Program Officer, Native Self-Determination

Summary:

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation's largest independent foundations. The Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur invests in solving some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., revitalizing local news, expanding who creates, uses, and benefits from artificial intelligence, and strengthening the well-being of Native communities. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100&Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago. The Foundation also maintains offices in Nigeria and India.

The Native Self-Determination portfolio centers the capacities of Native Nations and Indigenous communities to define and pursue their own priorities, elevating Indigenous knowledge, governance, and leadership. The portfolio invests in Native-led organizations, tribal governments, and community-based initiatives that build community and institutional capacity to support sustainable pathways to self-determination. As the same time, it advances accountable, trust-based relationships between philanthropy and Indigenous communities.

The Program Officer plays a central role in implementing the Foundation’s Native Self-Determination strategy through grantmaking, relationship-building, learning, and community engagement. Responsibilities include developing and managing a grant portfolio; cultivating trust-based relationships with Indigenous partners; participating in field learning; and advancing grantmaking practices that emphasize accountability, flexibility, and respect. With the Director, the role works collaboratively across the Foundation to align strategy, learning, and operations with Indigenous values and community-defined outcomes.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in Indigenous and American Indian affairs, including direct engagement with Native governments, organizations, and communities, as well as familiarity with federal, state, and tribal funding systems. They will apply this expertise to elevate Native-led solutions, build strategic partnerships with Indigenous leaders and peer funders, and contribute to field-informed frameworks that strengthen Indigenous self-determination while remaining accountable to the communities the portfolio serves.

This role is time-limited for an initial period of 5 years with the possibility of extension.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Grantmaking & Portfolio Management

• Manage a caseload of active grants, including reviewing proposals, writing grant briefs, reviewing periodic reports maintaining accurate records and thoughtfully engaging with grantees 

• Conduct due diligence, prepare grant recommendations for internal and Board consideration, and communicate decisions to potential grantees and internally as needed 

• Monitor grant performance and implementation of grant strategies 

• Maintain and nurture relationships with grantees  

Field Building & Ecosystem Development 

• Maintain active relationships with peer funders, partners, tribal and community leaders 

• Identify prospective grant recipients that strengthen Indigenous self-determination

• Support grantee capacity building through convenings, peer learning, and connections to shared services 

Research, Analysis & Strategic Thinking 

• Apply ecosystem development frameworks and archetype analysis to inform portfolio decisions 

• Keep abreast of current events, developments, and issues in the field  

• Monitor developments in local news business models, technology adoption, policy landscape, and field infrastructure 

• Write extensively for internal purposes, including strategy memos and grant recommendations 

• Collaborate with learning and evaluation colleagues 

Collaboration & Representation 

• Build and sustain relationships with the Native Self-Determination team, colleagues across the Foundation, and with leaders and organizations in relevant fields 

• Work closely with the Native Self-Determination Program Director and team 

• Represent the Foundation at conferences and other public events, including as a speaker or panel participant 

• Anticipate potential issues and propose solutions 

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve on internal Foundation committees, as appropriate 

• Perform other duties, as assigned 

Qualifications:

We recognize that no single candidate will embody every quality below. If this role calls to you, we encourage you to apply.

• Six to ten years relevant experience and expertise working with Native Nations, communities and/or organizations

• Mature understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Native Nations and communities

• Ability to meet deadlines, work independently, and consistently produce high-quality work 

• Excellent analytical and communications skills, including writing and public speaking 

• Self-confident, collegial, and diplomatic, with an appreciation of the role of a grantmaking institution 

• Computer literate, with a high level of comfort with new applications 

• Other essential skills include effectiveness in interpersonal relations with a proven ability to work as part of a team; the ability to organize and convey problems and issues clearly and succinctly; ease with and openness to people who hold diverse views; a talent for managing multiple tasks with significant initiative 

The Program Officer must be willing to travel frequently (once or twice a month). 

The position is hybrid and based in Chicago, Illinois.

Annual salary for this role will start at $120,700. We offer a generous total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and a comprehensive benefits package to support your life, health, and well-being.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The work environment is an office setting.  Intermittent physical activities will include bending, reaching, sitting, and moving around the office during working hours.  Requests for reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable a person with disabilities to perform the job.  Reasonable accommodations are also available during the interview process.