We are looking for a talented person to support and grow the Bush Foundation’s relationships and work with our partners in the 23 Native nations that share geography with Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. The right candidate will be excited to put their strategic and interpersonal skills to use in a dynamic and highly collaborative mission-driven organization.

About Us

The Bush Foundation is a private foundation based in St. Paul, Minnesota. We invest in great ideas and the people who power them, helping individuals and organizations think bigger and think differently about what is possible for their communities.

The Foundation was established in 1953 by 3M executive Archibald Bush and his wife, Edyth, and today works in communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share the same geography.

The Native Nations Activities Manager is a member of the Foundation’s Strategy and Learning team, home for several strategic investment portfolios aimed at funding, building expertise and making a significant impact in a select number of key issue areas (Education, Native Nation Building and Community Creativity). These portfolios are at varying degrees of development; when fully implemented, each will include 1) investments in major initiatives where the Foundation partners with innovative organizations that are achieving results 2) ecosystem grants where the Foundation provides operating support to organizations that create the environment where change can flourish and 3) support for capacity building and leadership development for the people involved in leading these changes.

You can find much more about these programs and other Foundation activities at http://www.bushfoundation.org/.

Job Purpose

The Native Nations Activities Manager advances the goals of the Bush Foundation by strengthening the ties between the Foundation and its partners across 23 Native nations that share geography with Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. This manager works across all of the Foundation’s program areas to assist in the development of strategy as well as outreach and promotion of grant opportunities and grantee selection. This is a new position.

Core Responsibilities & Key Relationships

• Serve as a member of the Strategy & Learning team helping to identify, develop and manage “Major Investments” in areas such as education, nation building, community creativity and other strategic areas that may develop, with a focus on investments with Native nations and/or with Native Americans.

• Serve as lead relationship and engagement manager with the 23 Native nations that share geography with Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Work with other Foundation staff to reach out to, educate, network with and recruit potential Native grantees, fellows and partners for the Strategy & Learning, Community Innovation and Leadership teams.

• Support sourcing and selection of Ecosystem Grants.

• Share information from, with and to Board members, Advisory Committee members, partners, contacts and or news media in the Native nations as needed.

• Lead regular annual process to review and assess how well the Foundation is serving the Native nations and Native Americans in our region and identify priorities with program teams.

• Apply program strategy and guidelines with minimal guidance from supervisor, and with significant judgement and discretion.

• Shape and guide evaluation of programs. Lead continuous learning on programs, including learning papers and sharing lessons internally and externally.

• Demonstrate content expertise in internal and external settings.

• Actively demonstrate core organizational values in performing all duties.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least five years of experience building and maintaining effective partnerships with Native nations. Specific knowledge of and/or experience with some of the 23 Native nations in this region is strongly desired.

• Public policy and community experience desired, including experience working with public or community groups, leading community conversations or other public and civic activities.

• Strong communication, interpersonal and project management skills required in order to effectively coordinate work assignments and relationships in the field and across multiple teams.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively interact, communicate, and collaborate with people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.

Working Conditions

This position exists in a general office environment. Some travel may be required, with occasional adjustments to the work schedule in order to participate in events or meet priority deadlines.

Bush Foundation Values

Spread Optimism. We encourage individuals and organizations to think bigger and think differently about what is possible. We are positive and supportive in our internal and external interactions.

Work Beyond Ourselves. We actively seek opportunities to work in true collaboration with others to have more impact. We are willing to both lead and follow. We candidly share what we learn with

Everybody Matters. We are a champion for both excellence and equity inside and out of the Foundation. We have fair, open and inclusive processes. We work to raise overall quality of life while also closing opportunity and achievement gaps.

Steward Well. We demonstrate appreciation for the Foundation’s history and thoughtfully build on its legacy. We hold ourselves to high standards of integrity and accountability, and conduct ourselves in a way that we hope would make our founders proud.

More Good Every Year. We are a true learning organization and work to be smarter and more effective every year. We never lose sight of the reason we exist: to do the most possible good with the resources left to the community by Archibald G. Bush.

INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR:

We will be hosting a brief webinar on Friday, January 8 from 12:45 to 1:15 p.m. (central time) to get you better acquainted with the Bush Foundation and the position.

If you’re interested, please join us by clicking on the following link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2489217731010779393

The recording will be available on our website following the webinar.

TO APPLY:

Please send resume and cover letter to [email protected] or to Human Resources, Bush Foundation, 101 Fifth Street East, Suite 2400, St. Paul, MN 55101. We’re eager to fill this position so please apply by 12:00 p.m. (central time) on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 to ensure that your application can be considered.

Help us keep track of your application by adding “Native Nations Activities Manager: [your name]” to the subject line of your email, or to the outside of the envelope. Thanks!

The Bush Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer