Program Director

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position: Programs Director

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Salary: $130,000 DOE

Reports to: Executive Director

Supervises: Events & Community Coordinator

Location: Seattle, WA, with additional travel as needed

Schedule: Full-Time (average 40 hours per week), Hybrid schedule with 3 office days required per week

Target Hire Date: April 27, 2026

POSITION FOCUS

The Programs Director stewards the heart of Na’ah Illahee Fund’s work, translating our mission into lived practice through regranting, fiscal sponsorship, and convenings. This role nurtures trust-based funding relationships, supports Indigenous-led projects through aligned fiscal stewardship, and creates spaces where communities gather to share knowledge, build strategy, and strengthen collective futures. Rooted in Indigenous values of reciprocity, sovereignty, and care, the Programs & Grantmaking Director weaves relationships, systems, and resources together to advance self-determined Indigenous economies, protect land and water, and sustain cultural lifeways for generations to come.

KEY OBJECTIVES OF THIS ROLE

This role provides strategic oversight and relational leadership for program areas while collaborating with and supervising staff, consultants, and contractors who support grantmaking, fiscal sponsorship operations, and convening logistics

• Steward NIF’s regranting program as the organization’s primary community-facing investment strategy
• Lead fiscal sponsorship systems and relationships grounded in alignment, accountability, and capacity-building
• Oversee convenings and community-facing events, including supervision of the Events & Community Coordinator and collaboration with the Development Director on donor and partner gatherings
• Build strong internal systems and relationships that support learning, accountability, and program decisions guided by NIF’s shared decision-making lens

RESPONSIBILITIES & AREAS OF FOCUS

Regranting Leadership (Primary Focus – 35%)

• Lead the regranting program through quarterly cycles culminating in $1m+ donated to community projects
• Responsible for outreach, application design and support, database/applicant management, facilitation of a review committee, and follow-up with grantees
• Steward trust-based relationships with grantees and ensure funding practices are accessible, transparent, culturally grounded, and community-informed
• Track grant budgets, timelines, and reporting to support strong accountability and learning

Fiscal Sponsorship (Secondary Focus – 25%)

• Lead onboarding, agreements, compliance, and relationship management for fiscally sponsored partners
• Serve as primary relational lead for sponsees, providing coaching and mentorship in program development, nonprofit management, and organizational growth
• Coordinate capacity-building support for sponsees, including program design, fundraising, grant management, and operational development
• Collaborate with NIF’s Finance Team to ensure budget development, financial oversight, and pathways toward sustainability and self-determination

Convenings & Network-Building (Secondary Focus – 20%)

• Design and facilitate community/grantee events like Weaving Connections and Tradewinds
• Shape agendas that strengthen relationships, shared strategy, and peer learning
• Supervise the Events & Community Coordinator to support event logistics and communications
• Support post-convening follow-up and relationship continuity

Donor & Partnership Engagement (15%)

• Cultivate relationships with Tribes, Indigenous organizations, and regional partners
• Represent NIF in gatherings, coalitions, and movement spaces
• Partner with Development to align donor engagement gatherings with program strategy and community focus
• Support events such as Tides of Kinship and other relationship-based fundraising spaces

Evaluation, Learning & Reporting (5%)

• Support storytelling and learning-based evaluation
• Produce reports for internal learning and community accountability
• Responsible for program grant deliverables and reporting to funders

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in nonprofit program leadership, Indigenous community initiatives, and grantmaking or fiscal sponsorship
• Demonstrated commitment to Indigenous sovereignty, accountability, and relationship-based practice with ability to build trust-based partnerships
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including managing multiple projects, budgets, and timelines
• Skilled facilitator and communicator with experience supervising staff, consultants, or contractors and coordinating cross-functional teams

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• Minimum seven (7) years of leadership experience in nonprofit, public, or community-based sectors
• Experience working in deep partnership with place-based or identity-based communities
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience are considered

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in regional convening, network-building, or movement strategy
• Familiarity with Indigenous economies, networks, cultural revitalization, food sovereignty, or land and water stewardship
• Experience working across Tribal, urban, and rural Indigenous contexts
• Knowledge of Indigenous governance, sovereignty, and community accountability practices

BENEFITS

• Employer covered Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance for employees
• Basic Life, AD&D, FSA, and commuter benefit (ORCA card)
• 401K with employer match to support your financial future
• Professional development and home office stipend
• Generous PTO, including holidays, sick leave, cultural leave, and vacation

Na’ah Illahee Fund is a Native-led organization committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We believe our team should reflect the communities we serve, and we integrate equity into all our employment practices. We encourage applicants from underrepresented communities to apply. Ideal candidates will demonstrate an understanding of our mission to advance environmental justice, food sovereignty, and economic self-determination.