Executive Director

Reports to: Board of Directors

Job-Type: Full-time (35hrs/week), permanent

Salary Range: $90,000-$115,000

Job Summary

The Executive Director (ED) is accountable to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the organization's consistent achievement of its mission and strategic objectives. The ED leads ACCFutures in advancing community economic development and strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Akwesasne, Cornwall, and SDG Counties, with a unique blend of English, French, bilingual, and Indigenous communities. The role ensures that ACCFutures delivers on the four core activities of the Community Futures Program (CF Program):

• strategic community planning and socio-economic development

• business services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

• access to capital for SMEs

• community-based projects and special initiatives

The ED positions ACCFutures as the backbone organization for entrepreneurial development, with a clear focus on creating and maintaining jobs, supporting business growth and innovation, and building a more diversified and resilient regional economy.

A core function of the role is to read, interpret, and use financial information to provide sound business guidance to entrepreneurs. The ED provides oversight of ACCFutures' lending programs while delegating day-to-day loan analysis and administration to designated staff. The ED ensures that programs align with CF Program outcomes, including loans, non-loan business services, job creation and maintenance, and broader community economic development efforts.

The ED ensures that ACCFutures' activities are fiscally responsible, compliant with funding agreements, and responsive to the needs and realities of rural, bilingual, and Indigenous communities. This position is designated bilingual and requires day-to-day service in both English and French.

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Core Competencies

Regional economic development leadership: Leads strategic community planning processes, convenes ecosystem partners, and uses data and stakeholder input to identify regional competitive advantages, growth opportunities, and gaps in the entrepreneurial support system. Positions the organization as a catalyst for collaborative economic development action.

Financial and analytical acumen: Reads, interprets, and analyzes financial statements and projections to provide credible business advice, assess business viability, and support loan-related decisions. Works comfortably with budgets, cash flow, and performance metrics.

Fiscal responsibility and risk management: Uses public funds prudently, maintains strong internal controls, and ensures compliance with contribution agreements, policies, and legislation. Identifies, assesses, and manages financial and operational risks.

Strategic and systems thinking: Connects organizational strategy, CF Program objectives, and local economic conditions. Aligns loans, advisory services, and community projects toward measurable outcomes such as business growth, jobs created and maintained, economic diversification, and strengthened regional competitiveness.

Governance and accountability: Works effectively with a volunteer Board of Directors, provides accurate and timely information, and supports strong governance and transparent decision-making.

Stakeholder and community engagement: Builds productive relationships with entrepreneurs, municipalities, Indigenous governments, chambers of commerce, educational institutions, innovation hubs, business accelerators, and ecosystem partners to strengthen the regional entrepreneurial environment and ensure coordinated, non-duplicative service delivery.

Bilingual communication and cultural awareness: Communicates clearly in English and French (oral and written). Adapts messages to different audiences and demonstrates awareness and respect for Indigenous communities and cultures.

Leadership and people management: Leads a small team, sets clear expectations, delegates effectively, and supports staff performance and development in a resource-constrained environment.

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Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership and Governance

• Work with the Board to develop, implement, and regularly update the organization's strategic plan, ensuring alignment with ACCFutures' mission, vision, values, and the CF Program mandate.

• Translate strategic objectives into annual business plans with clear priorities, budgets, and performance indicators, with particular emphasis on job creation and maintenance targets.

• Provide the Board with timely, accurate information on organizational performance, key risks, and emerging opportunities.

• Support effective Board governance through high-quality reports, clear recommendations, and compliance with Board policies and by-laws.

2. Community Economic Development and Ecosystem Building

• Lead the development and implementation of a regional economic development strategy based on sound data, stakeholder input, and identification of competitive advantages and growth opportunities.

• Lead ACCFutures' role in strategic community planning, including sector or cluster development, place-based initiatives, and community-based projects that strengthen the regional economy.

• Align ACCFutures' work with CF Program objectives, including:

i. promoting economic stability, growth, and job creation

ii. helping to build diversified and competitive rural economies

iii. supporting sustainable communities and strengthening local capacity to develop and implement local solutions

iv. supporting business innovation and adoption of new technologies to enhance competitiveness

• Identify and address gaps in the entrepreneurial support system to ensure businesses have access to the resources and expertise they need at each stage of development.

• Support Indigenous economic development priorities and business growth in partnership with Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and other Indigenous partners.

• Convene and collaborate with municipalities, Indigenous governments, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, post-secondary institutions, business accelerators, innovation hubs, and other partners to identify priorities and coordinate responses.

• Represent ACCFutures in regional, provincial, and federal forums related to rural development and entrepreneurship.

3. Business Services and Access to Capital (Oversight)

• Ensure the provision of high-quality business advisory services, training, and referrals to entrepreneurs at various stages (start-up, growth, transition, stabilization), with strategies designed to maximize job creation and retention.

• Maintain a strong working knowledge of small business financing and credit analysis sufficient to oversee a loan portfolio and support informed lending decisions, while delegating day-to-day loan analysis and administration to designated staff.

• Ensure that access to capital programs are designed and delivered to maximize job creation and retention, support business innovation and growth, and complement (not duplicate) other financing sources in the ecosystem.

• Support businesses to become investment-ready and facilitate connections to growth capital and other funding sources beyond ACCFutures' lending capacity.

• Ensure that lending and investment activities support CF Program objectives and are integrated with non-loan business services and community projects.

• Oversee the development and monitoring of portfolio-level risk indicators and performance metrics (e.g., portfolio quality, leverage, jobs created/maintained, businesses assisted).

• Ensure robust tracking and reporting of job creation and maintenance outcomes as the primary performance indicator for CF Program success.

4. Organizational Management and People Leadership

• Lead and manage staff, ensuring clear roles and responsibilities, appropriate workloads, and consistent performance management.

• Foster a workplace culture aligned with ACCFutures' values (courage, connection, creativity, community) while maintaining a strong focus on accountability, service quality, and results.

• Ensure effective internal systems, processes, and technology for client management, financial management, reporting, and data collection.

• Ensure compliance with employment standards, occupational health and safety, human rights, privacy, and other relevant legislation.

5. Finance, Risk Management, and Compliance

• Prepare and manage annual operating and capital budgets in collaboration with staff and the Board.

• Monitor financial performance regularly, provide accurate financial reports, and take corrective action where needed.

• Maintain and improve internal financial controls, including appropriate segregation of duties, approval authorities, and documentation.

• Identify and manage financial, operational, legal, and reputational risks.

• Ensure compliance with all funding agreements (including CF Program agreements), organizational policies, and applicable laws and regulations.

6. Funding, Partnerships, and Communications

• Build and maintain strong relationships with FedDev Ontario and other funders, financial institutions, Indigenous partners, municipalities, and community organizations.

• Identify and pursue funding opportunities that complement the CF Program and support ACCFutures' strategic priorities.

• Oversee the preparation of funding proposals, business cases, and required reports.

• Serve as the primary spokesperson for ACCFutures, ensuring clear, accurate, and bilingual communication of programs, services, and results.

• Support outreach and marketing efforts so that entrepreneurs and partners across the region are aware of ACCFutures' services.

7. Other

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Board and consistent with the role of Executive Director.

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Education

University degree in business, economics, finance, public administration, community economic development, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience.

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Experience

• Minimum 7–10 years of senior leadership experience in a not-for-profit, economic development, financial, or public-sector organization.

• Demonstrated experience in community economic development, regional development, or place-based economic strategy.

• Experience working with entrepreneurs, SMEs, or business support organizations, ideally in rural and/or Indigenous contexts.

• Experience working collaboratively with Indigenous governments and communities on economic development initiatives.

• Proven experience in budgeting, financial management, and interpreting financial statements.

• Experience working with or reporting to a volunteer Board of Directors.

• Experience building partnerships and leading multi-stakeholder projects.

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Knowledge and Skills

• Strong ability to read and interpret financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow) and to translate this information into practical advice for entrepreneurs.

• Working knowledge of small business financing, including basic credit analysis, risk indicators, and portfolio-level considerations.

• Knowledge of the Community Futures Program, including its four key activity areas (strategic community planning, business services for SMEs, access to capital, and community-based projects) and its performance focus on rural business growth, jobs created/maintained, and community economic diversification.

• Understanding of economic diversification strategies and innovation trends relevant to rural economies.

• Understanding of the needs and barriers of entrepreneurs in rural, bilingual, and Indigenous communities.

• Strong strategic planning, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking and presentation abilities.

• Ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, Indigenous governments, municipalities, financial institutions, funders, and community organizations.

• High level of integrity, confidentiality, diplomacy, and sound judgment.

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Language Requirements

Fully bilingual in English and French (oral and written) at a CBC (Bilingual) level or equivalent is required.

Candidates must provide proof of bilingual proficiency through a recognized assessment (e.g., Government of Canada second-language evaluation at CBC level or higher, standardized language test, or equivalent post-secondary credential) or agree to undergo an independent language assessment prior to appointment.

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Working Conditions

• Full-time position based at ACCFutures' office in Cornwall, Ontario, with a hybrid work arrangement combining in-person and remote work.

• Regular work with partners and clients across Akwesasne, Cornwall, and SDG Counties, primarily through virtual meetings; occasional in-person travel within the region may be required.

• Occasional early morning, evening, or weekend commitments for Board meetings, community events, or partner activities.

• Frequent use of computers and standard office equipment in both office and home-office environments.

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We are accepting Job Applications until Friday, December 12 at 4:00PM.

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End.

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