Indigenous Right Relations Program Manager

The Nature Conservancy

21h

About The Position

At Nature United, working in Right Relations with Indigenous Peoples is not the responsibility of one team—it is a shared commitment held by every staff member. Our approach recognizes that Indigenous Peoples’ authority, sovereignty, leadership, and capacity are essential for advancing conservation outcomes. To embed this principle across our organization, we strive to create the knowledge, resources, and internal climate that enable all staff to engage with curiosity, respect, and courage. The Indigenous Right Relations (IRR) Program Manager plays a key role in the implementation and evolution of our IRR Strategy and Action Plan by coordinating and supporting our people and teams, including our Board of Directors and international teams, to embed IRR in the way that we work. The Program Manager fosters collaboration across teams, enables learning and accountability, and coordinates tools and guidance to help all staff expand and deepen our approach to working in Right Relations. The IRR Program Manager will convene interdepartmental teams and work with the organization’s programs to coordinate multiple workstreams in support of the IRR Program. Reporting to the Deputy Director, and working with all program teams, the Program Manager exercises independent judgment to identify and develop solutions which enable us to work in Right Relations. This includes completing select projects, connecting innovative ideas, and tracking and reporting on our advancement of our IRR Action Plan to ensure accountability. This role requires organizational skills, and the ability to manage projects with multiple variables and deadlines. They may also coordinate logistics for organizational meetings and special events, create program materials, and perform analysis and research to enhance program success.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years related experience or equivalent combination
• Experience working with or for Indigenous communities or organizations
• Demonstrated experience using diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships and motivate staff;
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and implement multiple projects with complex variables and deadlines.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, including preparing memos, briefing leadership, and supporting decision-making.
• Strong knowledge of organizational systems, processes, and technology use to achieve results (e.g., dashboards, templates, reporting systems).
• Experience generating reports, analyzing data, and maintaining accountability frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of organizational systems and processes, with ability to adapt and improve them.
• Experience working in a matrixed environment and collaborating across multiple teams and organizational levels.
• Proficiency with current technology tools for collaboration, reporting, and project management.
• Fluent English required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience, coursework, or other training in current and evolving trends in training, curriculum design, distance learning, and web based design
• Demonstrated diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships and motivate staff.
• Knowledge of current trends and best practices in Indigenous governance, right relations, and organizational change.
• Strong organizational skills, accuracy, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• A learning and innovation mindset—bringing curiosity and discipline to enable organizational learning, reflection, and continuous improvement.
• A pro-active and structured approach to advance complex and strategic initiatives, requiring broad organizational engagement and participation

Responsibilities

• Act independently guided by our IRR Strategy and Action Plan to prioritize tasks and exercise judgment to identify and solve problems.
• Build and maintain a framework to monitor, measure, and report on progress across organizational outcomes, commitments, initiatives, and actions; integrate into team and organizational reporting systems.
• Work across the organization, at the national, and at times regional and global scales, to coordinate, support, and align Indigenous Right Relations (IRR) commitments, initiatives, and actions.
• Uphold shared expectations for working in right relations across teams, while enabling creative approaches to advancing this work.
• Act as a ready resource to staff teams and the Board for their IRR Commitments
• Collaborate across teams to develop training plans for staff and the Board to reflect, integrate knowledge, and build skills related to working in Right Relations.
• Collaborate with internal and external teams to regularly share information, IRR learnings, align efforts, and scale initiatives as appropriate.
• Manage projects with multiple variables, set realistic deadlines, and ensure accountability.
• Communicate effectively with staff across programs and our Board of Directors.
• Travel (approximately 20%) and work flexible hours as required.

Benefits

• Nature United offers a comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits.
• TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager