Job Information
Washington State Department of Natural Resources Deputy Director for Tribal Relations in Olympia, Washington
Deputy Director for Tribal Relations
Partial Telework flexibility may be available and considered Relocation Compensation may be available and considered Salary: $8,847.00 - $10,318.00 Monthly To allow for growth and salary progression, the full salary range is: $8,847.00 - $10,860.00 Monthly *Review of applications is ongoing. *We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 3/26/2026. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.
Responsibilities:
- Support the Commissioner and division leadership in high-level consultations and negotiations, providing clear policy context and DNR's strategic objectives
- Undertake Government-to-Government outreach, ensuring appropriate agency and Tribal representation is present and that appropriate protocols are followed.
- Provide timely, accurate information to Tribal governments and serve as a resource for Tribes and agency staff.
- Facilitate in coordinating regular meetings between Executive leadership, region managers, and their respective Tribal counterparts to discuss items of mutual interest and concern.
- Advance DNR's HEAL Act implementation and deliverables for federally recognized Tribes, urban Indians, and migrant Indigenous peoples.
- Manage and coordinate research related to environmental justice with Indigenous communities on behalf of DNR and support internal HEAL Act Task Teams.
- Provide strategic policy development and advice; identify, analyze, develop, and advise leadership on policy issues, opportunities, and risks related to tribal interests. Serve as a strong advocate on behalf of DNR and the CPL in meetings with tribes. Recommend strategies to incorporate tribal priorities and treaty rights in DNR's policy development, legislative agenda, and rulemaking processes.
- Prepare briefing materials, policy memos, reports, and decision packages that summarize tribal concerns, analyze related DNR issues, and recommend DNR positions.
- Develop agency request legislation and monitor agency and Tribal specific priority legislation, provide bill analysis, and prepare testimony for agency leadership.
Required Qualifications: * *Education:
- Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience working directly with Tribal communities, preferably in a natural resources context; OR a combination of education and/or experience equivalent.
Key Knowledge and Skills:
Demonstrated experience successfully working alongside and building relationships with urban and rural WA Tribes, migrant Indigenous, Tribal organizations, business, and private industry partners in the pursuit of broad public policy goals.
Demonstrated expertise in providing high-level, strategic advice to an elected official in a political environment, including identifying and analyzing opportunities and risks.
Experience in policy analysis and research, drafting and monitoring legislation, and project management.
Advanced active listening, negotiation, conflict resolution, and advocacy skills.
Experience working for a Tribal elected official, non-Tribal elected official, or other high-level executive
Demonstrated ability to write for targeted audiences effectively and to communicate persuasively at all levels of the organization and externally.
Demonstrated history of designing programs to advance racial equity and justice across programs and organizations.
Demonstrated experience successfully moving a high-priority, high-profile project involving multiple competing interests from start to completion.
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