Executive Director

Position: Executive Director

Date Open: January 9, 2026; open until filled

Location: 40 hours per week during normal business hours, including periodic evening SISC events and meetings. Currently remote with some in-office meetings in Seattle, WA

Compensation: Salary position at $118,000/year; benefits include employer-sponsored health insurance stipend, sick leave, PTO, paid holidays, professional development, travel allowance, 401k retirement plan with employer contribution available after 1 year vesting

Reports To: SISC Governing Council

Position Type: Full-time exempt

About Seattle Indian Services Commission (SISC)

The Seattle Indian Services Commission (SISC) is a groundbreaking Public Development Authority (PDA), founded in 1972 by Native leaders and community members to advocate for and serve the growing Native population in the Seattle area. SISC’s mission is to provide effective, comprehensive, and coordinated housing and planning services, activities, and programs that will meet the unique needs of the many American Indian and Alaska Native residents of Seattle and King County. As one of the first organizations of its kind in the country, SISC has played a historic and vital role in ensuring that Native people in urban settings have access to culturally grounded services, programs, and advocacy.

SISC’s unique status as a Public Development Authority allows it to leverage public resources, build partnerships, and create projects that advance Native wellness, and community strength. Over its five decades of service, SISC has been at the heart of advancing Native visibility, equity, and opportunity in Seattle.

Today, SISC stands at a pivotal moment in its history with major projects underway—including the development of the Native Village and Gateway Project (affordable housing for Native families) and the Native Community Center—that will serve as cornerstones for the future of Native community life in the Pacific Northwest.

Position Summary

The Executive Director is the chief leader and strategist of SISC, responsible for advancing the organization’s mission, vision, and values in partnership with the SISC Governing Council, Urban Native non-profit organizations, Tribal partners, community members, and elected officials. The Executive Director provides leadership in organizational development, fundraising, program growth, and advocacy, while ensuring that SISC remains deeply accountable to the Native community it serves. This position reports directly to the five-member SISC Governing Council.

This leader will guide the organization through a period of transformative growth that includes organizational capacity building and fundraising. A key responsibility includes the development and completion of the Native Village and Gateway Project, a mixed-use affordable housing project that will expand critical services and serve as an enduring symbol of Native resilience, culture, and belonging in Seattle.

In addition, the Executive Director will oversee capital development initiatives, leading large-scale planning, construction, and financing efforts to ensure this historic project is completed on time, within budget, and in full alignment with community priorities. This includes managing partnerships with architects, developers, public agencies, and funders, while keeping Native community voices at the center of all planning and implementation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead SISC’s strategic long-term vision, ensuring alignment with its mission as a Native-serving Public Development Authority.
• Build and strengthen relationships with Tribal Nations, Native organizations, community stakeholders, city/state/federal partners, and philanthropic allies.
• Act as a visible advocate for Native voices, sovereignty, and self-determination.

Organizational & Program Management

• Oversee operations, financial management, and program delivery to ensure sustainability and growth.
• Build a strong and diverse team rooted in Native values, collaboration, and accountability.
• Ensure compliance with PDA responsibilities, contracts, and agreements with government and funding partners.
• Initiate an operational fundraising strategy to ensure the long-term viability of the organization.

Community Development & Projects

• Provide leadership for the development and successful completion of the Native Village and Gateway Project, a transformative initiative that will create affordable housing, community spaces, and economic opportunities for Native families.
• Oversee the pre-development, planning and realization of the Native Community Center, envisioned as a cultural, social, and civic hub for Native people and the broader community.
• Ensure these projects honor the history, traditions, and contemporary needs of Native people while creating sustainable models for future generations.

Fundraising & Advocacy

• Secure diverse funding streams including government contracts, grants, donations, and partnerships.
• Initiate the SISC Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit.
• Advocate for policies and resources that uplift Native communities and advance equity.
• Serve as a compelling spokesperson for SISC’s work locally, regionally, and nationally.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership experience in Native, nonprofit, or community-based organizations.
• Proven track record in fundraising, coalition-building, and community-centered project management.
• Experience working with Public Development Authorities, government contracts, or complex public/private partnerships strongly preferred.
• Experience in affordable housing and/or real estate development.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and organizational skills.

The Opportunity

The Executive Director will have the extraordinary opportunity to lead SISC at a historic moment, guiding the completion of projects that will reshape the Native landscape of Seattle for generations to come.

This is not only a leadership role but also a calling: to steward the legacy of Native leaders who fought for SISC’s founding, to honor the resilience of Native people in urban settings, and to build a thriving future for Native people. Submit a letter of interest and resume to info@seattleindianservices.org.