What are the responsibilities and job description for the Culture Director position at QAWALANGIN TRIBE OF UNALASKA?
Position Overview
The Culture Director serves as the leader responsible for preserving, protecting, revitalizing, and advancing the cultural heritage, traditions, language, historical resources, and cultural priorities of the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska.
The Culture Director provides strategic leadership and oversight for all cultural preservation initiatives, educational programs, community engagement activities, language revitalization efforts, repatriation projects, cultural resource management activities, and grant-funded cultural programs. The position oversees the Culture Department, including the Culture Manager, Culture Coordinator, NAGPRA staff, cultural contractors, and volunteers.
The Culture Director works closely with Tribal leadership, Elders, Culture Bearers, community members, federal agencies, museums, educational institutions, and partner organizations to ensure cultural resources, traditional knowledge, and cultural practices are protected and passed on to future generations.
The Culture Director is responsible for departmental strategic planning, personnel management, budgeting, grant administration, compliance, community engagement, and cultural resource stewardship while ensuring all activities align with Tribal values, priorities, and cultural protocols.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Strategic Planning
- Develop and implement the Tribe's long-term cultural preservation and revitalization strategy
- Establish departmental goals, objectives, performance measures, and annual work plans.
- Provide leadership and oversight for all Culture Department programs and initiatives.
- Advise Tribal leadership on cultural preservation matters, policies, and priorities.
- Develop partnerships that strengthen cultural preservation and community engagement.
Cultural Preservation & Revitalization
- Lead initiatives supporting preservation of Unangax̂ history, traditions, language, arts, and cultural practices.
- Promote intergenerational knowledge transfer between Elders and youth.
- Support traditional harvesting, subsistence, arts, crafts, storytelling, and cultural education efforts.
- Develop opportunities to document and preserve oral histories and traditional knowledge.
NAGPRA & Cultural Resource Management
- Oversee the Tribe's NAGPRA program and repatriation initiatives.
- Support repatriation efforts involving ancestral remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and cultural patrimony.
- Ensure compliance with federal cultural resource regulations and Tribal policies.
Grants, Budgeting & Administration
- Direct administration of all Culture Department grants and funding sources.
- Identify and pursue new funding opportunities.
- Develop and manage departmental budgets.
- Ensure compliance with Tribal, state, federal, and grant requirements.
- Review and approve reports, performance measures, and program deliverables.
- Provide updates and recommendations to Tribal leadership.
- Oversee departmental resources, inventory, and operational needs.
Community Engagement & Representation
- Maintain strong relationships with Elders, Culture Bearers, artists, educators, and community members.
- Represent the Tribe at local, state, national, and international meetings, conferences, and cultural events.
- Promote community participation in cultural programs and activities.
- Serve as a spokesperson and advocate for Tribal cultural preservation efforts
Personnel Management
- Supervise Culture Department staff, contractors, and volunteers.
- Conduct employee evaluations and provide coaching and mentorship.
- Assist with recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and professional development.
- Foster a collaborative and culturally respectful work environment.
- Ensure compliance with Tribal policies and procedures.
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Indigenous Studies, Anthropology, History, Museum Studies, Education, Public Administration, Cultural Resource Management, or a related field preferred.
- Master's degree preferred.
- The Tribe recognizes that valuable knowledge may be gained through cultural practice, traditional learning, community service, lived experience, and professional experience. Relevant combinations may be substituted for formal educational requirements.
Experience
- Five (5) years' experience in Tribal cultural preservation, community programs, education, cultural resource management, NAGPRA, museums, or related fields.
- Three (3) years of supervisory or management experience.
- Experience administering federal and state grants.
- Knowledge of Alaska Native cultures and Tribal governance preferred.
- Experience with NAGPRA, cultural resources, or repatriation efforts highly preferred.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain confidentiality, and meet deadlines.
Work Environment Requirements
- Must pass a criminal background check.
- Alaska-based candidates preferred, with preference for applicants located in Unalaska.
Salary : $101,206