Program Coordinator, Language & Agriculture

The National Fund is seeking a Program Coordinator to support its Native Language and Food Sovereignty focus areas. Reporting to the Program Director, the coordinator keeps day-to-day work moving across both areas, exercising independent judgment within the Fund’s established priorities and budgets: tracking grants and deliverables, organizing site visits and convenings, managing program data and records, and maintaining active communication with partner schools. Both focus areas are community-led, so the coordinator will work closely with partner school leadership and staff as they develop programs at their schools. This position is grant funded by a mixture of funding sources through at least December 2027. This is a full-time, exempt position with health insurance, paid holidays, and PTO.

Key Responsibilities

Grant and subaward monitoring, technical assistance to partner schools, and partner relationships are the primary focus of the role. Records, logistics, and convening support are secondary.

• Maintain regular communication with partner schools via emails, phone calls, check-ins, and site visits and serve as a point of contact for partner schools, Tribal communities, and program partners, on site and remotely.
• Monitor grant deliverables and milestones across both focus areas and keep program records organized and current
• Work with the project teams, and Fund leadership to keep programs on schedule and on budget.
• Contribute to the development of programs that integrate multiple focus areas such as the incorporation of Native languages in school food programs.

Native Language Programs

• Monitor schools receiving Native language grants and subawards, tracking scopes of work, milestones, budgets, and reports, and providing recommendations to National Fund leadership when grantees fall behind.
• Contribute to the planning and logistics for Native language convenings including trainings, forums, and summits with partners such as the BIE and the National Indian Education Association.

Agriculture & Food Sovereignty

• Contribute to the development of food sovereignty programs at partner schools, such as after-school programs, school gardens, and greenhouses.
• Provide on-site and remote technical assistance to the school staff and service members who run programs day to day.
• Contribute to the development of the materials schoolsneed to sustain programs, such as growing calendars, lesson plans, and data collection forms.
• Coordinate with Elders, farmers, and knowledge keepers who contribute to programs, following each community’s protocols.
• Advise schools on program requirements, such as food safety, permits, and state reporting, and identify any compliance concerns.

Partnerships, Data & Reporting

• Facilitate collection of program data with partner schools, such as attendance, contact hours, and surveys, following each community's data-sovereignty protocols.
• Draft the programmatic sections of progress reports to federal and philanthropic funders and BIE, and track grant deliverables and milestones.
• Plan site visits and keep program records up to date, including equipment and property records.

Other Duties As Assigned

• Adapt to evolving priorities and take on new responsibilities as the National Fund’s portfolio of grants and projects continues to develop.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, agriculture, Indigenous or Native American Studies, a related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least two years of experience in program coordination, grants administration, education, Native language programs, or community food or garden programs.
• Experience working with schools, educators, and/or tribal communities.
• Strong organizational skills, including managing deadlines and records across multiple projects.
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication.
• Working knowledge of Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive) or similar tools.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly to partner schools, mostly in New Mexico, with occasional travel to other states up to 50% of the time.
• Ability to pass a federal background check

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with BIE schools, tribal education departments, or Native‑serving organizations.
• Experience with Native language revitalization, immersion, or dual-language programs.
• Experience with greenhouse production, school gardens, or garden-based education.
• Experience coordinating grant deliverables, subawards, or reports to federal or philanthropic funders.
• Experience planning convenings or events, including travel and logistics.
• A strong preference for those located in Arizona or New Mexico.

Core Competencies

• Relationship‑centered and collaborative working style
• Cultural humility and respect for tribal sovereignty and community leadership
• Attention to detail and follow‑through
• Adaptability and problem‑solving skills
• Comfort moving between field work at schools and office work such as tracking and reporting
• A high-degree of initiative and ability to work independently