Director, Alaska Native Language Center

The College of Indigenous Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is seeking a Director for the Alaska Native Language Center (ANLC), a nationally recognized center dedicated to the documentation, preservation, and revitalization of Alaska Native languages. This is a pivotal leadership role for someone ready to shape the future of ANLC's research, archival, academic, and outreach initiatives.

The Director will provide strategic vision for the Center, aligning its work with UAF's broader goals and the mission of the College of Indigenous Studies. Core responsibilities include securing and administering grant funding, supervising a team of research and administrative staff, and building the infrastructure needed to grow ANLC's capacity over time. The Director will also serve as a key advocate for the Center, representing its work to internal stakeholders, Indigenous communities, and external partners across the state and beyond.

The Alaska Native Language Center (ANLC) is a multi-faceted center within the College of Indigenous Studies, encompassing administrative, recharge, academic, and research functions in support of Alaska Native language documentation and revitalization. As Director, this position will lead ANLC's overall direction — overseeing its budget and staff, driving grant-funded initiatives, and partnering with the CIS Dean to expand the Center's research capacity, publications, and archival infrastructure. The role marks a shift from a faculty-held directorship to an administrative one, reflecting the Center's need for a leader focused squarely on grants, supervision, and the long-term growth of ANLC's programs.

Success in this role calls for a leader who can balance big-picture vision with hands-on management — someone comfortable writing and securing competitive grants, supervising a small but mission-driven team, and stewarding an operating budget. Strong candidates will bring genuine relationship-building skills across Indigenous, rural, and urban communities, along with the ability to represent ANLC persuasively to funders, university leadership, and the public. Experience with Alaska Native languages or language revitalization work, combined with a track record of turning strategic priorities into funded, sustained initiatives, will be key to thriving here.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree in relevant field and five years progressively responsible experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Position Details:

This position is located on the University of Alaska campus in Fairbanks. This is a regular full-time, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule, Grade 83, based on education and experience.

We review applications on a rolling basis. Because we may close the posting once a sufficient pool of qualified candidates is established, we encourage early submission. Please note that once a viable pool is identified, further applications may not be reviewed.

Applicants Instruction:

• A fully completed University of Alaska employment application (applications through the University of Alaska Careers website).
• A current resume.
• A cover letter outlining your qualifications.
• Three professional references, including previous supervisors.

📃To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE.

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Bryan Hoppough, CIS HR Coordinator, at behoppough@alaska.edu or 907-474-6569.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the ADA team at ua-ada@alaska.edu.

The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.  The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.