Inclusive Finance Project Coordinator

Organizational Background

The ICC was launched in 2022 by the Chiefs of the seven federally recognized Virginia tribes, incorporated in February 2023, and formalized with IRS 501(c)(3) status in April 2024. It operates with Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and a governing board with elected officers.

The Council is focused on building tribal capacity, reinforcing sovereignty, and enabling Indigenous-led rematriation of ancestral lands and waters rooted in cultural values and Indigenous Knowledge.

Position Overview

You’ll bridge emerging opportunities in inclusive finance with project coordination of a three-year funded project to remove barriers to Tribal Nations that prevent them from fully accessing private ecosystem markets aligned with their values. This multifaceted role will:

Work with our Tribal Nation members and finance partners to co-design frameworks linking traditional Indigenous practices and values to innovative conservation financing, e.g., carbon/biodiversity/stewardship credits, restoration bonds, nature-based solutions.

Coordinate a USDA-FS funded ICC project in the Chesapeake watershed, enhancing tribal awareness and capacity to engage in ecosystem markets.

Facilitate cross-cultural collaborations between Tribal Nations, finance partnerships, and technical partners.

Help explore and share innovations in finance being explored by Indigenous governments to bring insights and learning opportunities to our Tribal Nation members and partners in the region.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in Environmental / Social Sciences, Finance, Indigenous Studies, or related field.

1-3 years experience supporting project coordination and multiple partnerships.

Demonstrated experience working with Tribal Nations or Indigenous communities in finance, governance, or conservation.

Skills

Strong organizational, planning, and multi-tasking abilities.

Excellent written/verbal communications, including technical writing.

Experience facilitating meetings, producing reports, and using management tools.

Skilled in relationship building, cultural competency, and respect for FPIC and data sovereignty.

Familiar with project finance mechanisms, proposal development, budget management.

Qualitative research skills: interviews, surveys, strategic analysis.

Personal Attributes

Culturally sensitive, respectful, solution-oriented, and detail-focused.

Independent self-starter and collaborative team participant.

Commitment to Indigenous values, decolonized conservation, and inclusive finance.

1. Program & Partner Support

Support and refine strategies to honor Indigenous knowledge and values into finance and conservation models, working with Tribal Nations and our partners.

Explore ecosystem market and finance opportunities; co-create proposals with Indigenous organizations and deliver technical budgeting support.

Manage contracts with project partners to ensure grant deliverables are met.

2. Project Coordination & Execution

Monitor ICC project deliverables, ensuring alignment with goals, Tribal feedback, and compliance requirements.

Coordinate logistics for meetings, workshops, webinars; prepare agendas, materials, and follow-up documentation.

Provide narrative supportand compliance support for grant reporting (USDA, other donors).

3. Engagement & Capacity Building

Serve as liaison to Tribal Nations and Indigenous partners; cultivate trust-based relationships.

Facilitate training and knowledge exchanges on finance, policy, technical tools, and ecosystem service markets.

Establish and support peer networks/platforms for Indigenous-led knowledge and resource sharing.

4. Research, Data & Knowledge Management

Research and analyze Indigenous conservation models; develop integration frameworks.

Work with Tribal Nations and technical partners to gather qualitative data to assess impact, generate evidence for policy and finance integration while supporting data sovereignty.

Document lessons learned, produce case studies and technical briefs.

5. Communications & Outreach

Prepare meeting summaries, reports, and communication materials for partners, funders, and internal teams.

Track Indigenous stewardship contributions in conservation finance forums and other venues.

$45,000–$55,000 annually