Native Americans in Philanthropy is dedicated to increasing and nurturing Indigenous representation in the philanthropic sector. With that in mind, the opportunities on our Job Board fit one of the following criteria:
Please submit your job opportunity here and note that assessment and approval of submissions can take up to 48 hours.
NOTE: Positions marked as "Featured" are either Native-focused roles or based at organizations focused on Native communities.
Working alongside the Board of Trustees, the incoming Chief Executive Officer has a unique and exciting opportunity to position an established, young, and growing organization for continued success as we pursue ambitious plans to more than double our grantmaking over the next ten years. The supportive, respectful, and mission-driven Board of Trustees is comprised of professionals who bring a range of expertise and perspectives on the upstream factors that contribute to the health of the communities that Headwaters serves. The CEO will collaborate with the Board of Trustees to set organizational strategy and vision, work with staff and the community to co-create an implementation plan for the ten-year strategic framework, ensure strong and transparent governance, engage the community, promote an inclusive and transparent organizational culture, and represent the organization locally and nationally.
The CEO will have the opportunity to shape the Foundation’s brand and image in the region, serving as the primary representative of our vision, mission, and impact. In this capacity, the CEO will build and foster impactful relationships and partnerships with other organizations in the region. They will seek out and orchestrate opportunities for collaboration with and between service providers in Western Montana communities and with other grant-making organizations in the state, to unify efforts and leverage resources in a values-aligned way.
Engage with the Community
It will be crucial for the CEO to engage authentically and deeply with communities throughout the service area and the state, with the grantees who serve them, and with policymakers who represent these communities in state government. The new CEO will be tasked with building bridges across diverse populations representing the different geographic, racial, socioeconomic, and gender identities that make up the state, and who represent the full spectrum of political views. As Headwaters embarks on a new strategic framework that will position us to take up firm policy positions and continue to advance our important work to improve the social determinants of health, the CEO will need to find common ground and build alliances without sacrificing the organization’s principles or undermining our values.
Provide Strategic Vision and Leadership
Stepping into leadership during an important period of transition and opportunity as the organization embarks on a new ten-year strategic framework, the new CEO will chart a path as we grow our grantmaking, lean into our public profile on key issues relevant to the health and wellness of Western Montanans, and explore innovative ways to further deepen and amplify the trust-based philanthropy approach. The incoming CEO will recognize and honor the intense and sophisticated work that has brought the organization to this point and will bring vision, flexibility, and creativity to ensure that this momentum continues to grow thoughtfully and strategically. They will work with staff, the board, and the community to develop an inspiring and effective roadmap to implement the ten-year strategic framework and will guide critical conversations when emerging events and circumstances invite recalibration of our approach. They will also guide our approach to evaluation as we enter the second decade of our trust-based approach to grantmaking.
Cultivate a Cohesive, Engaged, Impactful Team
The staff at Headwaters is without question our greatest asset. Since its inception, Headwaters has prided itself on recruiting, retaining, and developing a talented staff that is deeply engaged in the community and committed to the mission of the organization. Headwaters staff are co-creators and implementers of the approaches we take to achieving impact. As we prepare to launch a new ten-year strategic framework, the CEO will need to create and sustain the conditions for staff to do their best work, operate effectively with one another and as community partners, learn together, and grow.
Provide Leadership in the Field of Trust-Based Philanthropy
Headwaters has built a national reputation as a leader in the field of trust-based philanthropy. Our status as a proving ground for the effectiveness of this approach has both contributed to the development of the field and brought attention and resources to Montana’s nonprofit ecosystem. It has also created important learning and development opportunities for the staff. The new CEO will be expected to balance their local obligations to the people of Western Montana with the national profile that this role brings and to find ways to leverage all of it to advance our vision for impact.
Steward Financial Resources Effectively
The CEO is responsible for ensuring sound financial management of the organization, which includes operational budget management, effective grantmaking practice, and stewardship of the endowment. In consultation with the Board of Trustees Investment Committee and in partnership with the Chief Financial Officer, the CEO is responsible for ensuring prudent management of Headwaters’ financial assets. We are actively exploring potential approaches to leveraging these assets to further amplify our mission-driven impact and will look to the incoming CEO to guide those discussions strategically and effectively.
Minimum Qualifications
We seek candidates with a minimum of ten years of professional experience with executive management responsibilities, preferably in a health-related nonprofit or philanthropic organization. A dedication to and deep understanding of trust-based philanthropy is necessary and important. A bachelor’s degree is required, and an advanced degree, such as an MBA, MPH, or MD would be an asset. Knowledge of grantmaking and philanthropy is required, and knowledge of financial matters such as asset allocation and portfolio management is preferred. Experience with rural and Tribal communities and/or in the health industry, health policy, and/or social justice is highly desired.
Characteristics of an ideal candidate
Headwaters’ next leader will be passionate about and dedicated to serving the people of Western Montana and contributing to the continued growth of trust-based philanthropy. The CEO will also possess personal leadership skills consistent with the organization’s values of humility, transparency, inclusivity, and collaboration. While no one candidate will be expected to embody all of the characteristics enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following characteristics, experiences, and perspectives:
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