Our Mission

Cultural Survival is an Indigenous-led NGO and U.S.-registered nonprofit that advocates for Indigenous Peoples' rights by working in close partnership with Indigenous communities to support their self-determination, cultures, and political resilience since 1972. For 53 years, we have fostered collaborative relationships rooted in respect for Indigenous knowledge and leadership, advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights and cultures worldwide through co-creation and shared strategies. At the heart of our work is amplifying Indigenous voices and supporting community-led efforts for self-determination. Cultural Survival has curated a robust network of partnerships with Indigenous communities spanning over 70 countries on six continents. Our work is predicated on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

The qualifications listed below describe our ideal candidate; however, we recognize that sometimes the best candidate may not meet every single criterion. Research shows that women and members of structurally marginalized and underrepresented groups often apply only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Cultural Survival strongly encourages all interested candidates to apply, even if they don’t meet every requirement.

We look forward to hearing about why you are interested in working with us.

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Introduction to the Director of Advocacy and Communications Position

Cultural Survival is going through an exciting period of transformation. In recent years, the organization has experienced rapid growth, expanding its reach to include staff from over 20 countries and building a team that reflects a diverse array of cultural, geographic, and professional backgrounds. This growth has created thrilling opportunities and a clear need for enhanced coordination and leadership in Communications and Advocacy.

In light of this growth, Cultural Survival has recognized a distinct necessity to enhance its strategic leadership. This new position will be key in guiding and integrating the organization’s global, regional, and local advocacy and communications strategies and efforts. It offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the next phase of Cultural Survival’s evolution, ensuring our work remains impactful, cohesive, and grounded in partnership with Indigenous communities worldwide.

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Position Overview

The Director of Advocacy and Communications will be a key leadership role responsible for advancing and integrating Cultural Survival’s global, regional, and local strategies in Communications and Advocacy. Reporting to the Executive Director and collaborating closely with the leadership team, this Director will be responsible for elevating Indigenous voices, unifying narratives, strengthening global advocacy efforts and campaigns, and ensuring that communications and advocacy are strategically aligned to support organizational growth, fundraising, and mission impact.

The Director will lead a cross-functional team comprising the Communications, Advocacy, Indigenous Rights Radio, and Special Projects units, along with associated staff and consultants. They will guide collaboration in alignment with Indigenous values and organizational priorities, fostering cohesion among their teams and promoting a culture of collaboration.

This role requires a visionary leader with proven expertise in Indigenous rights advocacy, communications, organizational leadership, and managing multicultural remote teams.

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Status and Location

Full-time (35 hrs./week), Remote Worldwide. Travel availability.

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Language Skills Required

Fluency in English and Spanish, both spoken and written, is required.

Proficiency in an Indigenous language is preferred but not required.  Also, knowledge of Portuguese and/or French is a plus.

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Responsibilities

Strategic Vision and Organizational Stewardship:

• Serve as a senior leader in the organization, contributing to the Executive Team and actively shaping and implementing strategic priorities related to advocacy, communications, Indigenous Rights Radio, and special projects.
• Build a culture of collaboration, innovation, and empowerment across the Advocacy, Indigenous Rights Radio, and Communications teams and in coordination with the Executive Team and the entire organization.
• Ensure that communications, Indigenous Rights Radio, and advocacy efforts align with and amplify Cultural Survival’s mission, values, and long-term strategies.
• With an analytical and values-based lens, guide strategy and decision-making regarding Cultural Survival’s position concerning specific legislation, policy, community conflicts, or issues affecting Indigenous communities and their rights.
• Facilitate dialogue, consensus-building, and cohesiveness within and amongst teams about specific issues or topics related to communications and advocacy.

Team Leadership and Integration

• Supervise and mentor the Senior Communications Manager, Indigenous Rights Radio Manager, Advocacy Manager, and Special Projects Manager, ensuring cross-departmental integration and synergies, while identifying and achieving programmatic goals. This may also include oversight of relevant consultants, as needed.
• Foster professional development, strategic alignment, and effective remote collaboration within and across departments.
• Set annual goals, key performance indicators, and team priorities in coordination with organizational leadership and program teams.

External Advocacy and Representation

• Serve as a leading representative of Cultural Survival in international, regional, and national spaces, ensuring that Indigenous leadership and perspectives are front and center, including in media outlets, advocacy coalitions, United Nations bodies, and donor meetings.
• Build and strengthen partnerships by collaborating closely with Indigenous regional leaders, Indigenous communities, Indigenous-led organizations, advocacy networks, media organizations, and allies who align with the organization's strategies and goals.
• Promote visibility and credibility of Indigenous-led advocacy efforts globally.

Fundraising and Strategic Visibility

• Collaborate closely with Development staff to support fundraising efforts through storytelling, advocacy campaigns, and external communications.
• Ensure that advocacy and communications outputs contribute to donor engagement, program visibility, and broader organizational fundraising goals.
• Navigate the intersection between advocacy and fundraising with care, ensuring that external communications and donor engagement efforts remain aligned with the self-determined priorities of community partners.

Program Oversight and Resource Stewardship

• Oversee advocacy and communications campaigns, events, and publications, including the Cultural Survival Quarterly and Indigenous Rights Radio programming.
• Oversee the departmental budgets for Advocacy, Indigenous Rights Radio, Communications, and special projects, ensuring strategic and practical use of resources.
• Participate with the rest of the Executive team in creating the annual organizational budget.
  

Other Responsibilities

• Uphold and model Cultural Survival’s commitment to Indigenous self-determination, language, land, and governance through everyday leadership practices.
• Actively participate in organization-wide meetings, strategic planning sessions, team-building activities, and cross-program initiatives.
• Promote and embody Cultural Survival’s values of equity, solidarity, interculturalism, respect, humility, and mutual support.

