Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children is seeking a passionate, committed leader with strong relational skills to join our National team as our Senior Tribal Programs Specialist. Is working for a mission-centered organization that inspires you a critical part of your career journey? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you.

Our mission is to impact generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with paid professional mentors for 12+ years no matter what. Our work is powered by our belief in our values. We put children first; build relationships on love; commit to empowerment; pursue goals relentlessly; and unlock all potential. The Senior Tribal Programs Specialist reports to the Chief Officer of Advancement and Tribal Relations.  The ideal candidate will have proven experience cultivating and maintaining relationships with Sovereign Tribal Nations by ensuring effective development and implementation of tribal specific tools, resources, and best practices focusing on the development of high quality Tribal programming.

Are you this amazing leader? Here's what we have to offer you:

• Opportunity to help grow and support an organization that empowers youth to set and achieve their goals.
• A team of talented employees who are passionate about working together to create an extraordinary and impactful organization.
• Respect for work-life harmony. Allowing for and encouraging personal well-being and balance is a priority for Friends of the Children.
• Compensation commensurate with experience and geographical location: $62k-$72k

Curious to learn more? The job description is below:

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended as a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Basic Function / Position Overview:  

The Senior Tribal Programs Specialist is part of the Tribal Programs office within the Strategy and Innovation team, focusing on the development of high quality Tribal programming, new chapter launch and ongoing chapter support with a focus on Tribal youth, families and communities. In collaboration with the Chief Officer of Advancement and Tribal Relations, this position is responsible for and will support cultivating and maintaining relationships between Friends of the Children and Sovereign Tribal Nations by ensuring effective development and implementation of tribal specific tools, resources, and best practices. They will be responsible for helping to create relationships with Sovereign Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities to intentionally serve existing Indigenous serving sites and expand into new locations. The Senior Tribal Programs Specialist will also collaborate with the Launch and Implementation team and is responsible for ensuring that hiring practices and implementation practices meet the needs of Indigenous communities. Serve as subject matter expert for the development and knowledge advancement of Friends and Program Directors that work closely with Tribal youth, families, and communities. They will support both new and existing chapters who work closely with Tribal youth, families and communities, facilitating effective communication throughout the organization. They will identify training and developmental needs and work in collaboration with the National Center of Excellence to drive suitable training initiatives that build the organization’s capacity to provide excellent service to Tribal youth, families and communities. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Tribal Programs Development and Implementation

• Serve as an internal subject matter expert on tribal histories, treaties, sovereignty, self-governance, protocols, customs and traditions, and Indigenous cultural resources for Friends of the Children.  
• Develop topics for and facilitate Buffalo Circle working group. 
• Lead Quality Improvement efforts on behalf of Tribal Programs.  
• Approve and develop Tribal specific marketing/outreach materials.  
• Support and contribute to development of Indigenous specific trainings to support the National team, National Board, and chapters throughout the Friends of the Children Network.     
• Create and maintain relationships with Indigenous serving organizations who work nationally and locally.    
• Gather and compile data specific to chapters that fall within the scope of Tribal Programs.  
• Serve a liaison and subject matter expert between Launch and Implementation, Chapter Success and Tribal Programs.     
• Collaborate with the National Center of Excellence to identify and assess future and current training needs.
• Organize and support in-person and virtual convenings.
• Coordinate and organize meetings for Tribal Programs team.  
• Collaborate with Tribal Programs team and consultants to create documents, tools, and resources to support expansion and ongoing chapter support.     
• Attend and co-present at events that enhance and move forward Indigenous body of work for Friends of the Children.

Chapter Launch and Ongoing Support/Technical Assistance

• Lead and support new chapter launch activities, working with new chapter program directors. Provide strategic and tactical expertise regarding implementation of the program in Indigenous communities.
• Build relationships with community leaders, including but not limited to investors in new/expansion markets that have invited a partnership conversation about implementing the Friends of the Children model.
• Provide cultural guidance and participate in recruiting and hiring of Friends and Program Directors, including interviewing candidates, organizing and/or presenting training sessions.
• Assist with Program tasks associated with expansion into new communities, including youth enrollment
• Support network in holding chapters accountable for work performance: adequacy of time spent with children, quality and diversity of activities with children, and administrative responsibilities, providing continuous constructive feedback and coaching as necessary. Work with HR, Chief Officer of Tribal Relations, and Chief Officer of Launch & Implementation to resolve issues as needed. 
• Ensure compliance with and accountability to organization’s policies, procedures, and practices as outlined in the Employee and Friends Handbooks. 
• Provide training and technical assistance to Indigenous serving chapters, coordinating with the Chapter Launch and Implementation and Chapter Success teams as needed. 
• Ensure fidelity to Tribal Programs best practices and approach to Indigenized Friends of the Children model.
• Travel (10-20%) for launch and pre-launch activities and to support Indigenous serving chapters.

