About the Position:
Native Americans in Philanthropy has entered an Interpersonnel Agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), to support private-public partnerships with Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and other NGOs. The Partnership Advisor works closely with the Office of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs as well as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, Bureau of Trust Fund Administration, as well as other DOI Bureaus and Offices in this engagement. The position provides leadership and assists with implementing the partnership pilot program. The Partnership Advisor will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer.  

The Partnership Advisor is part of the team that builds and strengthens partnerships with the private sector. To accomplish this mission, the Partnership Advisor will collaborate with colleagues throughout the Indian Affairs, primarily in Washington, but also with field colleagues as needed. The Partnership Advisor will also build strong relationships within DOI, engaging with Bureaus which house initiatives focused on driving innovation through public-private sector engagement.  In addition, the Partnership Advisor must build relationships across the broader philanthropic and non-profit community wishing to develop partnership initiative with Tribal communities. The Partnerships Advisor will also collaborate regularly with the White House Council on Native American Affairs and Native Americans in Philanthropy.

Primary Responsibilities:
The Partnerships Advisor supports public-private partnerships with local and international foundations and NGOs, as well as businesses and other private sector entities in the realm of conservation and co-stewardship, economic development, climate resiliency and adaptation as well as education initiatives including those strengthening Native languages and cultural revitalization. This position will provide input on public-private-partnership engagement and will serve as a source of information on issues related to interactions with the philanthropic, NGO, and business community. The Partnerships Advisor’s duties and responsibilities will include the following:

• Provide information to the private sector on partnering with DOI and other USG programs in supporting Tribally led conservation, economic development, and education initiatives briefly described above.
• Evaluate innovative and new approaches from all levels of the private sector network (including philanthropy, NGOs and the business community) with the aim of providing high quality services and products that can contribute to supporting public-private-partnerships for Tribes and Tribal organizations.
• Build partnerships, identify a means to leverage resources, and promote innovative solutions for Indian Country as well as bring awareness to the needs and unique status of Tribal communities as federal-philanthropic initiatives and programs are developed.
• Support senior members of Indian Affairs and DOI in promoting best practices in public-private-partnership engagement through compilation and sharing of lessons learned; and improve decision-making based on these lessons learned.
• Provide pertinent DOI guidance to those in the private sector seeking partnership opportunities federal programs and Tribes.
• Assist in developing protocols and standard operating procedures to increase DOI’s ability to effectively engage with the private sector.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships and formal partnership agreements (where valuable and appropriate) with private sector entities.
• Liaise closely with other DOI bureaus to access private sector engagement tools and resources and customize them, when possible.
• Work with Tribes, Tribal Leaders, and Tribal organizations to ensure complementarity, including participation in sector or geographic focused partnership communities of practice as is timely and appropriate.
• Develop strong understanding of and facility with DOI’s partnership and private sector engagement authorities and approaches.
• Strengthen working relationships with Native Americans in Philanthropy and other donor organizations to coordinate with Tribes and Tribal organizations to support the development of public-private-partnerships.
• In close coordination with other teams within DOI, work with counterparts in other donor organizations to exchange information, establish meetings on specific issues, and contribute to publications.
• Collaborate to jointly advance the program effectiveness in engaging private sector stakeholders and Tribes.
• Collect information on training opportunities. Coordinate such activities with relevant DOI offices and Tribal Leaders.
• Sustain a cooperative working relationship with relevant USG interagency offices and serve as an expert point of contact for these groups in the area of Tribal public-private relationships.
• Anticipate the needs of the organization regarding developments public-private-partnerships, and prepare analyses, briefings, documents, and meetings as required.
• Organize and/or attend various meetings with Tribes, Tribal organizations, private sector stakeholders, NGOs, and other donors, to provide authoritative information and views related to public-private partnership opportunities, and strategic planning.
• Maintain strong working relationships with private sector stakeholders to promote understanding of Tribal relations, the federal trust responsibility, and partnership best practices.
• Represent DOI at meetings with the private sector, Tribe, Tribal Organizations, and other donors, and at other conferences sponsored by members of the philanthropic and non-profit community.
• Research guidance on USG positions related to the private sector to provide recommendations to the appropriate officials in DOI.
• Execute projects identified under the strategic relationship to include, but not limited to,
  • Support and facilitate Tribal-philanthropic and engagement with conservation and co-stewardship initiatives;
  • Facilitate philanthropic support for Tribally led education initiatives including those that strengthen Native language and cultural revitalization; and
  • Undertake an annual federal program gap analysis study to identify gaps in programs support for tribes and opportunities to leverage public private partnerships.

Supervisory Relationship:
The Partnerships Advisor will take direction from and report to the CEO or his/her designee as well as the Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs.

Supervisory Controls:
Supervisors sets overall objectives and resource available. The Partnerships Advisor has necessary experience to independently consult with supervisor to develop deadlines, projects, and steps needed to successfully complete work within established deadlines.  The Partnerships Advisor is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments.  The Partnerships Advisor is responsible for planning approach or methodology to be used in carrying out assignments.

Physical Responsibilities:
This position requires travel up to 25% of the time to areas throughout the U.S. and at least one trip per month to Washington, D.C.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
The position requires and understanding of DOI and Indian Affairs as well as a keen understanding of the unique government-to-government relationship between federally recognized Tribes and the United States federal government, experience with working with Tribes, Tribal leaders, and Tribal organizations, as well as an understanding how of public-private partnerships, operations, related policies, regulations, and inter-relationships between the USG, donor, and private sector, and other international organizations.

Education and Experience:
College degree with study in, or pertinent to, the specialized field (including but not limited to governance, public policy, education, political science, environmental studies, Native American studies, law, economics, business, management) plus five years’ professional experience in philanthropy or the private sector handling development, funding, or other related work, and demonstrated experience working with Tribal communities or Tribal organizations.

 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. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Under the ADA, Native Americans in Philanthropy is required to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual unless the accommodations would impose an undue hardship to perform the job.

Salary Range $115,000 to $135,000  

To Apply: Submit a Cover Letter and Resume below.

For Inquiries:  Email jobs@nativephilanthropy.org  

About Native Americans in Philanthropy Native Americans in Philanthropy envisions a future with healthy and sustainable Native communities supported by responsive philanthropy. Our mission is to promote equitable and effective philanthropy in Native communities. We do this by increasing engagement and funding to Native-led organizations, increasing and supporting Native professionals in philanthropy, and transforming and influencing the philanthropic sector to be in alignment with an Indigenous worldview.