Vice President, Partnerships

Location: Flexible within Canada. Candidates based in Northern communities are encouraged to apply. Travel to projects sites in Northern communities is required.
Type: Full-Time, Executive leadership

Arctic Economic Development Corporation (AEDC)

AEDC is Canada’s dedicated Arctic infrastructure and logistics services provider. A federally incorporated entity registered in all three Northern territories; it solves problems for visionary clients committed to getting big things done in the Arctic.

AECD generates significant economic value for its clients, Indigenous partners, contracting companies, and investors through broad capabilities, world-class quality standards, Indigenous participation, low-cost solutions, and rapid delivery.

Through collaborative delivery models, AEDC will accelerate projects such as transportation corridors, marine services including icebreakers, satellite communication, warehouses, clean energy, strategic construction projects, while also developing project finance capabilities. AEDC’s model provides a strategic vision for Arctic development— that is then executed through in-house capabilities & expertise, along with a diversified contractor pool drawn from across Canada and allied nations.

AEDC was founded to address the persistent gap between vision and execution in the North, where promising ideas often stall before becoming reality. The company works with partners to build comprehensive infrastructure solutions across the Arctic.

Role Summary

AECD is seeking a relationship building, commercial, solutions oriented executive leader to join its team.

As Vice-President, Partnerships you will perform a senior leadership role focused on building, maintaining, and deepening relationships with Indigenous governments, development corporations, strategic corporate partnerships, community organizations, and public sector partners across Canada’s North.

You will ensure that our projects are rooted in trust, collaboration, and mutual benefit. This role will also support the company’s strategic objectives by shaping Indigenous ownership models, joint ventures, combine with a delivery ethos and a focus on achieving results.

Key Responsibilities

Partnership Development

  • Represent AECD externally, establish strategic partnerships with companies, regional development corporations, Indigenous businesses, and public sector stakeholders
  • Identify, pursue, and help structure partnerships with companies that can serve as AECD operating partners (e.g., construction firms, service providers, technology suppliers)
  • Support the negotiation of partnership agreements and memoranda of understanding
  • Advance structuring of Indigenous joint ventures, equity partnerships, and co-investment strategies

Indigenous Relationship Building

  • Cultivate respectful, long-term relationships with Indigenous businesses, corporations, governments, organizations, and community leaders
  • Serve as the company’s primary liaison on Indigenous partnerships throughout the project lifecycle
  • Co-develop community benefit frameworks, employment and training plans, and procurement opportunities

Project Support

  • Collaborate across the AECD team to ensure Indigenous engagement is embedded in early planning, permitting, and design
  • Guide consultation processes and alignment with regulatory expectations

Institutional Engagement

  • Develop relationships with relevant agencies, development financial institutions, and infrastructure investors
  • Support alignment with Indigenous-specific infrastructure programs and federal/territorial funding streams
  • Represent the company in multi-stakeholder forums

Internal Leadership

  • Provide senior-level advice on Indigenous governance, policy risks, and partnership dynamics
  • Advise internal teams on cultural competency, protocols, and community dynamics
  • Contribute to company-wide strategy, ESG performance, and impact measurement

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in Indigenous engagement, economic development, and/or infrastructure partnership roles
  • Proven ability to structure commercial and/or community partnerships, ideally in an infrastructure or resource development context
  • Familiarity with Indigenous governance structures, land claims, and regional dynamics across Canada’s North
  • Strong understanding of regulatory and policy frameworks related to Indigenous rights, consultation, and economic reconciliation
  • Skilled communicator and relationship-builder with high cultural sensitivity
  • Strong grasp of government programs, consultation frameworks, and investment models
  • Knowledge of northern logistics, Arctic development challenges, or remote capital delivery models is an asset

AEDC strongly encourages applications from Inuit candidates, other Indigenous peoples, and Northern residents.

Compensation

A competitive executive compensation package will be provided, including performance incentives. This is a rare opportunity to shape high-impact partnerships and build infrastructure that delivers lasting value across Canada’s North.

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