JOB TITLE:

Chief Executive Officer

DEPARTMENT:

Executive

SUPERVISOR:

Board of Directors

SALARY:

$150,000 to $185,000

JOB SUMMARY:

National awareness of Indian boarding school policies has grown significantly in recent years, including federal investigations led by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Legislative and policy conversations continue within the U.S. Congress. Boarding school survivors and their descendants are calling for durable systems of recognition, justice, and reparative action. The next CEO will be entrusted with: Elevating NABS’ national presence and policy influence  Securing sustainable and diversified funding  Institutionalizing strategic planning and measurable impact.  Strengthening internal systems and leadership capacity  Ensuring board school survivor-centered integrity in all aspects of the work. This is a rare opportunity to lead a nationally respected Indigenous organization during a defining chapter in its history.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Serve as the principal spokesperson and national representative of NABS.
  • Advance Federal policy and legislative priorities in bipartisan and Tribal contexts.
  • Build and maintain trusted relationships with Tribal leaders, boarding school survivors and their descendants, policymakers, philanthropic partners, and allied organizations.
  • Strengthen NABS’ position as the leading national authority on U.S. Indian boarding school policy and its ongoing impacts.
  • Lead and personally drive major gift cultivation, foundation partnerships, and public funding strategies.
  • Demonstrate a strong track record of securing transformational funding and sustaining long-term donor relationships.
  • Inspire confidence and investment among philanthropic, governmental, and Tribal funding partners.
  • Ensure responsible stewardship and compliance with federal and philanthropic funding requirements.
  • Translate long-term vision into multi-year strategic priorities and annual action plans with measurable outcomes.
  • Align NABS departments around shared goals and clear performance expectations.
  • Establish systems that demonstrate impact and accountability to boarding school survivors and descendants, coalition members, funders, and policymakers.
  • Guide organizational growth responsibly while protecting mission integrity.
  • Embed trauma-informed practices across internal culture and external engagement.
  • Ensure communications, advocacy, and programming honor survivor dignity and lived experience.
  • Lead with emotional steadiness in high-visibility, politically sensitive, and complex environments.
  • Effectively lead and develop a geographically distributed team.
  • Empower senior leaders with clear delegation and accountability.
  • Foster a culture of responsiveness, collaboration, inclusion, and trust across teams.
  • Ensure strong cross-functional coordination, particularly between policy, communications, research, and healing initiatives.
  • Partner closely with the Board of Directors to advance strategy, ensure fiduciary responsibility, and strengthen governance practices.
  • Provide transparent reporting and strategic counsel to the Board.
  • Support board development and engagement in fundraising and national advocacy efforts.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

  • Minimum of 10 years in senior leadership roles within a national nonprofit, Tribal, advocacy, or policy-driven organization.
  • Proven ability to lead organizations through growth, transition, and increased national visibility.
  • A documented track record of measurable organizational impact.
  • Demonstrated success securing major gifts, foundation grants, and/or public funding.
  • Demonstrated success securing major gifts, foundation grants, and/or public funding.
  • Experience stewarding complex funding portfolios.
  • Deep familiarity with federal legislative and regulatory processes.
  • Experience engaging effectively with Congressional offices, federal agencies, and Tribal governments.
  • Ability to navigate politically dynamic environments while maintaining mission alignment.
  • Deep knowledge of the history and enduring impacts of U.S. Indian Boarding School policies.
  • Demonstrated experience working in and with Native communities in culturally grounded and respectful ways.
  • High levels of trust and credibility across Tribal Nations and Indian Country.
  • Experience building strategic plans and translating them into disciplined execution.
  • Strong financial literacy and experience ensuring compliance and risk management.
  • Ability to assess systems, identify gaps, and strengthen operational infrastructure.
  • Demonstrated success leading senior teams in remote or hybrid environments.
  • Clear communication style and consistent leadership presence across time zones.
  • Experience fostering cohesion, accountability, and inclusion in distributed teams.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

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