Consultant: Indigenous Participation Expert
The Carter Center is guided by a fundamental commitment to promote human rights, alleviate human suffering, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health conditions. The Center seeks a highly qualified, motivated, and energetic consultant to the Center’s US Elections Project.
This position requires up to 11 days of work per month.
Start date: April 15, 2025
Location: Remote, with some domestic travel
Pay: Commensurate with experience
Length of Assignment: Through August 31, 2025, with high likelihood of extension
The Democracy Program at The Carter Center works internationally to support and enhance participatory democracy in alignment with human rights. Starting in 2020, The Carter Center initiated efforts to assist elections in the United States. The project encompasses several key components: establishing nonpartisan observation efforts, enhancing the electoral dispute resolution process, supporting an inclusive democracy, contributing to electoral reform, and promoting principles for trusted elections.
Prior to observing in the states, the Center observed tribal elections in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Cheyenne/Arapaho tribes, and the Cherokee Nations. The Center also hosted a national convening of tribal leaders and key election administrators to identify and resolve issues for access within the community.
To build upon of our past work supporting indigenous participation, The Carter Center is seeking an indigenous voting rights expert to identify opportunities to support indigenous communities that align with our existing profile and lead design of engagement with indigenous communities.
Primary Responsibilities:
The Indigenous participation consult will:
- Act as the leading technical expert on electoral participation and voter access for indigenous peoples. Provide knowledge in areas related to voting rights and inclusion.
- Work with Carter Center staff to evaluate and identify ways to support election participation and voter access for indigenous peoples. Develop a strategic plan for implementation between September 2025 and August 2026, ensuring alignment with The Carter Center’s mission and avoiding duplication of effective work by others.
Methodology:
- Collaborate with Carter Center staff and consultants to create, test, and improve methods for gathering data on voter access for indigenous peoples, including non-partisan observation.
- Help Carter Center staff develop guidance documents, tools, and resources for observation and data collection methods to be used by both the Center and partner organizations.
Partnership and Representation:
- Find potential partners for continued engagement on issues relevant to indigenous people’s election participation, working alongside Carter Center staff.
- Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations along with Carter Center staff.
- Attend meetings with various stakeholders as needed to achieve project goals.
- Represent The Carter Center at events or media opportunities as necessary and approved by Carter Center staff.
Research and Analysis:
- Examine state legislation concerning indigenous peoples’ election participation to determine if legal provisions are implemented according to national frameworks and international standards for democratic elections.
- Inform project team members about key indigenous voting rights issues during campaigns and elections by drafting briefing papers and other mission-related documents as needed.
- Evaluate the participation and obstacles faced by indigenous groups as voters and candidates in the electoral process against international standards. Create standardized tools, checklists, discussion guidelines, and other instruments to assess participatory rights and challenges to effective engagement.
- Contribute to Carter Center press releases, public statements, and project reports when required.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in with indigenous populations in any of the following states: Georgia, New Mexico, Montana, Colorado, Michigan, Tennessee, and Nevada
- 7+ years of community engagement experience serving primarily indigenous communities
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Organized, trustworthy, dependable, and detail oriented
- Experience willingness to work across various cultural contexts and communicating across cultural differences
- Willingness to travel within the US for occasional team gatherings
To apply, please fill out the form at the link below and attach a CV and Cover Letter. https://filerequestpro.com/up/uselectionsrecruiting
Only applications submitted at the above site will be considered.
Deadline for submissions:
Applications accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.
Only those candidates selected for an interview or additional consideration will be notified by the Center. No separate emails, phone calls, or in-person contacts, please.