Tribal Liaison

Position Summary

This announcement is open continuous and will have ongoing screening throughout the process. 

Hello, we’re Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow. 

Metro, the regional government for greater Portland, works collaboratively with communities to ensure a healthy environment, strong economy, and great quality of life for all of the region’s residents. Metro provides a diverse set of services, including stewardship of over 18,000 acres of parks, trails and natural areas; land use planning and management of the region’s urban growth boundary; creation of a long-term transportation plan and distribution of federal transportation funds; planning and oversight of the region’s solid waste system; building affordable housing and funding supportive housing services for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness; and operation of regional visitor venues, including the Oregon Zoo, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts and Oregon Convention Center.

The Tribal Liaison will serve as a member of the Government Affairs and Policy Development (GAPD) team, which is part of the Chief Operating Officer / Council Office.   Reporting to the Director of Government Affairs you will work with a second Tribal Liaison working in the GAPD office. Both Tribal Liaisons will work across the agency with a broader, cross-departmental group of staff at Metro, which collectively comprises Metro’s Tribal Affairs program.   

The primary responsibilities of the Tribal  Liaison will be to support the Metro Council’s priorities through strengthening relationships and coordinating consultation with interested Tribal Governments; establishing and improving existing staff trainings in tribal sovereignty and self-governance, history, practices, and cultural and historic resource protection; supporting engagement with urban Indigenous community members in greater Portland; and providing occasional project management support to special agency projects.   

The incumbent will also develop relationships with people and organizations with expertise on tribal histories, treaties, protocols, customs and traditions, natural and cultural resources, relevant economic enterprises, and issues of tribal sovereignty and self-governance. The Tribal Liaison will work with the Metro Tribal Affairs program to elevate the priorities and interests of Tribes and Indigenous Peoples directly to the Metro Council and agency leadership.

As the Tribal Liaison you will

• Act as a primary representative of Metro on the Tribal Affairs team in relationships with Tribal Governments, tribal council members, staff and leaders, and the urban Indigenous community.
• Establish and maintain respectful, long-term, positive relationships with interested Tribes.
• Affirm and strengthen Metro’s relationships with tribally established organizations and Native-serving organizations in greater Portland.
• Advance Metro’s policy goals through collaboration and government-to-government consultation processes with Tribes, and engagement with other local government and non-governmental partners to inform and support Metro Council’s policy objectives, programs, and projects.
• Advise Metro officials and staff on tribal histories, treaties, protocols, customs and traditions, natural and cultural resources, issues of tribal sovereignty and self-governance, and other areas concerning relations with Tribal Governments.
• Coordinate, as appropriate, with local, regional, or national tribally established and Native-serving organizations whose functions or interests intersect and/or align with Metro’s areas of governance and responsibility.
• Manage special projects as needed, such as coordinating formal consultation relating to major agency initiatives.
• Collaborate with agency leadership and staff on consultation and engagement with respect to specific departmental projects, policy making and actions
• Work closely with the departments that are actively involved with Tribal Governments, Native-serving organizations, or urban Indigenous community members to implement Metro’s work, particularly on policies and projects that are complex and cross jurisdictional boundaries.
• Participate in the GAPD team as an active and engaged team member.
• Write and prepare briefing memos, policy research papers on specific issues, as needed.
• Prepare and deliver presentations and briefings to the Metro Council, Tribes, and other public and private entities.
• Work closely with elected officials and senior-level decision-makers, both internal and external.
• Understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Engage others in the policy development process, building alliances and support with multiple partners, including Tribes, and stakeholders.

Attributes for success

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal Indian law and policy; as well as historic resources, cultural resources and natural resources policy, related laws, and regulations.
• Knowledge of local and regional tribal issues, including inter-tribal politics.
• Knowledge of local and regional political issues and the Oregon political landscape.
• Understanding of the history of the settlement of Pacific Northwest, including knowledge of relevant tribal histories, treaties, and contemporary tribal interests in what is now known as the greater Portland area.
• Knowledge of tribal sovereignty and self-governance, protocols, customs, and traditions.
• Understanding of tribal priorities regarding natural, cultural, and historic resources protection and preservation.
• Understanding of tribal priorities regarding economic development and land use planning.
• Understanding of the best practices for outreach and engagement with urban Indigenous communities and populations.
• Ability to communicate effectively by written, spoken and electronic means with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to correctly assess and advise on the political and institutional environments in which decisions are made and implemented.
• Skilled at establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with Metro employees, external partners including Tribes, volunteers, and other organizations and individuals encountered during the course of work.
• Ability to use culturally appropriate conflict resolution approaches when needed during the course of work.
• Commitment to fulfill Metro’s core values of public service, excellence, teamwork, respect, innovation, and sustainability.
• Understanding of how to apply principles of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of work to advance the diverse perspectives of community voices and priorities.
• Use of discretion with confidential and sensitive matters and protected information.

Approximate Recruitment Timeline 

• Continuous until first of October with regular on-going screening 
• First round interview week of October 7, 2024
• Second round interview week of October 14th or 21st 
• Reference check week of October 28th 
• Candidate start date between November 12th and 22nd 

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION                                              

At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro’s goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.   

Learn more about Metro’s Diversity Action Plan

TO QUALIFY

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant. 

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a field related to assigned responsibilities such as Native American studies, political science, public administration or anthropology, or any degree related to the job’s duties; AND
• Four years of directly related and progressively responsible experience providing tribal relations, government affairs and diplomatic relations, policy analysis and/or political communications services; OR
• Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply

If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Hybrid Telework  

At this time, this position is designated as “hybrid telework.” You will have the option to work away from the office, although there may be times that coming into the office will be required. The manager will work with you to identify a schedule that balances the operational needs of the department and your needs. Employees must reside in Oregon or Washington to work at Metro 

Like to have qualifications

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

SCREENING AND EVALUATION

The application packet: The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

• A completed Resume that includes the details for each employer
  1. Name of employer, working title  
  2. Dates of employment; including if the work was full-time or part-time your title, 
  3. Number of employees supervised 
  4. Summary of your responsibilities
• A cover letter that describes your interest in this position and your perspective on the role and responsibilities of a local government in supporting tribal sovereignty.

The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Testing/assessments (if applicable)
• Reference check 
• Background, driving records check for finalist candidate (if applicable)

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND REPRESENTATON

The full-salary range for this position is Step 1 $115,696.00 to Step 6 $147,661.15 However, unless a candidate’s qualifications justify, based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements and Metro’s internal equity review process, the appointment will likely be made between Step 1 $115,696.00 to the equity range Step 3 $127,554.84.

This position is not eligible for overtime and is non-represented. It is classified as an enter the Policy Advisor III. 

Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions. View the classification description for the Policy Advisor III. (Download PDF reader)

Questions?

Talent Acquisition Specialist: Kara Hill 

Email: Kara.Hill@oregonmetro.gov  

Additional Information

Equal employment opportunity

All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law.

Accommodation

Metro will gladly provide a reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.

Veterans' preference

Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans' preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Hybrid Telework

Positions designated as “hybrid telework,” meaning you will have the option to work away from the office, although there may be times that coming into the office will be required. The designation of Hybrid Telework may be subject to change at a future time. All employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; Metro cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.
 

Pay equity at Metro

No matter who you are or where you work at Metro, you deserve to be paid fairly for the work you do. Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.

Online applications

Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance. 

How to Apply

For tips on how to apply and more information on what the application process looks like, visit Metro’s “How to apply” page. 

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