AEF Director

The AEF Director is responsible for the planning, direction, development, administration, supervision, and implementation of comprehensive internal and external educational and cultural programs of the Arctic Education Foundation (AEF), in support of policies, goals, and objectives established by the AEF Committee. AEF is a separate nonprofit educational organization, set up by Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) to further the educational goals of Northern Alaskan Inupiat Natives and their descendants, most of whom are ASRC shareholders.  This position reports to the AEF Board and the SVP of Shareholder & Community Programs and supervises other AEF staff.

1. Ensure AEF timely processes scholarship applications and programs consistent with AEF’s bylaws, committee directives, industry standard business practices, IRS guidelines, and any applicable laws.  To this end, review and approve all applications being presented to the AEF board for their consideration.
2. Develop and maintain a proactive and professional communication plan that ensures  timely updates to the shareholder community, community and educational partners, funders and AEF Committee including quarterly updates, annual report, social media campaigns, and regular updates to ensure timely promotion of opportunities, successes and developments with a particular emphasis on ensuring that AEF Committee has all information necessary to continue to make well-informed decisions in the best interest of AEF.
3. Develop and oversee all administrative functions of AEF including, development and oversight of template communications, timelines for applications and scholarship awards, communications related to application processing, budgetary control for AEF’s education and cultural programs and all other administrative tasks necessary for the timely and professional implementation of programs with multiple stakeholders and audiences. 
4. Develop and maintain partnerships with other non-profit Alaska Native Corporations and other scholarship programs to promote AEF’s scholarship and other programming and identify and pursue opportunities for collaboration with other organizations.
5. Research and oversee funding sources for AEF within the Arctic Region and on a local, state and federal level and oversee the development of fundraising plans working directly with partners in financial support of current and new programs.  This includes, the management and coordination of all fundraising activities which include the Ivalu Gala, Barrow Banquet, raffles, gaming activities and online fundraisers.
6. Develop and maintain partnerships with educational institutions and non-profit organizations serving youth and/or individuals pursuing vocational training or continued education to promote educational and funding opportunities for shareholders and ensure that AEF a regular presence at career, college and job fairs held that have a high likelihood of outreach to ASRC shareholders. 
7. Collaborate with ASRC Shareholder Programs and Community Engagement staff and external partners to promote post-secondary education and cultural programs as well as internal and external summer jobs and internships among eligible applicants by marketing, providing information and visiting with students and colleges, traveling to the Arctic Slope villages to meet with prospective AEF scholarship applicants. 
8. Work directly with ASRC Legal, Tax, Risk, Human Resources, Finance, and Information Technology to ensure that AEF is taking advantage of the shared services subject matter experts and can proactively plan for support from these other teams on matters related to AEF business. 
9. Work directly with the Program Manager who has oversight of the University of Alaska Fairbanks operation of Eileen MacLean Inupiat House and related charitable trust. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Directly supervises a team of employees in the Arctic Education Foundation both under the Education and Cultural Department. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

1. Strong knowledge, understanding, and sensitivity to the Inupiat culture.
2. Bachelor's degree (B. A.) in Education, Business, or related field from an accredited four-year college or university. 
3. Three or more years of related experience in career counseling, training, non-profit organization administration, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
4. Working knowledge and familiarity with concepts, processes, and practices inherent to an educational foundation.
5. Working knowledge of standard accounting practices.
6. Computer experience including proficient data entry, Excel, and Microsoft Word skills. 
7. The ability to speak and understand the Inupiaq language is important and preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Good administrative and organizational skills. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to prepare clear and accurate business reports, correspondence, and process and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from AEF Directors, groups of managers, educational institutions, applicants, prospective donors, and the general public.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  The incumbent is frequently required to talk, hear, walk, and see.  The job may occasionally require the handling of objects weighing up to 35 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounter while performing the essential functions of this position. Work is typically performed in an office setting and is sedentary in nature.   The incumbent is occasionally required to travel in small and large commercial fixed-wing aircraft and/or motor vehicle in diverse weather conditions to remote locations for overnight and multi-day travel.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements.

NOTE:  This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.