Director of Tribal Initiatives & Collaborations

University of North Dakota•Grand Forks, ND

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director advances UND’s mission and responsibilities as a higher education institution by building reciprocal, collaborative, mutual, and trusting relationships with regional Tribal Nations. The role fosters collaborative research, educational partnerships, and philanthropic investments, and provides leadership in Tribal consultation, strategic partnership development, sponsored research, fundraising, and resource development to expand opportunities for Tribal communities, students, faculty, and the University. The Director reports to the AVP of Health Research and collaborates with the university President, Provost, VP Research & Economic Development, Tribal Nation leadership and Tribal Colleges, corporate and foundation partners, UND Marketing and Communications, the UND Foundation, and federal and state funding agencies. The position is hybrid and requires onsite work at UND’s Grand Forks campus at least two days per week, along with frequent travel. It is classified as exempt, 40 hours per week, with an annual salary of $96,900 or more depending on experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from an accredited institution.
Must be willing to travel; travel is frequent.
Professional experience working with North Dakota Tribal communities.
Experience with state and federal research or educational funding agencies.
Experience working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders in a complex organizational environment to advance strategic organizational objectives.
Experience building and maintaining positive relationships with community partners.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presenting information to stakeholders and leading meetings.
Critical-thinking, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Ability to explain policy and technical issues.
Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, lead, and execute studies, projects, or programs and communicate results to senior leadership.
Understanding of matters impacting Tribal, Native, and Indigenous communities and factors affecting the success of Native American and Indigenous faculty, staff, and students in higher education.
Knowledge of and respect for Native American values and cultural competence, particularly related to American Indian culture.
Commitment to and experience with diversity, inclusion, and equity.
Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check.
Must verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire; the position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Experience in fundraising, nonprofit management, higher education, or advancement.
Successful grant writing and proposal development experience with a variety of funding agencies.

Responsibilities

Assemble regional Tribal Nations to develop and implement UND’s Tribal Consultation Policy; coordinate communication and meetings with Tribal representatives, hold consultations, prepare post-consultation reports, incorporate feedback into the policy, and implement it.
Develop a university-wide Tribal Consultation training module for new employees and present policy goals, procedures, and cultural protocols to faculty, trainees, deans, department chairs, researchers, and relevant offices.
Work with the VPRED IRB office to establish a threshold definition for research requiring consultation.
Track UND projects involving Tribal Nations in accordance with the Tribal Consultation Policy and provide UND leadership with an understanding of UND-Tribal partnerships.
Collaborate with University Development, the UND Alumni Association, and academic leadership to strengthen philanthropic funding for Tribal partnerships, Indigenous student success, research, and community engagement.
Work with the AVP for Health Research to develop a Tribal Research portfolio highlighting research and sponsored partnerships with Tribal Colleges and Tribal Nations.
Identify, cultivate, and steward prospective donors, including Tribal organizations, alumni, individuals, corporations, and private foundations.
Assist in developing and implementing fundraising strategies involving grants, foundations, and collaborative research partnerships aligned with UND’s strategic priorities and Tribal engagement goals.
Work with the UND research community and Tribal partners to develop a database of active UND research and educational activities involving Tribal partners.
As appropriate, serve as a leader or team member on externally funded projects involving Tribal communities.
Work with grant teams, including IDEA/EPSCoR, to develop, coordinate, and communicate research and outreach activities to regional Tribal communities.
Develop and compile research reports and impact summaries on outcomes of federal support, philanthropic investments, and sponsored projects for federal partners, Tribal partners, and university leadership.
Meet with UND faculty and leadership and develop strategies to increase the inclusion of Tribal communities in UND research while adhering to the Tribal Consultation Policy.
Develop data-sharing and biological-specimen handling and storage agreements in accordance with the UND Consultation Policy and Tribal data sovereignty.
Coordinate with principal investigators on grant proposals involving Tribal partnerships to obtain Tribal resolutions or agreements and develop intellectual-property agreements.
Coordinate with UND Marketing and Communications to highlight Tribal College research efforts and partnerships with UND.
As appropriate, recruit AI/AN students to join the UND community.