Business Development Manager, Indigenous Entrepreneurs

About Futurpreneur Canada Futurpreneur is a national non-profit organization that empowers young, diverse entrepreneurs, ages 18-39 to start, buy or grow their businesses in Canada, by providing loans with mentorship and resources. Founded in 1996, we have helped more than 20,000 young entrepreneurs, promoting entrepreneurship among Canadian youth as a critical pillar for diversifying the economy, generating employment opportunities, and fostering a sustainable future.  Futurpreneur is a founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance, the Canadian member of Youth Business International and the Canadian host of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW).  Our Purpose (why we exist): To drive inclusive Canadian prosperity by fostering the success of young entrepreneurs Our Mission (what we do every day to achieve our purpose):To empower diverse entrepreneurs ages 18-39 by providing loans with mentorship and resources to help them start and buy businesses that contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic prosperity, in their communities and across Canada. Our Values (how we work – our core principles & commitments): We are mission-driven, collegial & collaborative, diverse & inclusive, and accountable & transparent.   Here’s the opportunity: Business Development Manager, Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program Reporting to the Head of Inclusive Impact and Director, Indigenous & Northern Entrepreneurs, the Business Development Manager will represent Futurpreneur and promote its financing and mentoring programs for young Indigenous entrepreneurs. In this role, you will also connect with and recruit mentors for the young entrepreneurs we support and work collaboratively with Indigenous Financial Institution (IFI) members of the National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Association (NACCA) network and other community partners.  This is a permanent, full-time position that can be located in Alberta or British Columbia.  The incumbent will be working on our hybrid work model (minimum 1 day in the office per week). This role will require frequent travel within the region including travel to remote areas. What you will do: Entrepreneurs: Act as Futurpreneur’s main point of contact for young Indigenous entrepreneurs Facilitate presentations, workshops and informal gatherings with Indigenous young entrepreneurs to promote Futurpreneur programs and support entrepreneurial skill development.  Support young, Indigenous entrepreneur leads by reviewing their business plans and cashflows and supporting them through the application stage of the process Identify and ensure rigorous follow-up on high-potential prospects via our customer relationship management system Work in collaboration with Client Relationship Managers (CRM) and Entrepreneurship Coaches (EC) to ensure a smooth transition of applicant to funding stage. Create lead generation opportunities across region, while collaborating with existing and new partners Mentors: Attend and coordinate events that provide the opportunity to engage prospective mentors Manage prospective mentor inquiries regarding mentoring program and application process Identify and recruit volunteer mentors within the community Communicate with client services team regarding fulfilling mentor gap Coordinate events as required that offer the opportunity to recruit new volunteer mentors   Strategic Partners & Referral Partners: Supporting the Head of Inclusive Impact and Director, Indigenous & Northern Entrepreneurs, to build and maintain strong relationships with Indigenous Financial Institutions and other community partners in Alberta and British Columbia to support young, Indigenous entrepreneurs access start up resources, support and financing Manage relationship with local NACCA partners, Indigenous Financial Institutions and others in the community, as well as grow the number of community partners if and where appropriate Facilitate partner onboarding: train new and retain existing partners and ensure they are fully aware of Futurpreneur processes Follow-up with partners to make sure they have all the tools and information they need to represent us well with their customers Manage relationships with all partners, as well as grow the number of partners if and where appropriate Participate as required in the activities of partners in the ecosystem to engage community partners and recruit young indigenous entrepreneurs in search of financing and mentorship Coordinate events that offer the opportunity to engage formal community partners, as required Identify potential partners through research, events, networking and referrals Requirements  What you will have:    Must have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle (40% of this role includes local and provincial travel) Relevant experience may include education with a focus on business administration, economic development, entrepreneurship or equivalent hands-on career experience 3+ years of experience in sales, start-up business development or economic development position Experience working with entrepreneurs or business start-ups, business plans and cashflows is considered a strong asset Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the barriers and opportunities experienced by young Indigenous entrepreneurs and Indigenous-led and Indigenous-focused community organizations Strong network and sense of purpose, entrepreneurial mentality and/or lived experience working with Indigenous entrepreneurs and community organizations   Excellent interpersonal and communications skills with the ability to influence Strong customer focus with the ability to work with volunteers Proficient with computer skills; experience with a Customer Relationship Management system is required (MS-365) Confident, proactive and self-motivated, able to work with minimal supervision and as part of a team Ability to develop and facilitate program presentations and workshops Knowledge of trends within the entrepreneurial, startup, small business industry General administration experience including budget management, report writing, etc. Alignment with Futurpreneur’s values and commitment to the mission/purpose of the organization Be a role model for Futurpreneur’s organizational culture by creating a positive impact at every touchpoint with people Scoring assets: Event planning and execution experience Management and volunteer management Experience managing social media accounts (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) HOW TO APPLY:    Qualified candidates are invited to submit their resume, cover letter and salary expectations by September 29, 2025 Benefits At Futurpreneur, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package designed to support your well-being, professional growth, and work-life balance.    Our package includes a fair base salary, extensive health and dental benefits, and a supportive, flexible work environment.     We embrace a hybrid work model with flexible hours, a work-from-abroad policy, and generous time off—including paid vacation, personal days, summer hours and a December office closure.    We are dedicated to ensuring fair, competitive, and transparent compensation. Salaries are regularly reviewed and benchmarked to uphold internal equity and reflect our values. The starting salary for this role is $66,000 per annum and is set at this amount.    To prioritize health and wellness, we provide comprehensive health and dental coverage, a health spending account, mental wellness support, and a RRSP matching program. We also invest in learning and development through a learning allowance, a coaching program, and access to an e-learning platform #LI-CM1 #LI-HYBRID