Executive Coordinator

Founded in 1967, California Indian Legal Services (CILS) is the oldest public interest Indian rights law firm in the country, promoting the fundamental rights of California Tribes and Indians through litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, community development, and other strategies for systemic change. CILS provides a full range of legal representation to California Indian Tribes and Indian organizations, advocates for the rights of California Indians at the local, state, and national levels, and provides direct services and community education to low-income Native American individuals on issues related to Federal Indian Law. CILS offers services statewide and maintains four offices throughout California – Eastern (Bishop), Southern (Escondido), Northern (McKinleyville), and Central (Sacramento). This position is in the Principal Office, located in Sacramento, CA.

About the role

The Executive Coordinator at CILS provides high-level administrative, project, and writing support to the Executive Director and Board of Trustees. This position coordinates executive priorities, Board and committee logistics, meeting materials, records, follow-up, travel, reimbursements, strategic initiatives, and special projects with accuracy, discretion, and strong attention to detail. The role serves as a central point of coordination for organization communication by gathering content, drafting and reviewing communications, coordinating approvals, and working with staff and external vendors to support implementation. This role requires exceptional organization, sound judgment, strong writing skills, project management abilities, and the ability to manage details, deadlines, competing priorities, and confidential information with professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Support Executive Projects: Serve as a trusted partner to the Executive Director by coordinating delegated tasks, projects, and priorities with accuracy and timeliness.
• Coordinate Governance: Coordinate the quarterly meeting preparation and the logistics and execution of the Board of Trustees and its Committees, ensuring smooth meetings, accurate records, and clear communication of actions and decisions.
• Coordinate Organizational Communications: Coordinate the development and implementation of organizational communications, including newsletters, Annual Reports, website content, social media, and other public-facing materials. Work collaboratively with staff and external vendors to gather content, manage reviews and approvals, and draft or edit communications as appropriate to support organizational priorities.
• Advance Advocacy: Assist the Executive Director with CILS’s Capitol Presence by coordinating and promoting legislative and policy initiatives, advocacy events, trainings, Tribal Roundtables, and other key Capitol-based activities.
• Strengthen Organization: Maintain internal communication tools, resources, and processes that keep staff informed and aligned with the strategic plan.
• Executive Support & Project Coordination:
  • Provide administrative and coordination support to the Executive Director through delegated duties and special projects.
  • Coordinate projects on behalf of the Executive Director using project management tools and principles.
  • Book travel, reconcile spending accounts, and process reimbursements for the Executive Director and Board.
  • Receive and prioritize staff requests for Executive Director approvals.
  • Coordinate vendor contracts, project timelines, deliverables, and approvals for Executive Director-assigned communications and special projects.
  • Provide administrative support as needed.
• Board & Governance Coordination:
  • Schedule and coordinate Board of Trustees meetings.
  • Coordinate the collection and preparation of meeting materials.
  • Draft and distribute meeting minutes.
  • Maintain internal Board files and records.
  • Assist with bylaws updates as requested by the Board.
  • Communicate Board action items to staff and stakeholders and track follow-through.
• Capitol Presence & Strategic Initiatives:
  • Coordinate organization of and communications for CILS’ Capitol Presence efforts, including legislative and policy initiatives, advocacy events, trainings, and Tribal engagement activities.
  • Coordinate logistics, promotion, and follow-up for Capitol-based activities to ensure visibility, professionalism, and impact.
  • Coordinate implementation of strategic plan initiatives, ensuring progress is tracked and communicated.
  • Attend Capitol events to support the Executive Director and create communications to share with Tribal communities and Tribes.
  • Maintain the strategic plan tracker and ensure automations are functional.
  • Coordinate organization and distribution of bills analysis.
• Communications & Public Relations:
  • Coordinate the development, creation, curation, and scheduling of social media content to enhance visibility of CILS, including drafting content and collaborating with staff or external vendors as appropriate.
  • Draft press releases and coordinate distribution.
  • Coordinate the development and distribution of newsletters through Constant Contact and other platforms and assist in writing them.
  • Coordinate the development of the Annual Report, including gathering content, drafting, editing, and design coordination.
  • Coordinate and/or conduct capture of video and photos at Capitol and community events to develop content for social media and communications.
  • Maintain and update the CILS website with current content and resources.
  • Uphold brand standards by maintaining templates for presentations, letterhead, and outreach materials.
  • Coordinate the production of branded materials and promotional materials.
  • Coordinate donation program communications and promotion.
  • Coordinate and collaborate with staff, external partners, and vendors as appropriate.
• Organizational Communications & Internal Resources:
  • Collect and update content for the staff intranet for the Executive Director.
  • Ensure consistent messaging and information flow across the organization.
  • Support organization-wide communication needs as directed.
  • Serve as the Executive Director’s delegate for information and resources.

Pay

This position is offered at a starting pay range of $28.43 - $33.72 per hour ($59,144 – $70,149 annually), aligned with the entry tier for this role. Progression into higher pay levels is not automatic and is determined through an established evaluation process.

Benefits

• Multiple high-quality, low-cost medical plans with 100% coverage for the employee and 90% for dependent premiums.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible medical/dental, dependent care, and public transportation expenses.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match.
• 17 paid holidays annually (includes office closure from December 24-January 1) plus an additional day for your birthday.
• Vacation time off, starting at 13 days accrued per year.
• 12 days of sick leave per year.
• Paid leave for jury duty/witness services, Election Day, and bereavement.
• Free professional development courses and learning opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Program with access to free mental health services.
• Loan Repayment Assistance Program for eligible attorney positions.
• Supplemental insurance, including additional life and disability coverage.

Schedule

This position is in-person in the Principal Office (Sacramento, CA) Mondays through Fridays with optional teleworking on Mondays and Fridays.