Go to Indigenous Education Advocate

Northern California Indian Development Council; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 41,328 - 45,460; Full time

Job summary

A community-based nonprofit organization in California is seeking an Indigenous Education Advocate. The role focuses on strengthening educational justice by supporting Tribal communities and building relationships with various stakeholders. Candidates should have relevant experience in organizing, strong facilitation skills, and a commitment to Indigenous issues. This position involves advocacy efforts, community training, and regular travel across regions, promoting equitable, culturally grounded education.

Qualifications

• Must understand unique issues facing Indigenous people in Northern California.
• Must demonstrate success in building relationships with Native communities.
• High level of organization, attention to detail required.

Responsibilities

• Support Indigenous people in articulating and implementing educational justice visions.
• Build relationships with Tribal leaders and stakeholders.
• Mobilize and train Tribal members to exercise their rights in education.

Skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Facilitation skills

Experience in social justice movements

Organizational skills

Education

1–2 years of relevant experience

Job description

COMPENSATION: $30 to $33 per hour, grant-funded.

SUPERVISOR: Chief Administrative Officer

JOB SITE LOCATION: Eureka, CA (with regional travel)

POSITION SUMMARY

The Indigenous Education Advocate strengthens educational justice efforts across Northern California by supporting Tribal communities in advancing their visions for equitable, culturally grounded education. The position builds and maintains relationships with School Districts, families, students, and Native‑led organizations, and mobilizes community members to understand and exercise their rights within the education system. The Advocate provides training, develops educational materials, and supports community empowerment strategies that elevate Indigenous voices in local and regional education advocacy. The role also contributes to systems‑level change by supporting public education campaigns and district‑level advocacy, while offering limited case assistance and referrals for families navigating disability or disciplinary issues. This position requires strong facilitation skills, cultural competency, and the ability to travel regularly throughout the four‑county region.

REQUIREMENTS

Must have at least 1–2 years of professional or related experience in a relevant field such as movement-building or organizing, Tribal government, policy advocacy, nonprofit or legal services, or the education sector. Applicant must understand the unique issues facing Indigenous people and Native Americans in Northern California and demonstrate familiarity with current Indigenous movements. Must have experience working, volunteering, or participating in social justice movements or organizations. Must have strong interpersonal skills, the ability to lead meetings and trainings, and the ability to plan and implement community events. Must demonstrate success in building and maintaining relationships with Native communities, Native‑led organizations, and Tribes. High level of organization, attention to detail, and follow-through required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience coordinating and organizing logistics, meetings, events, and trainings.
• History of living in or working with Indigenous communities, preferably in Northern California.
• Familiarity with traditional and cultural protocols of Northern California Tribes.
• Strong public speaking and facilitation skills with diverse audiences.
• Experience in education-related advocacy, collaborating with schools or school districts, or with civil rights organizations or campaigns.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The Indigenous Education Advocate performs the following tasks:

Education Advocacy & Community Empowerment:

• Support Indigenous people in articulating and implementing their visions of educational justice in Indian Country.
• Build relationships with Tribal leaders, community members, and stakeholders focused on educational equity.
• Mobilize, train, and support Tribal members, families, students, youth, and other constituents to understand and exercise their rights in the education system.
• Identify, train, and support community leaders and advocates in students’ rights and educational equity strategies.
• Prepare educational programs and materials for community engagement events, adapting content to Indigenous justice contexts.

Advocacy & Systems-Level Change:

• Support advocacy efforts in local school districts.
• Support public education campaigns by identifying Indigenous voices and stories that highlight the human impact of social justice issues.

Direct Support & Limited Case Assistance:

• On a limited basis, support families, caretakers, and advocates in preparing for individual cases involving students with disabilities or disciplinary actions.
• Provide referrals to outside legal aid organizations when appropriate.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to travel long distances by car across rural regions.
• Ability to work in office environments and Tribal community settings.
• Ability to use computers, phones, and standard office equipment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & TRAVEL:

• Must possess a valid California Driver’s License and be able to travel regularly, including overnight travel.
• Office-based with frequent travel to Tribal communities in Del Norte, Humboldt, Siskiyou, and Trinity counties.
• Occasional evening or weekend hours for community events.

Native American Hiring Preference Applies; In accordance with P.L. 93‑638 and NCIDC policy, qualified Native American applicant