Additional Responsibilities:        

• Understand and support the organization’s mission, vision, values and principles and be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function.
• Know and understand the needs and issues of children served by the program.  Monitor Program Performance Scorecard outcomes for assigned chapters/locations. Work with Launch and Implementation and Chapter Success teams to problem solve when chapter support is shared
• Develop and sustain honest and trusting relationships with colleagues and inspire and motivate team members within the national team and across the network.  Serve as a role model both for effective Friend/child relationships and as a professional, ensuring a positive and professional work environment.
• Act as a collaborative leader and advisor for network management by providing support and resourceful solutions to concerns and challenges.
• Actively participate as a member of the national team, participating in making, implementing, and upholding decisions or policies related to the operations of the organization.  Effectively lead and support organizational change.
• Work collaboratively with network and national management to determine areas of improvement and develop the necessary trainings that support the advancement of the program. Monitor implementation and adoption.    
• Communicate effectively and appropriately throughout the organization regarding organizational issues, concerns, policies and procedures.  Raise and resolve issues appropriately.  

Essential Skills and Abilities:

• Minimum 3-5 years of experience working with sovereign tribal nations.   
• Knowledge of tribal, state and federal Indian law and policy.    
• Knowledge of Indigenous historic and cultural resources.
• Ability to advise on and support relationship building with tribal nations  
• Ability to coordinate closely with a broad range of internal and external team members, agencies, departments, Tribal governments, staff stakeholders to efficiently advance the mission . 
• Strong cross-cultural communication and collaboration skills. 
• Competency and skills in the basic principles of project management including project development, planning and monitoring.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the demonstrated ability to resolve conflict, and help others do the same.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; organizational and time management, delegation and follow-up skills.
• Strong training and presentation skills.
• Effective, appropriate and professional supervisory and leadership skills and behaviors.
• Demonstrated ability to influence the behavior of others to achieve necessary results.
• In depth understanding of the role of a Friend, as well as of the issues faced by our program children.
• Ability to use creativity and initiative in guiding others to plan activities that continually develop children.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise excellent judgment related to maintaining confidentiality and communicating appropriately within the workplace, and to hold others accountable for the same.
• Proficient computer and keyboarding skills, proficiency with e-mail systems, familiarity with MS Outlook and Access (or other database applications).
• Ability to exercise good judgment independently, in various situations and environments, and under varying levels of stress, and to develop others to do the same.

The ideal candidate will have the following Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Four years experience working with Sovereign Tribal Nations or programs supporting Indigenous communities in support or leadership position(s), including programmatic or executive level support experience. 

Culture of Belonging:

Friends of the Children endeavors to create a culture where each and every staff knows they belong.  From our policies to our procedures and practices, we aim to create an environment that is healthy, safe, accepting, supportive, and kind. Our benefits are one way to depict our value for work harmony, empowerment, health, and happiness.

Benefits: Our competitive compensation, benefits package, and employee engagement demonstrate our values to families, children, healthy relationships, love, empowerment, goal achievement, and equity.  We are continuously seeking feedback and researching best practices to meet the needs of staff and their families. Below are ways we actualize a culture of care for each and every staff member.

• Health: Friends of the Children had covers 100% of employee only health premium for 2 of the 3 plans
• Dental: Friends of the Children covers 100% of employee only premium
• Vision: Friends of the Children covers 100% of employee only premium
• Basic Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment: 100% paid by Friends of the Children
• Short Term Disability and Long-Term Disability: 100% paid by Friends of the Children
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Employees may contribute to an FSA account: Healthcare FSA minimum of $100 maximum of $3,300.
• Employee Assistance Program
• Voluntary Benefits such as Critical Illness, Hospitalization, Legal, etc.
• 401(k) savings plan with a company matches up to the first 4% of earnings that the employee contributes.
• Cell phone and/or Internet Reimbursement: Employee is eligible for cell phone and/or internet business expenses up to $75/month ($37.50/pay period), maximum.
• Office reimbursement of $150 per year on anniversary date.
• Time off:
  • Vacation: Full-time employees of Friends are eligible for up to three weeks of paid vacation annually for the first 4 years.  The first year the time is pro-rated and vacation increases to honor length of service.
  • Sick Time: Regular, full-time employees are awarded two weeks/80 hours of sick time on January 1 of each year. New employees are awarded prorated sick time, not less than 48 hours. Sick time can be used to care for your own physical and mental wellbeing or that of a family member.
• Holidays: Eleven paid holidays. Three of which are Floating holidays to help honor how people choose to celebrate their cultural and religious holidays.
• Flexible work schedule/Remote/Hybrid work. (In collaboration with Management and as the duties of the role necessitates.)
• Career Development and Wellness Reimbursement of up to $1000 after the first year of employment. Up to $200 can be used for Wellness. 
• Summer hours and end of year holiday gift of time off. (Assessed annually by Executive Management.)
• Employee Perks and Discount Programs including savings on hotels, rental cars, travel, entertainment, streaming services, electronics, eCommerce, and so much more.

Compensation:

•  $62k-$72k (Compensation commensurate with experience and geographical location)

Location

• Remote/Virtual

Applications without cover letters will not be considered; please use this as an opportunity to convey why you want to be the Senior Tribal Program Specialist at Friends of the Children!

Friends of the Children is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices, and to working toward racial equity. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants. Friends of the Children hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.

Friends of the Children is growing rapidly as communities across the country are experiencing the power of how “One” changes a child's story: One Friend. One Child. 12+ years. No matter what. #ThePowerOfOne

Learn more at friendsofthechildren.org or find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @FriendsNational.