Tribal Affairs Director (Lacey)

Full Job Description

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Travel: This position will require occasional travel between parks throughout the State Park system, including overnight stays, and may be required to attend commission and tribal meetings.

Washington State Parks seeks a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as Tribal Affairs Director, leading the agency’s Office of Tribal Relations and ensuring meaningful government-to-government engagement with tribal nations whose ancestral lands and treaty rights intersect with Washington’s state park system.

Washington State Parks regularly works with tribal governments as part of its mission to care for the state’s treasured lands and connect people to Washington’s diverse natural and cultural heritage.

This position supports collaboration across a range of areas, including natural and cultural resource conservation, park planning and development, and tribal interpretation.

The Tribal Affairs Director plays a critical role in strengthening partnerships with tribal nations and ensuring agency work reflects respect for tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and culturally significant lands.

We are seeking a trusted leader who builds strong relationships, brings a thoughtful perspective to agency work, and fosters collaboration across teams.

This individual will guide agency efforts, mentor staff, and help shape how Washington State Parks partners with tribal governments into the future.

If you meet the qualifications and are passionate about strengthening tribal partnerships, we encourage you to apply.

About the position:

This position reports to the External and Legislative Relations Director and works closely with the Executive Director as a member of the agency’s Executive Leadership Team.

It provides executive-level direction, accountability, and coordination for the agency’s tribal consultation obligations and intergovernmental relationships.

This position offers hybrid telework flexibility; however, regular on-site presence is required to meet business needs.

The position is based at Washington State Parks Headquarters in Lacey, Washington. The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.

to 5:00 p.m., though occasional adjustments may be necessary to support business needs.

* All Washington State Parks positions—whether on-site, hybrid, or telework-eligible—have an assigned duty station within the State of Washington.

Requirements

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for the Office of Tribal Relations, including supervision of the Tribal Relations Assistant Director and direction of agency-wide tribal consultation efforts.
• Establish and implement the agency’s vision, policies, and standards for tribal relations.
• Provide executive-level guidance to agency leadership on tribal consultation, treaty rights, and intergovernmental engagement.

Executive Advising

• Advise the Executive Director, agency leadership, and the Washington State Parks Commission on projects, policies, and programs affecting tribal interests.
• Serve as the agency’s subject matter expert on tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and tribal–state relations.

Government-to-Government Consultation

• Lead and coordinate government-to-government consultation with tribal nations.
  Ensure compliance with consultation requirements under RCW 43.376, the Centennial Accord, the Millennium Agreement, and relevant Governor’s Executive Orders.
• Develop and maintain agency-wide consultation policies, processes, templates, and agreements.

Relationship Management

• Serve as primary liaison with tribal elected leadership on issues related to park operations, planning, cultural resource protection, and natural resource management.
• Strengthen collaborative partnerships between tribal governments and the agency.

Policy and Program Oversight

• Align agency policies, priorities, and programs by balancing state and tribal interests and applicable federal treaties, laws, and policies.
• Integrate tribal considerations into agency planning, manuals, and project implementation.

Accountability and Representation

• Oversee consultation records, tribal contact directories, and agreements to ensure compliance and transparency.
• Represent State Parks in statewide and interagency forums, including engagement with the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs.

Conflict Resolution and Coordination

• Facilitate dispute resolution and address complex issues involving tribal, state, federal, and local partners.
• Coordinate agency responses to treaty rights issues affecting the state park system.

Training and Capacity Building

• Provide training and guidance to agency staff on tribal engagement, consultation protocols, and cross-cultural communication.
• Promote understanding of treaty rights, federal trust responsibilities, tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous knowledge.

Qualifications

Successful candidates will demonstrate the following experience and competencies:

• Experience working effectively with tribal governments, tribal leaders, and tribal communities.
• Advanced understanding of tribal sovereignty, governance structures, and intergovernmental relationships.
• Expertise in tribal treaties, federal Indian law, tribal case law, and federal policies affecting tribes.
• Ability to facilitate complex discussions involving cultural differences, differing governmental structures, and competing priorities.
• Experience developing programs or initiatives that strengthen relationships with federally recognized tribes.
• Experience in policy development, consultation frameworks, or intergovernmental diplomacy.
• Strong knowledge of RCW 43.376, the Centennial Accord, the Millennium Agreement, and relevant executive orders.
• Experience supervising staff and leading teams.
• Ability to translate complex legal, policy, and technical information into clear communications for diverse audiences.
• Strong meeting facilitation, negotiation, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.
• Commitment to fostering respectful, inclusive, and culturally responsive work environments.
• Service-oriented leadership and commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.

Required competencies:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Preferred qualifications:

• Leadership experience in Tribal Relations programs within a Washington State agency or similar governmental organization.
• Experience navigating natural resource management issues, including treaty rights impacts and co-management considerations.
• Knowledge of integrating Indigenous Knowledge into natural or cultural resource policy and decision-making.

How to apply:

Only candidates who reflect the minimum qualifications on their NEOGOV profile will be considered. Failure to follow the application instructions below may lead to disqualification.

To apply for this position, you will need to complete your profile which includes three professional references and attach:

• A cover letter that specifically addresses how you meet the qualifications for this position
• Current resume

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 long-form copy), NGB 22, or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
• Please black out any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
• For more information on Veteran's Preference and instructions on how to check your eligibility, click here.

Additional Information

About Parks: The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission provides policy direction for one of the largest, most diverse, and beautiful state parks systems in the country.

The state park system is comprised of 124 state parks and properties covering over 138,000 acres throughout the state.

The park system includes marine parks, heritage sites, historic parks, interpretive centers, retreat centers, ocean beaches and hundreds of miles of trails.

The agency is also responsible for the state’s winter recreation program, boating safety and vessel pump out program and numerous contracted concession operations.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission cares for Washington's most treasured lands, waters, and historic places. Want to join a great organization?

State parks connect all Washingtonians to their diverse natural and cultural heritage and provide memorable recreational and educational experiences that enhance their lives, this is a mission like no other state agency.

For more information on Washington State Parks, click here.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is an equal opportunity employer.

We strive to build a workplace culture that is welcoming and inclusive in which all employees feel respected and empowered to bring their unique ideas to the agency.

At State Parks, we believe that embracing diverse backgrounds and experiences is essential to growing a strong workforce.

We encourage applicants underrepresented in natural resources and outdoor recreation fields to apply, including but not limited to women, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), individuals with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, persons over 40 years of age, and individuals who identify as a part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the human resources office at (360) 902-8565.

Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

For information about this recruitment or Parks hiring process, please contact Jerell Borman at jerell.borman@parks.wa.gov or (360) 890-2006.

For information about this position, please contact Brian Considine at brian.considine@parks.wa.gov or (360) 902-8504.

All applicants with a legal right to work in the United States are encouraged to apply.

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