Chief Executive Officer

THE OPPORTUNITY 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.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS Demonstrated Executive Leadership ● 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. Fundraising Excellence ● Demonstrated success securing major gifts, foundation grants, and/or public funding. ● Personal credibility and presence that inspires donor confidence and investment. ● Experience stewarding complex funding portfolios. Federal Policy and Advocacy Experience ● 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. Cultural Fluency and Community Credibility ● 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. The successful candidate must demonstrate profound cultural humility, relational accountability, and an authentic commitment to Indigenous values, sovereignty, and healing. Lived experience within Native communities may significantly strengthen their ability to lead in this role. Organizational and Operation Acumen ● 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. Remote Leadership Capability ● 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. LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES The next CEO of NABS will be: ● Respected and credible — capable of representing the organization at the highest national levels. ● Humble and service-oriented — placing boarding school survivors and community above personal recognition. ● Strategic and disciplined — able to move from vision to measurable results. ● Emotionally intelligent — steady, self-aware, and capable of leading in high-trauma contexts. ● Relationally skilled — adept at building trust across diverse communities, political perspectives, and organizational roles. ● A mentor and team builder — committed to developing leaders within the organization and strengthening long-term institutional capacity. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE The ideal candidate is a nationally respected leader who combines policy sophistication, fundraising excellence, and deep cultural grounding. They will honor the foundation built by NABS’ leadership while guiding the organization into its next era of strategic clarity, financial sustainability, and national impact. They will understand that this role is both deeply human and highly strategic — requiring the ability to hold space for survivor stories while securing the structural change necessary to ensure those stories lead to justice and healing for generations to come.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

National Leadership and Public Voice

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.

Fundraising and Resource Development

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.

Strategic and Institutional Leadership

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.

Survivor-Centered and Trauma-Informed Leadership

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.

Organizational Leadership

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.

Governance Partnership

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.

$150,000-180,000 annually