisory firm based in Calgary, Alberta that works with Indigenous communities and governments, industry, and public-sector organizations across Western Canada. Our work spans economic development, governance, partnerships, and major project equity participation.

Role Description

Axxcelus is hiring a permanent, full-time Senior Associate to join our team in Calgary to support advisory engagements for Indigenous communities and governments, industry, and public-sector clients. Our work includes Indigenous economic development and governance, partnerships with industry, major-project participation programs, and community ownership and investment opportunities.

You will lead assigned workstreams from planning through to draft reports and recommendations. You will work directly with clients, coordinate project activities, and prepare analysis and written materials with direction and review from the senior team.

Responsibilities

• Assess governance, administration, and business operations through document review, interviews, and engagement sessions with community leadership, staff, and leaders of community-owned businesses. Help clients put agreed recommendations into practice.
• Review financial statements, budgets, business plans, and operational information. Explain the findings and identify risks, gaps, and questions that need further investigation.
• Support Indigenous–industry partnerships, including joint ventures, contracting and employment arrangements, and equity participation. Maintain working files, track outstanding agreement issues, update existing models and schedules, and prepare plain-language briefings.
• Help communities evaluate ownership and investment opportunities, including groups of Indigenous communities working together. Collect due diligence materials, summarize risks and outstanding questions, and coordinate information requests with lenders, government funding programs, and technical advisors.
• Help industry and government clients design and deliver Indigenous procurement, employment, and engagement programs for major projects.
• Plan and facilitate engagement sessions with Indigenous communities, industry, and government. Document discussions, commitments, and follow-up actions, and maintain records that meet applicable project and reporting requirements.
• Manage schedules and day-to-day coordination for assigned workstreams. Prepare reports, presentations, business cases, and recommendations for community leadership, boards, and executive audiences.
• Contribute to proposals and business development, and help improve the firm’s methods, templates, and AI-enabled workflows.

Qualifications

• 3+ of relevant experience in advisory, consulting, finance, public administration, or Indigenous economic development
• Experience working with Indigenous communities, governments, or businesses, and working in community.
• Demonstrated ability to use AI tools as a core part of how you work: framing a problem so the tool produces useful output, checking that output against sources, and building repeatable workflows
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to read and interpret financial statements, budgets, and organizational information.
• Working knowledge of how partnerships between Indigenous communities and industry are structured, including joint ventures, contracting arrangements, and equity participation.
• Familiarity with Indigenous governance structures, including the respective roles of community leadership, administration, and community-owned businesses.
• A relevant degree or professional designation is an asset.
• Willingness to travel regularly within Alberta and British Columbia. A valid driver's licence is required.

The Role

• Based in Calgary or Edmonton, with hybrid arrangements. Preference for Calgary Candidates
• Field work is required, up to 20% travel
• Competitive base salary, experience dependent
• Annual performance bonus and paid vacation
• Travel expenses reimbursed at cost
• Benefits provided after 3-month probationary period.

To Apply

Send your resume and a short cover letter to info@axxcelus.ca with "Senior Associate" in the subject line. Applications are reviewed as they arrive. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.