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Qualifications

Relational Leadership & Collective Experience

• Demonstrated leadership experience in Indigenous rights, communications, advocacy, or human rights, with a commitment to community-centered and relational leadership practices.
• Proven ability to nurture and guide intercultural, intergenerational, and geographically dispersed teams, rooted in respect, reciprocity, and shared purpose.
• Grounded experience working in relationship with Indigenous communities, guided by principles of accountability, listening, and long-term commitment.
• Familiarity with movement-building and resource mobilization, including co-creating strategies with communities, donors, and allies.
  

Indigenous Knowledge & Advocacy

• Deep understanding of Indigenous governance systems, worldviews, and self-determination, with the ability to incorporate these into organizational and advocacy strategies.
• Experience engaging with decolonial, land-based, and community-led approaches to advocacy.
• Knowledge of protocols such as Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), customary law, and other Indigenous-led mechanisms for collective decision-making and resistance.
• Experience applying international Indigenous rights frameworks (e.g., United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, International Labour Organization Convention 169, Inter-American system) to local struggles for autonomy, land, and language.
• Contributions to legal, policy, or organizing efforts for the defense of Indigenous lifeways and territories.
  

Relational Communication & Collective Care

• Excellent storytelling and communication skills in both English and Spanish, with cultural humility and care for language as a tool for relationship and resistance.
• Experience engaging media and narrative platforms to center Indigenous voices and amplify movement-based messages.
• Ability to cultivate horizontal, trust-based relationships with Indigenous leaders, collaborators, and organizational partners.
• Demonstrated experience holding space for culturally grounded practices of inclusion across generations, genders, and identities—especially the roles of elders, youth, LGBTQ2S+ relatives, and people with disabilities.
  

Tech Stewardship & Knowledge Sharing

• Fluency with tools that support long-distance collaboration, digital organizing, and multilingual teamwork across geographies and time zones.
• Experience stewarding digital platforms and processes in ways that honor Indigenous data sovereignty, story sovereignty, and collective memory.
• Familiarity with digital infrastructure that supports community radio, media creation, knowledge documentation, and advocacy campaigns.
• Openness to learning practical tools (e.g., radio production, newsletter development, social media platforms) that support program teams, with respect for each platform's cultural and relational impacts.
  

Travel & Physical Presence

• Willingness and ability to travel internationally, including to Indigenous territories, rural areas, and cross-border convenings.
• Ability to navigate long travel days, adapt to changing environments, and maintain cultural awareness in community-based settings.
• Flexibility in supporting community-led events, gatherings, and campaigns that may involve extended hours or varied locations.

We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous individuals with lived experience in community organizing, movement-building, or communications for social change. This position offers an opportunity to bring your wisdom, leadership, and vision to a global team dedicated to Indigenous self-determination, justice, and collective liberation. If you have deep roots in the work, even if your path has been nontraditional, we welcome your application.

Preferred but not required:

• Fluency in an Indigenous language
• Conversational ability in Portuguese or French

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What We Offer

At Cultural Survival, we care for our team as we care for our communities—with dignity, reciprocity, and balance. We strive to create conditions that support your long-term well-being, creativity, and sustainability. Our benefits for full-time staff include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance, with up to 90% of the premium covered
• Paid time off, including:
  • 15 vacation days
  • 14 organizational holidays
  • 12 sick days
  • 3 personal days
  • Up to 3 days for Jury Duty
• Family and caregiving leave, including up to 6 weeks of paid leave annually to support a family member in need of care, plus additional unpaid leave if needed.
• Income and security protection, including life, disability, and income replacement insurance
• Other supports, including:
  • Internet reimbursement (30–50%)
  • Up to 6% retirement/pension contribution, adapted to local systems
  • Language learning support (English, Spanish, or Indigenous Languages)
  • Access to our Employee Wellness Program is available after you have completed the probationary period.
    

Offerings may vary based on local context and legal guidance.

Compensation

Cultural Survival offers fair, locally adjusted salaries based on local living expenses and other factors and rooted in transparency and respect. Compensation reflects the cost of living in your location, your experience, and the responsibilities of the role. Below are reference ranges (USD/year) for Director-level roles by location:

• United States: USD $100,000 – $132,000
• Canada: USD $83,000 – $109,000
• Mexico: USD $35,000 – $45,000
• Panama: USD $46,000 – $60,000
• Brazil: USD $31,000 – $41,000
• Germany: USD $71,000 – $94,000
• Netherlands: USD $78,000 – $102,000
• Thailand: USD $33,000 – $44,000
• Australia: USD $89,000 – $117,000
  

Compensation for other countries follows the same equitable framework. Final salary will be commensurate with experience and adapted to local living costs.

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How to Apply

To apply, please visit our Careers page and submit your application materials through the portal. Applications by email will not be accepted.

Required:

• A cover letter in English, addressed to Aimee Roberson, Executive Director, sharing why this role resonates with you and how your lived and professional experiences align with our work. This will serve as your writing sample.
  
• A CV or résumé, centered on your experience with Indigenous communities, movements, and advocacy, along with other relevant backgrounds.

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Our Commitment to Inclusion

Cultural Survival is an Indigenous-led global organization grounded in respect, intercultural dialogue, and collective care. We’re committed to building a team that reflects the diversity, wisdom, and worldviews of the communities we walk alongside. We welcome applications from individuals of all nations, identities, spiritual traditions, languages, ages, and life journeys. If you require support or accommodations at any stage of the process, please contact us at hr@culturalsurvival.org. We’re here to support you.