Department Chair - Tribal Governance and Business Management

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Department Chair - Tribal Governance and Business Management

Full-Time, 12 Months

REPOSTING DATE: February 5, 2026 REVIEW DATE: March 2, 2026 CLOSING DATE: Open until Filled

LOCATION: Lummi Campus

SUPERVISOR: Dean of Academic

SALARY: $55,000 - $70,000

The salary placement upon hire will be based on the selected candidates education and relevant work experience as outlined in the job announcement and the established salary schedule for the classification of position to be filled.

SCOPE OF WORK

Under the direction of the Dean of Academic and Distance Learning, the Tribal Governance and Business Management Department Chair is the academic, research, and services leader of the department and is responsible for its overall development and academic integrity. The position provides leadership and coordination for all activities in the Tribal Governance and Business Management Department, including setting program direction, establishing priorities with faculty members, and promoting a continuous improvement model.

The position promotes and secures competitive funding to help sustain the TGBM Program at Northwest Indian College. The Department Chair works in collaboration with other Department Chairs to improve academic services and programs offered by the NWIC.

The Department Chair is expected to be familiar with key principles and understandings of Indigenous Tribal Governance and Business Management, which should serve as a foundation of dialogue and discussion regarding curriculum development.

This position provides leadership and coordination of the research projects undertaken by department faculty. Additionally, the Department Chair is responsible for ensuring high-quality classroom instruction by supervising and supporting professional development of department faculty, and by developing curriculum and pedagogical practices that are consistent with the mission and goals of the College and its programs.

The Department Chair is responsible for providing distance learning program delivery to all sites offering the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Tribal Governance and Business Management and for oversight of the development of online courses where appropriate.

The Department Chair will also sit on the NWIC leadership team and engage in other committee work when appropriate.

Northwest Indian College hiring practices include adherence to the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, U.S. Code, Section 473). NWIC supports and provides equal opportunity employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, or genetic information.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Leadership and Management • This position will lead the department in adhering to the Colleges stated mission, goals, and program outcomes and the promotion of NWICs commitment to student success. • This position will work in collaboration with college administration and TGBM department faculty to implement the vision for the TGBM Program and continuously improve the program outcomes. • This position will also initiate and participate in annual institutional assessment activities.

2. Program Funding and Research • This position is responsible for identifying funding sources and preparing grant proposals to support the program. • This position develops and utilizes professional networks in developing grant opportunities and proposals. • This position oversees the departments adherence to department standards, promotion, development, and implementation of research, and ensures that appropriate links are made between research projects. • The Department Chair oversees the budgetary process and will communicate directly to the Academic Dean on budgetary needs or plans.

3. Collaborative Partnerships • This position develops and maintains strong working partnerships between institutions of higher education, particularly as they relate to Tribal Governance and Business Management. • This position promotes effective relationships with NWICs extended sites, Northwest tribes, and Tribal Governance and Business Management agencies/organizations. • The position advocates for the department with external agencies and institutions and recognizes the perspectives held by various external public organizations and structures the departments communications with these groups to enhance relationships with them.

4. Curriculum and Instruction • This position works with faculty to implement the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Tribal Governance and Business Management and the two-year Business and Entrepreneurship degree program outcomes, including implementation of the foundational courses, in alignment with our institutional outcomes and ensuring an Indigenous framework for the curriculum. • This position works with department members to ensure curricular consistency, and that Indigenous knowledge is the framework for the curriculum. • The position leads the department to develop and revise department curricula and instructional practices; develops and reviews department curriculum; leads the curricula review process and prepares reports. • The position assists with building the capacity of student/faculty research and manages accreditation for the department. • The Department Chair will also be responsible for teaching at least one course annually.

5. Institutional Participation • This is not a remote position as it requires participation in regular meetings of all department chairs to discuss and evaluate curriculum and to ensure effective and collaborative decisions across departments. • This position consults with other faculty advisors in the department on student academic issues, including placement, registration, advising, add/drop processes, and administrative withdrawal procedures. • This position creates and confirms class assignments and student registration (in collaboration with other department chairs) using student registration information. • This position serves on committees that address larger academic and institutional operational and planning initiatives. • This position participates in departmental and college-wide hiring processes at the request of the Dean of Academics and Distance Learning.

6. Supervision and Personnel • This position provides leadership and maintains a climate of open communication, collegiality, and teamwork within the department. • The position supervises departmental faculty in accordance with current College policies and practices; responds to performance needs and participates in personnel matters as appropriate, in consultation with the Academic Dean. • The position consults with department faculty and colleagues on a frequent basis and keeps them informed of activities that impact the department and services. • This position supervises faculty for purposes of performance evaluation and plans and implements professional development and training within the department based on departmental and institutional needs. • The position identifies and recommends candidates for recruitment for new faculty and staff in the department; and provides orientation.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position supervises the faculty and staff assigned to the TGBM Program.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED TO PERFORM THIS POSITION SUCCESSFULLY:

Minimum Qualifications: • Master of Public Administration and Tribal Governance, or Master of Business Administration, or other related discipline • At least two years of administrative experience including curriculum development and oversight as well as grant management at a higher education institution • College-level teaching experience in Tribal Governance and/or Business (may be concurrent with administrative experience), preferably with experience teaching Native American students • Demonstrated ability and interest in working with Native American people • Strong written and oral communications skills

Preferred Qualifications: • An understanding and support of the co-articulation of Western and Native Tribal Governance and Business perspectives, offering students the fundamental knowledge and experience necessary to succeed in the areas of leadership, sovereignty, economic, entrepreneurship, and management • A strong background in and understanding of the relationship between the skills, knowledge, and experience that a student needs to be effective and successful in leading tribal governments and business organizations with respect to sovereignty and cultural values • Successful experience in grant writing for program support and expansion • Research experience in Tribal Governance, Native Nation Building, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development • Knowledge and experience with grant programs that focus on Native Nation Building and advancing educational pursuits • Experience working with a tribal college and/or a tribal community • Experience working in a college setting and in a team environment • Experience with and sensitivity to Native American people and cultural customs

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested individuals should submit the following application materials directly to NWIC Human Resources Office or online at employment@nwic.edu.

1. Cover letter addressing how you meet the position qualifications
2. NWIC Application
3. NWIC Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) form
4. Current and complete professional resume
5. Copies of college transcripts (can submit unofficial copies at time of application)
6. Three letters of recommendation from people who are not members of your immediate family, who have firsthand knowledge of your qualifications for the position
7. If applicable to the position, provide copies of certificates/licenses/credentials

The job announcement and application forms are available online at https://www.nwic.edu/about-nwic/employment/ or may be requested from and submitted directly to:

Human Resources Northwest Indian College 2522 Kwina Road Bellingham, WA 98226-9278 Telephone/Fax: 360.392.4220 Email: employment@nwic.edu