Position Announcement

Director of Conservation and Special Projects

Director of Conservation and Special Projects

Reports to: Chief Programs Officer  
Supervisory Role: Yes  
Status: Full-time; Exempt  
Travel: Yes – up to 30% 
Location: Remote  
Application Deadline: 11/11/2026
Compensation: The full salary range for this level is $95K–$120K, with starting salaries generally set between $95K and $100K. 
Application Link: https://screeningapps.insperity.com/candidate/otp/post/5bb8c00b-23cd-4064-b5d3-4b0401e0f9f1  
Please combine your resume and cover letter into a single PDF before uploading it to Insperity. 
Questions? If you have any questions regarding this position or the application process, please email hr@nativephilanthropy.org.

About the Position

The Director of Conservation and Special Projects advances NAP's efforts to strengthen relationships with Tribal Nations and build the philanthropic infrastructure, partnerships, and resources that support Tribal priorities. Grounded in trust, reciprocity, and respect for Tribal sovereignty and self-determination, the Director cultivates relationships with Tribal leaders, Tribal philanthropic entities, Native-led organizations, funders, and other key partners.

Working closely with the Chief Programs Officer and colleagues across NAP, the Director develops strategies to deepen Tribal Nations engagement, identify emerging priorities, strengthen Tribal philanthropy, and align philanthropic resources with Tribal-led work. The Director connects partners and opportunities, facilitates collaboration across sectors, and leads strategic initiatives and collaborative funding efforts. This work spans NAP's broader Tribal Nations portfolio, including Tribal-led conservation and environmental stewardship.  This position supervises the Program Manager for Land Conservation.

Primary Responsibilities

Tribal Nations Strategy and Relationship Building

• Develop and advance strategies to deepen NAP's engagement with Tribal Nations and strengthen relationships with Tribal leaders, Tribal philanthropic entities, and Native-led organizations.
• Cultivate long-term, reciprocal relationships grounded in trust, listening, and responsiveness to priorities identified by Tribal Nations.
• Identify emerging Tribal priorities and opportunities to inform NAP's strategic direction, partnerships, and initiatives.
• Lead the Tribal Leader Advisory Committee (TLAC), engaging Native leaders from diverse regions of Indian Country and uplifting the perspectives of federally and non-federally recognized Tribes.
• Connect Tribal Nations, Native-led organizations, and philanthropic partners to foster collaboration, shared learning, and collective action.

Tribal Philanthropy and Resource Mobilization

• Identify strategies to strengthen Tribal philanthropy infrastructure, including networks, partnerships, funding mechanisms, and institutional capacity.
• Build relationships with philanthropic institutions, funders, and Tribal philanthropic entities to increase resources and strengthen support for Tribal priorities.
• Partner with the Chief Programs Officer and Development team to cultivate funder relationships, identify funding opportunities, and align philanthropic resources with Tribal-led priorities.
• Advance opportunities for funder collaboration, collective funding, and philanthropic practices that respect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
• Identify gaps and opportunities in the philanthropic ecosystem and develop strategies to strengthen support for Tribal Nations and Native-led organizations.

Strategic Initiatives and Collaborative Funding

• Lead strategic initiatives that advance NAP's Tribal Nations priorities, translating emerging needs and opportunities into actionable partnerships, projects, and funding strategies.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives, including stakeholder engagement, budgets, timelines, resources, and deliverables.
• Coordinate the Tribal Nations Initiative Funding Collaborative in partnership with the Senior Advisor for Conservation and Strategic Partnerships and relevant colleagues, including its strategic direction, relaunch, and collaborative funding efforts.
• Lead assigned regranting activities and maintain relationships with regranting partners, supporting effective implementation, reporting, and learning in collaboration with Development and program staff.
• Advance Tribal-led conservation and co-stewardship partnerships as part of NAP's broader Tribal Nations portfolio.

External Relations, Engagement, and Partnership Building 

• Represent NAP at conferences, speaking engagements, and community events.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with Tribal leaders, community organizations, funders, and sector partners at local, regional, and national levels.
• Lead and coordinate stakeholder engagement for priority Tribal Nations and conservation initiatives
• Collaborate with the Communications team to elevate Tribal philanthropy stories and increase NAP's visibility in Tribal leader and funder networks.
• Collaborate with the Senior Advisor for Conservation and Strategic Partnerships to maintain relationships with Tribal Nations, philanthropic partners, and federal agencies that advance Tribal-led conservation and co-stewardship models.

Research

• Contribute to policy research, landscape assessments, and white papers on Tribal Nations, environmental, and conservation issues in collaboration with the Research Department as needed.
• Monitor emerging issues, opportunities, and trends affecting Tribal Nations, philanthropy, and conservation to inform NAP's strategies and partnerships.
• Translate research and stakeholder insights into accessible recommendations and resources for funders, Tribal Nations, and nonprofit partners.

Supervision & Team Development

• Directly supervise assigned staff, contractors, and fellows, providing mentorship, performance feedback, and professional development support.
• Foster a collaborative team culture rooted in reciprocity, respect, shared accountability, and shared learning
• Engage in cross-functional collaboration on administrative processes and team coordination.
• Actively engage in the organizational budgeting process, provide input into forecasting and projections, monthly financial monitoring, and reviewing and if applicable, approving expenses.

Non-Essential Job Duties

• Other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Ability

• Strong interpersonal and communications skills with proven ability to build collaborative relationships, trust, and operate in a team environment, as well as cultivating relationships with Tribal leaders and Tribal government philanthropic enterprise.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in a nonprofit, philanthropic, or other mission-driven organizational setting that leverages relationships across the philanthropic, private, and public sectors with local and community stakeholders.
• Ability to work with networks and smaller advisory teams to build consensus and create shared agendas for meetings and advocacy work.
• Analyze, evaluate, and overcome program risks, and produce program reports for management and stakeholders.
• Proven ability to think strategically; demonstrated record of success working with a diverse constituency of partners and stakeholders to achieve specific programmatic outcomes.
• Collaborative, positive, and able to navigate well with ambiguity and change; adept at building collegial relationships and able to respond to issues with clarity and diplomacy; demonstrated ability to inspire and foster trust and confidence in staff, management, and their colleagues.
• Resourcefulness—the ability to leverage networks and experience to find answers, solve problems, and identify new opportunities for impact.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required plus 5 years of progressively responsible work and related experience. An advanced degree is preferred.
• Deep knowledge, relationships, and understandings of Tribal communities and nonprofits.
• Experience and/or understanding of the philanthropic sector and relationships with philanthropic professionals, funders, and organizations.
• Knowledge of philanthropic work in Native communities and how to reach additional communities amid the dominant structures of power and influence in the sector.
• Fundraising experience.
• Strong working knowledge of CRM software, such as Salesforce

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lead Zoom and other video conference calls and use computer equipment for extended periods of time.
• Ability to travel up to 30% of the time for events, conferences, and staff meetings.

Commitment to Equity

Native Americans in Philanthropy is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals based on job-related qualifications and ability to perform a job, without regard to age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, citizenship, or marital status, and to maintain a non-discriminatory environment free from intimidation, harassment or bias based upon these grounds.

Americans with Disability Act

Native Americans in Philanthropy complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact hr@nativephilanthropy.org.