Executive Director

Executive Director

Chokecherry Studios is seeking a steady, youth-centred Executive Director to lead a community-based organization rooted in art, culture, connection, and self-determination.

The Executive Director is the senior operational leader, responsible for the people, programs, relationships, and systems that allow Chokecherry to thrive. They will support staff and youth, build trust with funders, Elders, artists, partners, and the Board, and bring the structure and accountability required of a nonprofit.

Chokecherry is a youth space, arts space, cultural gathering place, and community rooted in creativity, belonging, life promotion, and possibility. This is a hands-on role in a small organization. The ED may move from budgets, grants, Board meetings, and staff support to working the floor with youth, preparing for an event, stretching a bison hide, hauling tipi poles, or stepping into a gap when needed.

The ED will support youth-centred artistic and cultural programming; harm-reduction, trauma-informed, wellness, and life-promotion approaches; Indigenous culture, ceremony, and traditional knowledge; and relationships with Elders, knowledge keepers, artists, funders, and community.

Responsibilities include staff leadership, finance, grants, HR, governance, facilities, fundraising, public representation, and partnerships. The ED will help expand Chokecherrys funding network and connect its mission and programming needs with aligned opportunities.

The strongest candidate will be grounded, emotionally mature, dependable, and collaborative. They will communicate clearly, follow through, provide structure without micromanaging, and keep youth safety, dignity, voice, and self-determination central to decisions. Strong nonprofit leadership, financial literacy, staff supervision, governance knowledge, and experience with Indigenous communities are important.