Job Title: Executive Director of Education
Department: Department of Education
Reports to: Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
Location: Wilton Rancheria Tribal Office, Elk Grove, California
Employment Status/Level: Full-Time, Exempt
POSITION SUMMARY
The Executive Director of Education provides strategic, administrative, and programmatic leadership for education services serving Wilton Rancheria Tribal Citizens from early learning through postsecondary education, workforce development, and lifelong learning. The position designs, implements, evaluates, and continuously improves culturally responsive programs that promote academic achievement, career readiness, family engagement, Tribal history, language, cultural values, youth leadership, and community well-being. The Executive Director is accountable for departmental planning, fiscal stewardship, compliance, staff leadership, partnerships, and clear reporting to Tribal leadership and the community.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide executive leadership for the Department of Education and translate Tribal priorities, the Department vision, and approved budgets into annual operating plans, measurable program objectives, timelines, staffing plans, and service standards.
- Design, administer, monitor, and evaluate educational programs and services for preschool, K–12, postsecondary, adult learners, and Tribal Citizens pursuing career, vocational, or entrepreneurial goals.
- Lead educational support services, including Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Student Success Team (SST) assistance, tutoring, home school support, student success planning, case management, and referrals
- Oversee the Higher Education Scholarship and Adult Education Assistance Programs.
- Oversee career and workforce planning services, including career and personality assessments, education and training pathways, transition and advancement counseling, employment readiness, trade and graduate school guidance, and coordination of appropriate business start-up resources.
- Lead the rollout and phased implementation of the Boys and Girls Club and other youth-centered programming.
- Lead family and community engagement through educational gatherings, graduation recognition, backpack distribution, summer and year-round activities, speaker series, cultural education, language activities, and other approved events.
- Develop the Youth Leadership Initiative to build leadership skills, elevate youth voices, encourage service and stewardship, and strengthen connections among youth, families, culture, lands, and Indigenous worldviews.
- Plan and oversee the Small Business Assistance initiative.
- Promote Wilton Rancheria cultural values, history, language, traditions, and community priorities throughout Department programs, curricula, partnerships, communications, and events. Coordinate with cultural knowledge holders and appropriate Tribal departments when developing content.
- Build and maintain productive relationships with Tribal Citizens, students, parents and guardians, schools, colleges, training providers, Tribal colleges, community partners, contractors, and public or private agencies.
- Maintain regular communication with Tribal youth, postsecondary students, adult learners, and families to identify needs, monitor progress, connect participants to resources, and support completion of educational and career goals.
- Provide or coordinate college, vocational, and career guidance, including application planning, college essays, admissions processes, financial aid referrals, transition support, and post-graduation career planning.
- Develop, manage, and monitor the Department budget. Review expenditures, forecasts, fiscal reports, scholarship and assistance commitments, contracts, professional services, supplies, facilities, events, and other program costs. Submit proposed budgets and amendments through the established administrative and Tribal approval process.
- Oversee grants and sponsored programs. Ensure grant-funded activities remain aligned with approved scope and requirements.
- Plan and administer contracts, professional services, rental space, equipment, software, transportation, and facility-related needs.
- Establish systems for record keeping. Protect confidential and sensitive information and ensure records are retained and handled in accordance with Tribal policy and applicable requirements.
- Develop performance measures and reporting methods to evaluate participation, service quality, academic support, student progress, program outcomes, community engagement, and progress toward Department goals. Use findings to recommend program improvements and resource adjustments.
- Prepare accurate and timely reports, presentations, budget narratives, policies, procedures, correspondence, outreach materials, and program information for the CAO, Tribal leadership, participants, and partner agencies, as appropriate.
- Recruit, orient, supervise, coach, mentor, and evaluate Department managers and staff. Set clear expectations, delegate appropriately, support professional development, resolve workplace issues professionally, and maintain an accountable and collaborative work environment.
- Facilitate meetings, trainings, conferences, parent discussions, community presentations, and cross-department coordination. Represent the Department professionally at internal and external meetings.
- Ensure Department operations comply with the Department of Education Establishment and Organization Act, Tribal laws and policies, approved budgets, funding requirements, safety standards, and other applicable requirements.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Administrative Officer.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Knowledge of Wilton Rancheria government, Tribal sovereignty, traditional forms of government, Tribal customs and traditions, and culturally responsive service delivery.
