About this role
About Hay River: Hay River, known as the ?Hub of the North,? is a vibrant community of about 3,200 people nestled on the south shore of Great Slave Lake in Canada?s Northwest Territories. Surrounded by boreal forests, pristine beaches, and powerful waterfalls like Alexandra Falls - you?ll ?nd a year-round outdoor paradise. In summer, residents enjoy sandy shores, northern lights, boating, and world-class ?shing; in winter, there is snowshoe along the river, ice-?sh, and dogsledding under vivid auroras.
JOB SUMMARY: The Economic Development & Communications Manager is responsible for delivering the municipality?s economic development, tourism, communications, and marketing priorities. Reporting to the Senior Administrative Officer (SAO), the Manager leads initiatives across business retention and expansion (BRE), investment attraction, tourism development, destination marketing/branding, public communications, and grant acquisitions.
The role collaborates with businesses, chambers/industry groups, Indigenous governments/organizations, tourism operators, regional/provincial/territorial partners, the media, and internal departments.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) & Investment Attraction (IA) This includes but is not limited to:
• Implement and maintain a structured BRE program, including business visits, surveys, and follow?up issue resolution. • Prepare and update investment materials: community profiles, labour market summaries, sector snapshots. • Respond to investment inquiries, coordinate site visits, track leads and aftercare, and maintain an up?to?date inventory of available commercial/industrial properties. • Provide concierge assistance to businesses navigating municipal processes (planning, permitting, licensing).
Economic Development Planning This includes but is not limited to:
• Coordinate the development and updates of economic development strategies and master plans. • Oversee the execution of the Hay River Community Economic Development Strategy. • Sit on the Town?s Economic Development Committee and provide administrative support and economic input. • Research industry trends and regional economic conditions. • Identify target industries for recruitment. • Support redevelopment projects and revitalization initiatives. • Collect and analyze economic data (employment, tax revenue, business growth). • Maintain databases of local businesses and properties. • Provides input and provides oversight into Economic Development, Communication and Marketing, Grant Writing and department budget.
Tourism Development & Destination Management This includes but is not limited to:
• Coordinate updates to, and the implementation of, the municipality?s tourism development and marketing plans. • Provide oversight of the Visitor Information Centre operations ensuring high customer service standards, visitor satisfaction, and accurate information delivery. • Responsible for hiring, firing, performance management, supervision, and training of the Tourism Coordinator position. • Oversee FAM (familiarization) tours and tourism training activities. • Responsible for the maintenance and development of high?quality tourism information, itineraries, and digital content. • Provides oversight to Town of Hay River event planning.
Marketing, Branding & Public Communications This includes but is not limited to:
• Prepare and implement strategic communication and marketing plans that support organizational goals and th