Director of the Cherokee Center - 000355

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including:
2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

The primary location of this position is in Cherokee, NC.

The WCU Cherokee Center, an office for outreach and partnership development, was established in Cherokee, North Carolina, in 1975. The Center is responsible for bridging activities between the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and WCU. The Western Carolina University campus is situated within the ancestral homelands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. At WCU our work seeks to embrace and connect to this Cherokee landscape as we work to reinforce our mission at WCU. We will work to actively engage our community with the extraordinary indigenous identity and culture of this special place that was once known as Two Sparrows Place.

Western Carolina University invites applications for a new director for the WCU Cherokee Center. The directorship is a critical position responsible for bridging activities between the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and WCU. The Director has primary responsibility for implementation of the Cherokee Centers Strategic Plan, which was developed jointly with community members from both the EBCI and WCU. The Director will also focus on recurring themes of recruitment, retention, and mentorship of EBCI members enrolled or desiring to enroll at WCU. The Director will work closely with other departments on campus including but not limited to Cherokee Studies, Health Sciences, Research Administration Admissions, Student Affairs and Educational Outreach.

Other Essential Responsibilities Include:

Essential qualifications include superior communication skills and an ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies internal and external to WCU. Facilitation and collaboration skills are also critical. Documented experience in achieving desirable outcomes through a multi-organizational team approach is vital. The successful candidate must exhibit evidence of exemplary leadership in supporting and facilitating strategic initiatives, and excellent management, supervisory, and budgetary skills. Experience in obtaining and managing external funding is desirable.

Masters degree from a regionally accredited institution. Demonstrated experience working with Indigenous communities.

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include a cover letter, current resume and a list of three professional references with complete contact information.

For questions or additional information please contact Brett Riggs at bhriggs@email.wcu.edu