NAYA Family Center is the beating heart and cultural hub of Portland’s Native American community. Founded in 1974 by parent and Elder volunteers as a place for youth to engage in sports and recreation, today NAYA is a powerhouse.

We have become a model for community based organizations for Native people and beyond. Through our partnership with the Siletz Tribe, we are the first organization in the Pacific Northwest to implement tribal preference in housing that’s outside a reservation setting. This year, we will open our own property management company, further strengthening our housing prowess. We will also open a shelter with culturally specific wraparound services that will end the cycle of homelessness. We are providing leadership to the Reimagining Justice in Cully Neighborhood program. Our high school, Many Nations Academy , is thriving and has full enrollment.

In the last few decades, we have become a powerful advocacy organization, giving strong voice to the priorities of Native people at the local, state, and national level through our 501(c)(4) NAYA Action Fund and our Political Advocacy & Community Engagement (PACE) work. Read more about our legislative priorities .

And of course, NAYA is still a gathering center for Native people to practice tradition, teach culture, and build community, infant to Elder. We still provide after school sports, arts, mentoring and education support. These important programs work as well now as they did for our first youth in 1974.

Today we employ more than 175 staff and have a stable and substantial annual budget in excess of $20 million. Our programs and services impact over 10,000 people from over 380 tribal backgrounds.

We are one of Portland’s oldest, largest, and most well respected nonprofit organizations.

Read our Position Prospectus for complete details about this role and instructions about how to apply.

Ideal Candidate Profile

NAYA seeks a thoughtful, decisive leader with a successful track record of leadership. Experience leading a group or organization with a broad community mission is required.

• A Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of ten years of leadership experience is required. Experience as a CEO or Executive Director is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with the Native American community, including working within a tribe, board or other Native organization is required.
• Experience with board development, fundraising, and grant management is strongly preferred.
• Experience with affordable housing development or other tax credit projects is preferred.
• Experience making large and substantive decisions for your organization, e.g. funding decisions, partnering decisions and decisions about your organization’s scope and commitments.
• Ideally, experience with programs and services for communities that have historically been underserved.
• Extraordinary communication skills, including the ability to inspire and persuade groups of all sizes.
• Knowledge of Native American history; understanding of the diversity of the American Indian/Alaskan Native community; understanding of issues surrounding the Urban Native experience.
• Strong decision making skills and the ability to make sound decisions quickly and with imperfect information.
• Coalition building skills. The ability to connect funders, government organizations, nonprofit partners and community members and bring groups to consensus.
• Organization skills such as setting priorities, hiring talented and diverse teams, reorganizing teams, and starting up new functions.
• A strong relationship orientation. Deep connections in the Native or nonprofit community. The ability to establish trust and build new relationships quickly.
• True enjoyment of group activities such as fundraisers, convenings, government meetings and informal gatherings, including the ability to lead these.
• Strong financial skills. An understanding of which budget and financial data an executive must manage closely and how to partner successfully with a capable CFO.
• The strongest commitment to ethical conduct and the ability to inspire this in others.

Responsibilities

Leadership, Strategic Vision and Board Management

• Collaborate with the board of directors and leadership team to update and publish NAYA’s Strategic Plan.
• Implement the strategic plan by setting priorities, allocating resources and providing direction.
• In partnership with the board, build a diverse and effective board that is highly engaged and willing to leverage relationships and secure resources for NAYA’s benefit.
• Cultivate a trusting and transparent working relationship with the board including providing open communication about performance against goals and organizational challenges.
• Provide inspirational leadership to staff. Develop a clear view of what your staff needs. Take the time to meet every staff member.
• Be a constant and visible role model of NAYA’s values of Respect, Balance, Pride, Giving, Community, Tradition, Kindness, Accountability, Diversity, and Leadership.

Financial Resources Development

• In collaboration with the board of directors, establish financial sustainability plans (as part of the Strategic Plan) that will ensure the long term viability and fiscal health of NAYA.
• In coordination with the Director of Development and Communications, establish a fundraising plan that complements the Strategic Plan. Conduct capital campaigns and establish an endowment.
• Build lasting relationships with funders, donors, foundations and corporate partners.
• Take the lead at fundraising and other public events, inspiring confidence in the NAYA organization.

Community Engagement and Advocacy

• Participate in Native events across the region and get to know our people. Sit with Elders.
• Establish partnerships with organizations and agencies that advance the mission of the NAYA.
• Stay current on data and research related to the shared priorities of Portland’s Native community and communities of color.
• Advocate for policy change and new resources at the local, regional and national level, and ensure alignment with the NAYA Action Fund 501(c)(4).

Strengthening Infrastructure

• Ensure the delivery of high quality, culturally responsive programs and services. Strengthen program connectedness with communities who live at our affordable housing properties.
• Maintain the campus and its evolving uses as the heart and hub of the Native Community.
• Grow the organization to meet its strategic plans. Ensure the hiring of exceptional talent.
• Invest in the organization’s leaders with the goal of every staff member having a talented and compassionate supervisor.
• Facilitate internal communications with the aim of every staff member feeling as if they know what is happening, generally, around the organization.
• Oversee the financial health of the organization including developing financial plans and priorities, monitoring the budget and ensuring sound financial controls are in place.
• Promote a work environment that supports and inspires every NAYA employee.

To Apply

NAYA has retained Poston and Associates , a Native woman owned firm, to lead this recruitment. To apply, email your resume and a cover letter describing your interest in the role to Stephine Poston .

We welcome inquiries and invite you to contact Steph directly if you would like to have an informal conversation in advance of applying.

Pay and benefits for this role are substantial and competitive with leadership roles in the nonprofit and for profit sectors. Should you wish to discuss compensation in advance of applying, please reach out to Steph.