Job Description

Building for Seven Generations is a national initiative of Light House in collaboration with Generate Canada and Indigenous Economic Pathways to support Indigenous founders and innovators across Canada seeking to strengthen their capacity, build market and investment readiness to advance materials, technologies and delivery systems that offer sustainable construction solutions and contribute to healthier, more resilient, culturally grounded housing and infrastructure systems. The program is guided by the Seventh Generation Principle and by the understanding that how we build matters as much as what we build.

Building for Seven Generations will provide trauma-informed, wrap-around support to Indigenous entrepreneurs through structured training, one-on-one expert support, mentorship , investor and funder engagement, peer learning, and ongoing alumni support. While the program will be housed in a non-Indigenous organization (Light House), it will be Indigenous-led in its governance and delivery, and grounded in Indigenous knowledge, community priorities, long-term stewardship, and respectful relationships.

The Program Steward will be the first dedicated staff member for Building for Seven Generations and will play a central role in building, launching, and managing the program.

This is a relationship-centred leadership role for someone who can move comfortably between Indigenous communities, entrepreneurs, Elders, funders, technical experts, industry partners, and non-profit program teams. Working closely with all program partners, the Program Steward will shape the program’s operating model, support the development of its curriculum and mentorship structure, recruit and support participating businesses, and help establish the program as a trusted national platform for Indigenous-led innovation in circular, low-carbon, resilient, and regenerative construction.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, learning, and building relationships; demonstrated experience working with First Nations, Métis, Inuit, or other Indigenous communities, businesses, organizations, or economic development bodies; and the practical skills needed to manage a complex, multi-partner program.

Required languages: English (French an asset)

Education level: Post-secondary

Required skills: • Experience designing, managing, or delivering programs, accelerators, incubators, training initiatives, business support programs, community economic development initiatives, or capacity-building programs. • Strong understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, learning, governance, relationship-building, and community accountability. • Strong existing relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations, entrepreneurs, or business networks, and demonstrated experience working with Indigenous communities, Indigenous-owned businesses, Indigenous economic development organizations, Indigenous housing organizations, or Indigenous-led non-profits. • Ability to build trust with entrepreneurs, Elders, community leaders, technical experts, funders, and institutional partners. • Strong project management skills, including planning, coordination, budgeting, scheduling, reporting, and follow-through. • Excellent facilitation, communication, writing, and relationship-management skills. • Comfort working in a start-up environment where systems, processes, relationships, and program structures are being built for the first time. • Ability to work independently while staying closely coordinated with multiple partner organizations.

Additional skills / Assets: • Experience supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs or small businesses. • Knowledge of Indigenous economic development, entrepreneurship, housing, construction, retrofits, clean economy, circular economy, climate innovation, or sustainable development. • Experience with construction, housing, building materials, retrofits, modular construction, infrastructure, energy efficiency, regenerative design, or circular economy. • Experience working with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, advisory councils, boards, or Indigenous governance bodies. • Experience designing curriculum, training programs, mentorship programs, or business development supports. • Experience with investor readiness, non-dilutive funding, procurement, market development, or venture support. • Experience working nationally or across multiple provinces and territories. • Experience with grant reporting, funder relations, impact measurement, or program evaluation. • Knowledge of Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 92, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and Indigenous economic reconciliation.

Closest intersection: W. Hastings & Richards St.