Executive Director of Education

WILTON RANCHERIA•Elk Grove, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Executive Director of Education provides strategic, administrative, and programmatic leadership for education services serving Wilton Rancheria Tribal Citizens from early learning through postsecondary education, workforce development, and lifelong learning. The position designs, implements, evaluates, and continuously improves culturally responsive programs that promote academic achievement, career readiness, family engagement, Tribal history, language, cultural values, youth leadership, and community well-being. The Executive Director is accountable for departmental planning, fiscal stewardship, compliance, staff leadership, partnerships, and clear reporting to Tribal leadership and the community.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Education, Educational Administration, Child Development, Social Work, Public Administration, Tribal Administration, or a closely related field.
Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in education including hands-on classroom teaching, youth development, student services, workforce development, or a closely related human-services field.
Five (5) years of successful supervisory or management experience.
Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, evaluating, and expanding education or youth programs.
Demonstrated experience managing program budgets, fiscal reporting, grants, contracts, and multiple concurrent projects.
Demonstrated experience working directly with youth and families and building effective relationships with schools, administrators, parents or guardians, and community partners.
Experience administering scholarships, education assistance, student support, workforce, postsecondary, adult education, or comparable programs.
Must possess a valid California Driver’s License, a safe driving record, and be insurable under the Tribe’s vehicle insurance policy.
Ability to pass all required pre-employment and ongoing screening, which may include background investigation, fingerprinting, drug testing.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, travel, and community events.

Nice To Haves

Relevant professional certification, credential, or licensure related to education or program administration.
Experience working with Native American or Tribal communities, with knowledge of the Wilton Rancheria Tribal community strongly preferred.
Experience supporting students with IEPs, learning differences, or other barriers to academic success.
Experience serving at-risk youth and implementing trauma-informed, culturally responsive, or strengths-based youth engagement practices.
Experience launching a Boys and Girls Club, youth center, after-school program, workforce development program, or comparable multi-service initiative.

Responsibilities

Provide executive leadership for the Department of Education and translate Tribal priorities, the Department vision, and approved budgets into annual operating plans, measurable program objectives, timelines, staffing plans, and service standards.
Design, administer, monitor, and evaluate educational programs and services for preschool, K–12, postsecondary, adult learners, and Tribal Citizens pursuing career, vocational, or entrepreneurial goals.
Lead educational support services, including Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Student Success Team (SST) assistance, tutoring, home school support, student success planning, case management, and referrals.
Oversee the Higher Education Scholarship and Adult Education Assistance Programs.
Oversee career and workforce planning services, including career and personality assessments, education and training pathways, transition and advancement counseling, employment readiness, trade and graduate school guidance, and coordination of appropriate business start-up resources.
Lead the rollout and phased implementation of the Boys and Girls Club and other youth-centered programming.
Lead family and community engagement through educational gatherings, graduation recognition, backpack distribution, summer and year-round activities, speaker series, cultural education, language activities, and other approved events.
Develop the Youth Leadership Initiative to build leadership skills, elevate youth voices, encourage service and stewardship, and strengthen connections among youth, families, culture, lands, and Indigenous worldviews.
Plan and oversee the Small Business Assistance initiative.
Promote Wilton Rancheria cultural values, history, language, traditions, and community priorities throughout Department programs, curricula, partnerships, communications, and events. Coordinate with cultural knowledge holders and appropriate Tribal departments when developing content.
Build and maintain productive relationships with Tribal Citizens, students, parents and guardians, schools, colleges, training providers, Tribal colleges, community partners, contractors, and public or private agencies.
Maintain regular communication with Tribal youth, postsecondary students, adult learners, and families to identify needs, monitor progress, connect participants to resources, and support completion of educational and career goals.
Provide or coordinate college, vocational, and career guidance, including application planning, college essays, admissions processes, financial aid referrals, transition support, and post-graduation career planning.
Develop, manage, and monitor the Department budget. Review expenditures, forecasts, fiscal reports, scholarship and assistance commitments, contracts, professional services, supplies, facilities, events, and other program costs. Submit proposed budgets and amendments through the established administrative and Tribal approval process.
Oversee grants and sponsored programs. Ensure grant-funded activities remain aligned with approved scope and requirements.
Plan and administer contracts, professional services, rental space, equipment, software, transportation, and facility-related needs.
Establish systems for record keeping. Protect confidential and sensitive information and ensure records are retained and handled in accordance with Tribal policy and applicable requirements.
Develop performance measures and reporting methods to evaluate participation, service quality, academic support, student progress, program outcomes, community engagement, and progress toward Department goals. Use findings to recommend program improvements and resource adjustments.
Prepare accurate and timely reports, presentations, budget narratives, policies, procedures, correspondence, outreach materials, and program information for the CAO, Tribal leadership, participants, and partner agencies, as appropriate.
Recruit, orient, supervise, coach, mentor, and evaluate Department managers and staff. Set clear expectations, delegate appropriately, support professional development, resolve workplace issues professionally, and maintain an accountable and collaborative work environment.
Facilitate meetings, trainings, conferences, parent discussions, community presentations, and cross-department coordination. Represent the Department professionally at internal and external meetings.
Ensure Department operations comply with the Department of Education Establishment and Organization Act, Tribal laws and policies, approved budgets, funding requirements, safety standards, and other applicable requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Administrative Officer.