President

Cook Inlet Region, Inc is seeking a talented President to join our Executive team. CIRI's offices are conveniently located in mid-town Anchorage at the Fireweed Business Center, a modern building that represents CIRI’s cultural diversity, respect for the land, and sustainability. The Fireweed Business Center reflects our heritage in the displayed Alaska Native art and interior design.

CIRI offers a hybrid work schedule for many positions and excellent benefits for eligible employees. Benefits include: paid holidays, paid time off, 401K with employer match, dental, vision, health insurance plans through the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program, as well as life and disability benefits.  

CIRI only accepts applications through our online career page at https://www.ciri.com/careers/jobs/

General Function

In alignment with CIRI's mission and values, reporting to the CEO, the President is responsible for leading ANCSA mission operations such as stakeholder engagement and preserving and protecting the CIRI Ecosystem. The President also leads CIRI’s government relations at the tribal, local, state and federal levels and oversees Shareholder and Descendants Programs and Corporate Affairs departments. Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills are key in this role as it acts as a senior advisor to the CEO.

Major Activities (Typical Duties/Responsibilities)

Stakeholder Engagement

1. Leads Stakeholder engagement of CIRI Shareholders, Descendants, CIRI employees, Cook Inlet region Tribes and Villages, leaders of Cook Inlet Housing Authority, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Southcentral Foundation, The CIRI Foundation, Alaska Native Heritage Center and Koahnic, local philanthropic and service providers, and statewide Alaska Native advocacy organizations.
2. As the Company’s representative to CIRI Shareholders and Descendants, ensure Shareholders and Descendants are well-informed about CIRI’s corporate assets, investments and activities. Oversees the preparation of various communications to Shareholders regarding the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Board of Director elections and may serve as a Vice Chair of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Encourages Shareholder participation in the meeting and elections process.
3. Preserve and protect CIRI’s Ecosystem and status as an ISDEAA Tribe.
4. Responsible for administration of programs and benefits and payments to beneficiaries of CIRI Settlement Trust.
5. Promotes CIRI’s commitment to the enhancement and preservation of Alaska Native cultures.
6. Manages the day-to-day activities and corporate services of the Anchorage headquarters.

Government Relations

1. Provide strategic direction and oversight to CIRI’s government relations.
2. At the direction of the CEO and in partnership with the executive leadership team, identify legislative, regulatory, and other governmental priorities affecting the interests of CIRI, its business operations or future operational opportunities, Shareholders, lands, villages and tribally designated organizations.                                                        
3. Represent CIRI with key advocacy organizations, i.e., ANCSA Regional Association and Alaska Federation of Natives.
4. Cultivate and enhance CIRI’s relationships at the federal, state and local government levels.
5. Manage internal and external government relations professionals representing CIRI interests.
6. Develop and cultivate a tribal relations strategy to positively impact issues important to CIRI, CIRI tribally designated organizations, CIRI region tribes and villages. Participate in local, statewide and national events to drive forward strategies (i.e. Tikahtnu Forum, Alaska Federation of Natives, and National Congress of American Indians).

Leadership

1. Provide strategic oversight of the Shareholder and Descendant Programs Department. Lead the team and guide the development and execution of short and long-term strategies for Shareholder and Descendant programs, including program design, implementation, evaluation and redesign.
2. Lead the communications strategy and team for CIRI, including media relations and publicity; internal and external strategic communications; and image/media management.
3. Responsible for assuring the organization’s communications reflect its core values and advances CIRI’s business and Shareholder and Descendant engagement strategy. Partner with the CEO and executive leadership team and relevant department leads to collaboratively build and enhance the brand and direct the key communications functions.
4. Manage Senior Director, Projects and Special Initiatives, and implement company-wide goals.
5. Build and maintain strategic relationships within CIRI, CIRI’s affiliated entities and the community that complement CIRI’s initiatives and foster collaboration opportunities. Includes representing CIRI on various task forces, boards and commissions that would have potential impact on the corporation goals.
6. Advise and assist the CEO on CIRI strategy as well as any strategic investments.

Other

1. Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Expert level knowledge of government relations; ability to execute knowledge effectively and in-line with best practices.
• Ability to visualize, articulate and solve complex problems and concepts, and make decisions that make sense based on available information.
• Ability to actively listen, write and speak effectively, and develop and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with internal team members and external parties and stakeholders.
• Ability to use good judgment in choices or conclusions by establishing objectives, gathering relevant information, identifying alternatives, setting criteria for the decision, and selecting best option.
• Ability to effectively recruit, select, develop, and retain of competent staff members.
• Ability to maintain a productive climate and confidently motivate, mobilize, and coach employees and subsidiary leadership to meet high performance standards and goals.
• Ability to plan, organize, direct, monitor, and manage a group of employees, departments, and/or entities to accomplish organizational goals and objectives.
• Ability to establish, maintain and utilize a broad network of contacts (e.g. in a specific industry, in government, and the community) to monitor public and internal issues that affect CIRI’s and its overall strategy.
• Ability to effectively negotiate, leading processes by which compromise, or agreement, is reached.
• Ability to manage, lead and enable the process of change and transition while helping others embrace the process.
• Ability to effectively manage risk, assessing and quantifying business, reputational, and political risk, then taking measures to minimize, monitor, and control them.
• Ability to support strategic implementation/thinking by, promoting, and ensuring alignment with CIRI’s vision, mission and values.
• Expert level knowledge of Alaska Native Policy; comprehensive understanding of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and other relevant federal Indian policy and the history and role of the Corporation.
• Broad understanding of the business objectives of the Corporation’s mission and the ability to recognize and develop new business opportunities.

Physical Abilities

• Sufficient fine motor skills for use of computers, calculators with an ability to withstand repetitive keyboarding for extended periods of time.
• Visual and communications ability adequate to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Ability to kneel, bend and twist at the waist on an occasional basis.
• Ability to reach below shoulder height with regular frequency (desk position) and at or above shoulder height on occasion.
• Ability to push, pull, carry and lift objects weighing up to 20 pounds on a regular basis, and greater weights on an occasional basis.
• Ability to travel by vehicle or aircraft, and ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business administration, rural development, public policy or other related area.
• 5 or more years executive level experience that exhibits strong strategic planning implementation and success.
• 12 or more years government relations experience.
• 12 or more years corporate communications or media relations experience.
• 15 or more years’ working with Native organizations, including a deep understanding of ANCSA and the challenges and opportunities facing Alaska Native Corporations.
• Experience demonstrating a strong understanding of all department functions and their roles in meeting organizational initiatives.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time.
• Ability to pass a background check.

CIRI does not discriminate, and the company provides equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, age, marital status, pregnancy or parenthood, handicap or disability, genetics, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic. CIRI adheres to all federal, state and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity and will not discriminate against you in violation of these laws. CIRI reserves the right to apply CIRI shareholder preference to qualified shareholders in employment and advancement opportunities.