Responsibilities

• Direct Supervision: Provide administrative supervision and organizational integration support to a team, including the Editor-in-Chief, Events Coordinator, and Communications Administrator. With respect to the Tribal College Journal, supervision pertains to budgetary coordination, personnel processes, and organizational alignment; editorial authority remains exclusively with the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the TCJ Advisory Board.
• Integrated Communications: Develop and lead a comprehensive communications strategy that aligns advocacy, research, data, and initiatives with AIHEC’s strategic plan and policy priorities.
• Brand Stewardship: Ensure consistent brand voice, cultural awareness, and professional integrity across all organizational outputs, with particular attention to Tribal sovereignty and policy priorities.
• Executive Advising: Serve as a strategic advisor to the President & CEO on communications, public positions, thought leadership, and reputational considerations.
• Performance and Metrics: Establish to assess communication effectiveness, audience reach, engagements, and narrative impact.
• Editorial & Content: Collaborate with the Editor-in-Chief of the Tribal College Journal to ensure strategic coordination and organizational awareness of institutional initiatives, while fully preserving the Journal’s established editorial independence. Tribal College Journal operates within an academic publishing framework led by the Editor-in-Chief and guided by the TCJ Advisory Board. The Editor-in-Chief retains sole authority over editorial scope, acquisitions, theme development, editorial content, design, and layout for Tribal College Journal, TCJ Student, and Tribal College Press. The Senior Director provides administrative support, budget coordination, and institutional alignment but does not determine editorial content.
• Events & Engagement: Provide strategic oversight to the Events Coordinator for the planning and execution of large-scale conferences, board meetings, and culture-building activities.
• Administrative Operations: Direct the Communications Administrator in managing budgets, contracts with external vendors, and departmental reporting.
• Media Relations: Act as a primary point of contact for media inquiries and develop relationships with national and Tribal news outlets.
• Policy Communication: Translate complex public policy issues into accessible messaging for member institutions, policymakers, funders, and the public.
• Crisis Management: Lead communications efforts during sensitive organizational or community-based developments or political moments with discretion and professionalism.