ABOUT CHOWETHEL PROJECTS

Chowethel Projects Ltd. is the economic development corporation of Chawathil First Nation. Its purpose is to generate sustainable economic growth and employment opportunities that reflect and support the Nation’s values, culture, and long-term vision for self-reliance. Through responsible investment, strategic partnerships, and community-aligned business ventures, Chowethel Projects drives initiatives that benefit current and future generations. The corporation exists to create meaningful economic opportunities that honour the spirit and values of Chawathil while advancing prosperity, training, and employment for members. Building on community feedback, and recent land use and economic studies, Chowethel Projects will pursue projects that reflect members’ expressed interests in tourism, hospitality, cultural enterprises, retail, and entrepreneurship support. This includes supporting member owned businesses, encouraging local entrepreneurship, and pursuing partnerships that create sustainable careers while strengthening the Nation’s economic independence.

ABOUT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and growth of Chowethel Projects Ltd. The CEO provides strategic and operational direction, oversees business performance, and builds strong, positive relationships with industry, government, and community partners, while ensuring all activities align with the vision and values of Chawathil First Nation. This role requires a highly relational, community facing leader who is visible, approachable, and genuinely enjoyable to work with. Someone who engages people easily, brings positive energy into the room, and builds trust through authenticity, presence, and follow through. While credibility and sound judgment are essential, success in this role also depends on warmth, approachability, and the ability to connect with people in a natural and genuine way.

The CEO will lead Chowethel Projects through a period of growth and diversification, advancing priority economic opportunities while strengthening existing operations. This is a highly results‑driven role with an immediate focus on executing revenue‑generating agreements, restoring strong working relationships with industry partners, and putting foundational systems, processes, and structure in place. This role is part of an early build and requires a hands‑on leader who brings optimism, momentum, and a solutions‑oriented mindset to complex challenges.

The CEO will play a key role in advancing community economic development by supporting initiatives that contribute to long term capacity building, employment opportunities, and sustainable economic participation for Chawathil members. The role includes working with partners and stakeholders to advance initiatives aligned with community priorities, while maintaining a primary focus on establishing and implementing revenue generating partnerships and agreements that support the financial sustainability of the Economic Development Corporation.

KEY LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a long-term strategic plan that aligns with the Nation’s vision, values, and community priorities while balancing near term execution with longer term planning horizons of five years and beyond.
• Identify, evaluate, and recommend new business ventures and investment opportunities to the Board.
• Design and apply clear opportunity evaluation frameworks and decision criteria to assess a high volume of incoming opportunities, balancing financial return, employment creation, cultural benefit, and risk.
• Provide strategic advice and regular reporting to the Board on performance, risks, and emerging opportunities.
• Ensure organizational sustainability through sound financial management and governance.
• Guide business planning and feasibility assessments for priority projects, including land acquisition and development opportunities, ensuring ventures are financially viable and culturally aligned.
• Translate approved strategies into actionable work plans with clear timelines, milestones, and accountability.

Operational Management

• Lead day-to-day operations of Chowethel Projects and its subsidiary entities.
• Establish and oversee annual business plans, budgets, and performance metrics.
• Personally lead the development of foundational systems, policies, procedures, and reporting structures appropriate to a start-up economic development organization.
• Ensure all operations comply with corporate policies, environmental standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Manage contracts, agreements, and partnerships to protect the Nation’s interests.
• Take direct responsibility for negotiating, executing, and managing revenue sharing agreements, joint ventures, and partnership arrangements.
• Build internal systems for accountability, financial tracking, and project reporting.
• Demonstrate an ability to move initiatives forward quickly, particularly where agreements or negotiations are already in progress.
• Develop internal procedures to support community member participation in business planning, employment, and training opportunities connected to Chowethel Projects ventures.

