Job Details
Description
Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.
The Director of Tribal Leadership Programs is a joint position between the NWF and the Water & Tribes Initiative (WTI). The Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network (IWLN) is a leadership program of the WTI. It was launched in 2021 and is a core component of WTI’s portfolio to enhance Tribal capacity to manage water and engage in water policy discussion in the Colorado River Basin. NWF launched the Colorado River Indigenous Youth Advisory Council (CRIYAC) in 2024 as a mentorship and leadership program for youth and young adults (ages 18-25) who desire to protect the Colorado River and serve young adults in their journeys towards connecting, learning about, and being a voice for the Colorado River and their Tribal communities.
To advance these efforts, NWF and WTI are pooling resources to hire a Tribal Leadership Programs Director that will lead the IWLN and CRIYAC leadership programs. The Director will provide overall leadership for the vision, design, and implementation of projects to achieve the purpose and scope of the IWLN and CRIYAC.
Principal Duties (major areas of responsibility):
Working closely with the Senior Director of Tribal Partnerships and Policy, the Tribal Leadership Programs Director is primarily responsible for leading and collaborating with NWF, WTI, and IWLN staff to advance the missions of the CRIYAC and IWLN. The Tribal Leadership Programs Director will model the principles and values of NWF’s Tribal and Indigenous Partnerships Enhancement Strategy (TIPES) and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
The Director of Tribal Leadership Programs will:
CRIYAC
- Create, deliver, and implement a comprehensive leadership development structure tailored to the CRIYAC's emerging leaders, including designing, implementing, and evaluating initiatives aimed at nurturing the potential of Indigenous youth to prepare them for future leadership roles through their active participation with the council.
- Develop and implement a detailed plan outlining the structure, objectives, and content of the CRIYAC.
- Define specific learning objectives, competencies, and milestones to guide the development journey of CRIYAC members, and conduct tracking to measure results.
- Co-design and implement a curriculum that encompasses workshops, training sessions, coaching, mentoring, and experiential learning opportunities.
- Recruit Council members and mentors and coordinate their ongoing roles and relationships.
- Plan and coordinate CRIYAC meetings and learning sessions.
- Coordinate and facilitate mentor-youth relationships to enhance knowledge about the Colorado River, Tribal ecological and cultural priorities, sovereignty, self-determination, and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
- Track and report deliverables to funders and assist with efforts to generate new funding including foundation/donor cultivation and submission of proposals.
IWLN
- Consult with the co-chairs of IWLN to develop and deliver appropriate activities and events to achieve the objectives of IWLN.
- Report to the co-directors of WTI to ensure that IWLN is consistent with the overall objectives of WTI’s capacity building portfolio.
- Oversee day-to-day operations, including the management and development of the network in close collaboration with IWLN Co-Chairs.
- Plan and coordinate IWLN events, including in-person and virtual networking events and webinars.
- Track and manage the IWLN database of members and prepare a quarterly newsletter for members.
- Manage the IWLN websites, social media, and public relations activities.
- Plan, implement, and evaluate annual program surveys to help inform annual activities.
- Design and implement marketing and communications efforts to grow the network.
- Manage the IWLN budget, including developing an annual budget, tracking expenses, and reporting financials to co-chairs and WTI co-directors.
- Organize and participate in regular meetings with IWLN co-chairs and WTI co-directors.
- Participate in regular meetings of WTI’s Capacity Building Team.
- Work collaboratively with external organizations on initiatives to enhance the goals of the network, including speaking engagements, event planning, and/or publications.
- Work with WTI co-directors to identify and secure sponsorships and grants.
- Provide administrative support, including recording and archiving meeting notes.
- Prepare biannual progress reports for inclusion in WTI’s progress reports.
- Serve as program representative to address issues and questions related to IWLN.
The Tribal Leadership Programs Director reports to the NWF Senior Director of Tribal Partnerships and Policy and the Co-directors of WTI.
Skills and Qualifications:
Strong candidates for this position will have:
- 7+ years of experience in managing a successful professional development program.
- Familiarity with Western water issues, including water resources, policy or conservation.
- Experience working with Tribal communities in the Colorado River Basin, including elected officials, legal and technical professionals, natural and cultural resource staff, and youth.
- Demonstrated experience in coordinating and leading complex programs events.
- Proven success in curriculum development for diverse audiences including both youth and elders.
- Strong Facilitation skills.
- Knowledge and familiarity with Tribal sovereignty, governance, and Federal Indian law and policy.
- Passion for enhancing tribal capacity and uplifting indigenous matriarchs and youth.
- Demonstrated track record of managing and growing professional development programs.
- Strong analytic, verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills.
- Ability to work independently and take ownership of projects and to collaborate with teams.
NWF Values:
Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus. Your competencies should include:
- Being motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized;
- Consistently bringing a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions;
- Being committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement;
- Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them;
- Being dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work; and
- Passion for and commitment to NWF's mission.
Application:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.
We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
