Description

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Center for Native American and Indigenous Research

Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences

The Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR) operates as a hub for multi-disciplinary, collaborative work informed by and responsive to Native American and Indigenous nations, communities, and organizations. We foster an innovative and Indigenous-centered intellectual space that is open to multiple modes of engagement for faculty, students, staff, and community members. The Center commits to developing and promoting reciprocal and sovereignty-affirming relationships and partnerships with Native American and Indigenous communities.  

The Executive Director plays the key leadership role in the management of CNAIR’s day-to-day operations including implementing key strategic goals, securing and managing CNAIR’s funding and managing CNAIR’s personnel and budget.  The Executive Director leads public/community outreach and engagement activities including public relations, supporting CNAIR’s leadership circles and representing CNAIR throughout Northwestern’s nine schools, numerous units and select work groups.     

The Executive Director supports CNAIR’s vast variety of public programming and academic initiatives that complement interdisciplinary research goals that are community driven and participatory, elevating Native American and Indigenous Scholarship.   

Salary/Grade: EXS/12

Specific Responsibilities:

Leadership and Staff Management: 

• Develop and implement a strategic plan to deliver the CNAIR mission in collaboration with stakeholders, leadership circles, affiliates, and the Principal Investigator(s).
• Oversee personnel hiring and supervise and evaluate all CNAIR personnel. Cultivate a culture of accountability, collaboration, efficiency, engagement, growth, and excellence. Provide individual and team professional development opportunities while staying in current industry best practices.
• Develop CNAIR’s national academic profile and partnerships towards cultivating a robust research portfolio in partnership with Native American and Indigenous Tribes and organizations that are community driven and community participatory.
• Participate in planning and implementation of key CNAIR annual events and programs.
• Facilitate interfacing and collaboration between the Center’s faculty affiliate and advisory network, Tribes and Tribal organizations, other Units on campus and local Native American community leadership. Represent CNAIR in other relevant Northwestern taskforces, workgroups, and committees.
• Recruit Indigenous scholars, Tribal leaders and knowledge keepers to Northwestern’s campus to share and build knowledge and engage in research.
• Oversee CNAIR’s leadership circles and run the Advisory Council meetings. 
   

Outreach: 

• Build and maintain relationships and partnerships with tribes, urban centers, and Indigenous organizations across the country.
• Network and build strong relationships with other academic and lay organizations working on putting research into action.
• Represent the Center’s work in public forums.
• Support institutional efforts to build visibility for the Center within Northwestern, engaging in task forces, committees, planning initiatives, and other leadership activities to become a valued partner across campus and disciplines.
• Initiate outreach to Native and non-Native organizations, tribes, individuals, and media intended to broaden the impact of the Center’s research and enhance understanding by a variety of audiences of the political and cultural issues shaping and being shaped by Native communities.                             
   

Financial and Strategic Management: 

• Develop and monitor budgets for the Center, including revenue and expense projections, ensuring financial sustainability and responsible resource allocation.
• Drive organizational transformation, streamlining processes and enhancing operational efficiency.
• Clarify, define, and secure approval for funding student and Center activities. Build relationships with federal and philanthropic foundations and secure funding to support the ongoing operations of the Center.
• Oversee and manage all operating, general, and endowed budget lines and prepare the annual budget with future projects and long-term strategic initiatives in mind.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization or an equivalent combination of experience, education, and training.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively. 
• Demonstrated relationship building skills. 
• Familiarity with and experience working with Native American communities and an understanding of Indigenous issues and policies 
• Ability to network 
• Demonstrated success with development and fundraising.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in finance, economics, business, nonprofit leadership, or related field 
• At least ten years of experience in executive management, development, and/or fundraising. 
• Strong expertise in the political and cultural history of Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian peoples and federal policies and political relations. Understanding of urban Indian populations is desirable 
• Successful track record of leadership and team building 
• Experienced in research initiatives and collaboration 
• Demonstrable track record in strategic and operational management and planning 
• Experience of financial planning and resource allocation