The Thomas A. 1977 and Gina T. Russo 1977 Executive Director

Scheduled hours per week: 40 Scheduled months per year: 12 Remote work eligibility: Hybrid #### Position purpose The **Executive Director of the Dartmouth Tribal Sovereignty Institute** (DTSI) provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and comprehensive oversight for the Institute and its work to advance Tribal sovereignty, Indigenous governance, leadership development, and Nation-building. Reporting directly to the Executive Vice President, the **Executive Director** establishes the Institute’s strategic and organizational direction; builds and sustains meaningful relationships with Tribal Nations, Indigenous communities, and external partners; advances interdisciplinary scholarship and applied learning; and develops the resources and infrastructure necessary to support the Institute’s long-term success. The **Executive Director** serves as a principal bridge between Dartmouth and Indian Country, representing the College externally while ensuring that the perspectives, priorities, and opportunities of Tribal Nations inform the Institute’s work. #### Key accountabilities **Strategic Leadership & Institute Development -** - Leads the continued development and growth of the Dartmouth Tribal Sovereignty Institute and establishes its long-term strategic direction. - Defines and advances the Institute’s strategic priorities, organizational structure, and operating model in alignment with Dartmouth’s mission and institutional goals. - Builds and oversees the governance structures, systems, processes, and organizational infrastructure necessary to support the Institute’s work and continued growth. - Guides the integration, development, and expansion of the Tribal Leadership Academy and Tribal Services and Solutions Project. - Develops frameworks and measures for assessing program effectiveness, institutional impact, and outcomes for Tribal and Indigenous communities. - Leads strategies that advance the Institute’s goals across Dartmouth and fosters collaboration among schools, centers, departments, and academic programs. - Promotes a culture of collaboration, accountability, reciprocity, ethical engagement, and mission-centered leadership. **Tribal, Community & External Relations -** - Builds, sustains, and deepens reciprocal relationships with Tribal Nations, Indigenous organizations, Native leaders, and Indigenous communities in the United States and globally. - Serves as a senior representative of Dartmouth and the Institute in Indian Country, advancing meaningful, respectful, and mutually beneficial engagement with Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities. - Cultivates strategic partnerships across Tribal government, higher education, government, philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, civic institutions, and other sectors. - Serves as the Institute’s principal ambassador and advocate with external partners, advisors, donors, policymakers, and other key stakeholders. - Shapes and communicates the Institute’s public identity, priorities, and impact and strengthens Dartmouth’s leadership in Tribal sovereignty, Indigenous governance, and Indigenous leadership. **Academic, Programmatic & Advancement Leadership -** - Promotes interdisciplinary scholarship and applied research related to Tribal sovereignty, Indigenous governance, federal Indian law, economic development, cultural preservation, community wellbeing, and related areas. - Advances experiential learning and collaborative problem-solving that respond to priorities identified by Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities. - Supports academic initiatives, student engagement, leadership development, and community-based learning opportunities. - Fosters collaboration among Dartmouth faculty, students, researchers, Tribal partners, and other external collaborators. - Partners closely with Dartmouth’s Office of Advancement to develop and execute fundraising strategies that support the Institute’s priorities and long-term sustainability. - Cultivates relationships with donors, foundations, Tribal partners, funding agencies, and other potential supporters. - Develops a sustainable financial model supported by current-use and endowed philanthropy and ensures responsible stewardship of philanthropic investments and institutional resources. **Operations & Organizational Management -** - Oversees the Institute’s administrative, operational, financial, and staffing functions. - Develops and manages budgets and resources in alignment with the Institute’s strategic priorities and Dartmouth’s institutional goals. - Recruits, leads, mentors, and supports staff and program leaders and establishes clear expectations for performance and accountability. - Builds organizational capacity and supports the professional development and effectiveness of the Institute’s team. - Establishes systems and processes that promote effective coordination, communication, accountability, and operational excellence. - Ensures effective integration and coordination across the Institute’s strategic, academic, programmatic, financial, and operational work. - Represents the Institute on institutional committees and strategic initiatives as appropriate. #### Required qualifications: education and experience Masters or equivalent combination of education and experience #### Required qualifications: skills, knowledge and abilities - Six years of relevant work experience. - Demonstrated expertise in Tribal sovereignty, Indigenous governance, federal Indian law, or related fields. - Extensive knowledge of Indian Country and the governmental relationships among Tribal Nations, states, and the federal government. - Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with Tribal Nations, Indigenous communities, and Native leaders. - Demonstrated success leading complex organizations, programs, partnerships, teams, or initiatives. - Experience navigating Tribal government, higher education, government, philanthropy, nonprofit, public policy, and other complex institutional environments. - Strong strategic planning, organizational leadership, financial management, and operational management skills. - Exceptional communication, diplomacy, consensus-building, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of internal and external constituencies. - Demonstrated ability to build coalitions and foster collaboration across organizations, communities, and sectors. - Demonstrated record of advancing meaningful, community-centered outcomes through ethical engagement, accountability, reciprocity, and partnership. - Experience in fundraising, advancement, stakeholder engagement, external relations, or related resource-development activities. - Strong cultural fluency and political judgment in navigating complex relationships and environments. - Entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing and advancing mission-driven initiatives. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills. #### Preferred qualifications - Experience working within or in close partnership with higher education institutions. - Deep familiarity with Indigenous scholarship, leadership development, or community-based research. - Demonstrated success securing philanthropic or institutional support for mission-driven initiatives. - Experience working or leading within higher education or shared governance environments. - Strong understanding of the contemporary opportunities and challenges facing Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities. - Established networks across philanthropy, government, media, civic institutions, or other sectors relevant to advancing the Institute’s work. - Familiarity with Dartmouth College and its historical commitment to Native American and Indigenous education.