Economic Development and Partnerships

• Foster and strengthen relationships with private industry, government, Indigenous business partners, and industry proponents, positioning Chowethel Projects as a well organized, responsive, and credible economic development partner.
• Lead and provide oversight of investment activities, including equity and debt investments, to support sustainable growth and diversification of revenue streams.
• Maintain oversight of a current and up to date Chowethel Projects business directory and Chawathil First Nation member entrepreneur business directory, ensuring all client and partner directories are accurate and regularly updated.
• Represent Chowethel Projects in negotiations, partnerships, and joint ventures.
• Pursue partnerships that create employment and training in areas identified by community members, such as tourism and hospitality, retail and sales, art and culture, and environmental stewardship.

Community Engagement and Support

• Maintain a strong, visible presence in community and operate with an open, accessible approach to engagement with Chawathil members.
• Establish regular, predictable opportunities for community members to connect directly with Chowethel Projects leadership, such as scheduled office hours or community engagement days.
• Build and maintain trust with Chief and Council, Nation departments, and community members through transparency, responsiveness, and follow-through.
• Coordinate or facilitate training, workshops, and mentorship opportunities focused on business planning, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial readiness.
• Recognize that many community business ideas may be small, early-stage, or exploratory, and approach this work with a coaching and capacity-building mindset.
• Work collaboratively with partners such as Indigenous business organizations, training providers, and funders to create wraparound support for members.

Governance and Reporting

• Work closely with the Board to establish strong governance and decision-making processes.
• Prepare timely and accurate reports on financial and operational performance.
• Provide regular, clear, and factual updates to Chief and Council to support transparency, alignment, and effective communication with membership.
• Provide clear, concise updates to the Board on progress against priority initiatives, agreements, and revenue targets.
• Implement Board directives and provide professional advice to support informed decisions.
• Ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with Nation policies and values.
• Promote open communication and regular engagement with Chawathil members, including the preparation and delivery of quarterly or bi annual updates to keep the community informed on economic projects and opportunities for involvement.

Leadership and People Management

• Build and lead a capable team that shares the values and vision of Chawathil First Nation.
• Foster a workplace culture grounded in respect, collaboration, and community purpose.
• Support staff development, mentorship, and succession planning.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• Post secondary education in Business, Finance, or a related field
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive senior leadership experience in business operations, economic development, or a related environment
• Experience working with First Nations or Indigenous organizations, or demonstrated ability to work effectively and respectfully in this context
• Demonstrated ability to deliver tangible results, including generating revenue, advancing initiatives, and building economic capacity
• Strong financial and business acumen, with experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial oversight, and evaluating investment opportunities
• Strategic and analytical thinker with the ability to translate plans into action in a fast moving, evolving organization
• Proven experience managing teams, overseeing multiple initiatives, and making sound decisions in complex or ambiguous situations
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and public speaking skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility across diverse audiences
• Experience establishing and managing partnerships with businesses, governments, and other organizations, including contract negotiation and agreement management
• Collaborative, transparent, and community minded leadership style that fosters accountability, teamwork, and cultural respect
• Experience in sectors aligned with community priorities such as tourism, hospitality, retail, or cultural enterprises is considered an asset
• Demonstrated experience obtaining and managing bank financing, financing through Indigenous financial institutions, and leveraging provincial and federal funding programs to support equity and debt investments.
• Strong project management skills and the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities
• High standards of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality

This role is an exciting opportunity for an entrepreneurial leader with positive energy, inspired to build an Indigenous‑led enterprise at a pivotal moment of growth. As Chief Executive Officer, you will help shape the future of Chowethel Projects while directly contributing to the long-term economic strength of Chawathil First Nation and its members with own source revenue. The ideal candidate is a relationship-driven, hands-on leader who is comfortable creating structure where little exists, earning trust through presence and follow-through, and balancing community priorities with strong, disciplined business decision-making. This role will resonate with someone motivated by Indigenous prosperity, who sees business as a tool for nation‑building and is driven to create lasting impact for current and future generations.

Please submit your application through MNP’s official process. To ensure a fair and consistent search, candidates are asked not to contact Chowethel Projects or its staff directly regarding this opportunity. We ask those individuals with an interest in further exploring this exciting opportunity or wanting to learn more to contact Fred Punter at fred.punter@mnp.ca

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