Center for Native American Youth  (CNAY)
Washington, D.C.

About the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) believes all Native American youth should lead full and healthy lives, have equal access to opportunity, and draw strength from their culture and inspire one another. As a policy program of the Aspen Institute founded by former U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (ret.), we work to improve the health, safety, and overall well-being of Native American youth ages 18-24, with special emphasis on youth suicide prevention. We do this through youth recognition and leadership development, research, advocacy, and policy change; Native youth program capacity building; and by connecting Native youth with strengths-based media. We strive to bring greater national attention to the issues facing Native American youth while fostering community-driven solutions. The program, and this position, is based in Washington, DC.

Job Summary:
CNAY is seeking an Executive Director to lead a dynamic and impactful Native American youth leadership development and advocacy organization who can build on its successful growth since its founding in 2011. The candidate must have a very strong understanding of Native American policy issues and deep relationships with tribal communities, tribal leaders, and tribal nonprofit leaders. This position requires a strategic thinker who can work closely with youth and community stakeholders to design programs driven by their vision and rooted in their cultural values, while leveraging the wide resources and expertise of a large organization that is a global leader in the fields of leadership development, policy, and action. In addition to leading the strategic positioning and growth of CNAY’s programs, the Executive Director will manage a staff of 5 people and oversee all finance and operational responsibilities for the program. The Executive Director is also responsible for raising funds and other resources for the program, which is an essential part of the job. Finally, the ideal candidate will be the key external representative for the organization and possess strong writing and speaking ability that will raise the profile of CNAY to funders, elected officials, thought leaders, and other key stakeholders.

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