Chief Operating Officer

Job Description

The Native American Rights Fund will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds.

ZRG Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with the Native American Rights Fund in their search for a Chief Operating Officer.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an expert and experienced operations executive to help steward an organization at the forefront of advancing and protecting Native rights and help to shape its next chapter. The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will be a key member of NARF’s leadership, partnering closely with the Executive Director and other senior leaders to strengthen and advance the organization’s operations in support of its mission, respond to its tremendous growth, and prepare it for the future.

The COO will oversee Finance & Accounting, Development, Information Technology, Facilities, Human Resources, and Communications and will play a central role in driving cross-organizational alignment and effectiveness. The COO will provide strategic and operational leadership, building the infrastructure, organizational capacity, and culture of operational excellence necessary to advance NARF's mission for years to come.

This inaugural COO role reflects a significant moment in NARF’s evolution. Following a period of substantial growth, including a doubling of its operating budget and a nearly 60 percent increase in staff over the past five years, NARF is poised to further invest in and elevate its operations.

The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is a 55-year-old 501(c)(3) legal organization headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, with offices in Washington, D.C., and Anchorage, Alaska. NARF fights to protect Native American rights, resources, and lifeways through litigation, legal advocacy, and legal expertise.

Since 1970, NARF has provided legal assistance to Native American Tribal Nations, organizations, and individuals nationwide. NARF has successfully asserted and defended the most important rights of Native Americans and Tribal Nations in hundreds of major cases, achieving significant results in such critical areas as Tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, natural resource protection, voting rights, and Indian education.

NARF has over 70 staff members and is governed by a volunteer board of directors composed of thirteen Native Americans from different Tribal Nations throughout the country with a variety of expertise in Indian matters. Highly effective in the pursuit of its mission, throughout its history NARF has impacted tens of thousands of Native people through its work for more than 300 Tribal Nations.

Skills & Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree is required for this role. An advanced degree in business, finance, law, or related field is preferred. Experience working with Native American communities, Tribal governments, and native advocacy organizations is preferred. Experience working with mission-driven organizations, Public Interest Law Firms, or impact litigation non-profit organizations is also desirable.

Salary & Benefits

$268,000 to $307,000 annually