Director – Trade

DIRECTOR, TRADE

The Edmonton Region is gaining momentum, and Edmonton Global is helping convert that momentum into investment, business growth, international partnerships, and export opportunities. We are looking for an experienced and entrepreneurial leader to help regional companies compete on the global stage.

As the Director, Trade, you will lead Edmonton Global’s trade portfolio, working with businesses, governments, industry associations, and international partners to accelerate exports, expand market access, and create new opportunities for companies across the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. The role provides strategic leadership for trade initiatives while helping businesses navigate international markets, connect with global partners, and pursue growth beyond Canada’s borders.

This is a highly visible leadership role for someone who enjoys building relationships, creating opportunities, solving complex challenges, and bringing people together around a shared vision for economic growth. One day you may be meeting with exporters and industry leaders to identify market opportunities; another day you may be leading an international trade mission, briefing senior stakeholders, working with government partners, or helping a regional company enter a new market for the first time.

WHY JOIN EDMONTON GLOBAL?

This is an opportunity to help shape the future of local and international trade and economic development in one of Canada’s fastest-growing regions. You will work directly with innovative companies, industry leaders, municipalities, governments, investors, and global partners to create meaningful economic outcomes.

At Edmonton Global, strong leaders are empowered to take ownership, build relationships, create solutions, and see the direct impact of their work across the region. We value collaboration, transparency, continuous improvement, and a culture where people are trusted to lead and innovate.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Director, Trade provides strategic and operational leadership for Edmonton Global’s trade portfolio. The role is responsible for developing and executing trade strategies, international partnerships, market development initiatives, export programs, and performance measures that help Edmonton Region companies grow through global commerce.

The Director works closely with Business Development to create a seamless company-support model. While Business Development focuses on identifying opportunities and supporting company growth, the Trade team helps businesses access international markets, participate in trade missions, strengthen export readiness, and connect with global partners. Together, these teams help regional businesses access the knowledge, connections, and opportunities needed to succeed internationally.

This position will involve occasional travel within Canada and internationally, as well as participation in trade missions, conferences, stakeholder events, and meetings outside regular business hours when required.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Develop and execute Edmonton Global’s trade strategy, aligning regional opportunities with international market demand.
• Identify priority international markets, sectors, supply chains, and export opportunities for regional businesses.
• Lead trade missions, business delegations, buyer forums, export-focused events, and international partner engagements.
• Develop the framework for local industry ecosystems and their relationship to investment attraction through engagement and processes.
• Responsible for targeting, marketing and progressing a pipeline of trade opportunities.
• Build relationships with regional companies to understand their growth plans, capabilities, competitive advantages, and international ambitions.
• Help companies assess export readiness and connect them with programs, resources, partners, and opportunities that support international growth.
• Work alongside Business Development to identify companies with export potential and create coordinated pathways for support, introductions, and follow-up.
• Build and strengthen relationships with municipal, provincial, federal, and international stakeholders, including trade agencies, industry associations, research institutions, and private-sector partners.
• Represent Edmonton Global at domestic and international events, conferences, industry forums, and trade-related initiatives.
• Provide strategic advice, market intelligence, briefings, and recommendations to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Establish and monitor performance measures that demonstrate trade outcomes, business engagement, export growth, and program impact.
• Lead, mentor, and support trade staff while fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture.

WHAT YOU BRING

• A bachelor’s degree in International Business, Business Administr