- Advanced knowledge of education program administration across K–12, postsecondary, adult education, workforce development, scholarships, tutoring, youth development, and community education.
- Knowledge of IEP and SST processes, student support planning, learning differences, assessment information, case management, and effective collaboration with students, families, educators, and school administrators.
- Knowledge of child safety, mandated safeguards, behavior management, youth engagement, emergency procedures, and risk management for youth programs, events, volunteers, and facilities.
- Knowledge of college, trade school, vocational, scholarship, financial aid, admissions, college essay, career planning, and adult education pathways.
- Knowledge of administrative principles and practices, including strategic planning, policy development, program design, project management, budgeting, procurement, contracting, grants management, fiscal reporting, records management, supervision, and staff development.
- Ability to lead department and program expansion, including needs assessment, phased implementation, staffing, facilities, partnerships, communications, and outcome evaluation.
- Ability to develop culturally grounded, age-specific curricula, activities, and services and to integrate Tribal history, language, culture, and values appropriately.
- Ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative information, identify trends and service gaps, project consequences, evaluate options, and implement sound recommendations.
- Ability to manage multiple complex programs, projects, deadlines, budgets, and stakeholder expectations while maintaining accuracy, organization, and follow-through.
- Ability to establish measurable goals, maintain accurate documentation, assess program effectiveness, and prepare clear recommendations for executive and Tribal leadership consideration.
- Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully, verbally and in writing, with youth, parents and guardians, Tribal Citizens, staff, volunteers, leadership, community partners, and outside agencies.
- Ability to build trust, maintain effective working relationships, resolve conflicts professionally, and demonstrate sound judgment, diplomacy, discretion, and sensitivity to community concerns.
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and appropriately protect student, family, personnel, applicant, financial, and Tribal information.
- Ability to supervise, coach, mentor, and evaluate employees and to foster a safe, accountable, service-oriented, and collaborative workplace.
- Skill in facilitating meetings, conferences, trainings, community events, and public presentations.
- Skill in preparing budgets, fiscal reports, grant applications and reports, program plans, timelines, staffing plans, policies, procedures, comprehensive reports, and public information materials.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Suite Programs. Ability to learn and use software systems and programs.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Education, Educational Administration, Child Development, Social Work, Public Administration, Tribal Administration, or a closely related field.
- Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in education including hands-on classroom teaching, youth development, student services, workforce development, or a closely related human-services field.
- Five (5) years of successful supervisory or management experience.
- Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, evaluating, and expanding education or youth programs.
- Demonstrated experience managing program budgets, fiscal reporting, grants, contracts, and multiple concurrent projects.
- Demonstrated experience working directly with youth and families and building effective relationships with schools, administrators, parents or guardians, and community partners.
- Experience administering scholarships, education assistance, student support, workforce, postsecondary, adult education, or comparable programs.
- Must possess a valid California Driver’s License, a safe driving record, and be insurable under the Tribe’s vehicle insurance policy. Ability to pass all required pre-employment and ongoing screening, which may include background investigation, fingerprinting, drug testing.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, travel, and community events.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Relevant professional certification, credential, or licensure related to education or program administration. Experience working with Native American or Tribal communities, with knowledge of the Wilton Rancheria Tribal community strongly preferred.
- Experience supporting students with IEPs, learning differences, or other barriers to academic success.
- Experience serving at-risk youth and implementing trauma-informed, culturally responsive, or strengths-based youth engagement practices.
- Experience launching a Boys and Girls Club, youth center, after-school program, workforce development program, or comparable multi-service initiative.
PHYSICAL AND WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed primarily in an office, education program, community, or event setting, with occasional outdoor work and travel. The position requires regular use of standard office and program equipment; the ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, reach, and participate in program activities; and the ability to lift and carry materials weighing up to 25 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
HIRING PREFERENCE
Among qualified applicants, preference will be given first to Wilton Rancheria Tribal Members, then to spouses of Wilton Rancheria Tribal Members, and then to other Native Americans. Applicants claiming preference must provide appropriate verification of Indian heritage.
