General Summary:
Salish Kootenai College seeks a highly analytical and strategic Project Director to lead a 12-month foundational initiative. This role is responsible for bridging the gap between education and employment for Native and rural youth by envisioning sustainable systems and coordinating external regional partnerships, especially those with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. A primary focus of this position is conducting an exhaustive campus-wide gaps analysis and a reconsideration of current organizational structures to ensure SKC is grounded in our mission, vision, values, and is operationally ready for a future capital campaign and a multi-year implementation of sustainable education-to-employment frameworks.
Key Responsibilities
Organizational Assessment & Gaps Analysis
Conduct an extensive gaps analysis of current internal procedures, staffing structures, and departmental workflows throughout Salish Kootenai College.
Evaluate the existing organizational structure to identify gaps, assets, and barriers to campus sustainability and education-to-employment integration.
Recommend specific considerations for SKC’s organizational structure, procedures to improve efficiency, data collection, and institutional agility, with special consideration of SKC’s Mission, Vision, and Values.
Capital Campaign & Sustainability Planning
Lead the development of a Comprehensive Sustainability and Capital Readiness Plan.
Identify and prioritize infrastructure needs (housing, facilities, technology, and cultural spaces) for a future capital campaign.
Develop financial models for novel sustainability strategies, including community-based enterprise models, fee-for-service streams, and innovative campus resource utilization.
Prepare high-level briefing materials, case statements, and prospectuses for the President and potential philanthropic partners.
Collaboratively prepare additional grant submissions and contracts to ensure the sustainability of this position, sustainable research efforts, and continued efforts for the education and employment of Native and rural youth.
Workforce & Academic Integration
Coordinate with the Montana Tribal Colleges and the Montana University System to build on SKC’s current articulation agreements and dual-enrollment pathways.
Manage the expansion of regional employer partnerships to secure additional formal internship and apprenticeship agreements.
Oversee the pilot of workforce readiness workshops and student engagement events (targeting 200+ students).
Project Governance & Compliance
Manage the project’s timeline, ensuring all milestones are met across the four quarters.
Work closely with the Institutional Effectiveness Office and other administrative offices to establish baseline metrics and verify outcome data.
Act as the primary liaison for the AMB Family Foundation regarding technical reporting, budget management, and summative evaluations.
Minimum Qualifications (required)
Education Master’s degree and experience in Leadership, Education, Higher Education, Educational Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Development, Public Administration, Native American Studies, Leadership Development, and any Indigenous-centered or related field.
Experience
Proven track record in leadership, organizational assessment, or change management in an Indigenous higher education setting.
3-5 years of experience in project management, institutional advancement, Indigenous research, and/or leadership.
Documented experience working with the Séliš, Ksanka, and Ql̓ispé communities, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and/or in culturally diverse settings, with respect for local community and cultural protocols.
Preferred Qualifications
Doctorate or other terminal degree.
Experience in Higher Education.
Experience in capital campaign planning or large-scale institutional fundraising.
Strong ability to analyze complex organizational procedures and recommend structural improvements.
Excellent technical writing skills for board-level reports and grant compliance.
To apply you must submit an SKC application, cover letter, resume, three professional references and applicable transcripts to Human Resources, P.O. Box 70, Pablo, MT 59855 or email Venessa_sandoval@skc.eduDavid_miller@skc.edu Your application must include evidence that you have the skills, experiences and abilities indicated in this announcement. Applicants are asked to provide copies of academic transcripts and any other educational, training or applicable credential or license, which may support your application for this position. The information you provide with your application and resume will be used as deciding factors in our employment process.