This position is open to all qualified applicants.



About the Role:
The DNRP Directors office is seeking a seasoned, collaborative Tribal Relations Liaison, is that you? In this role you will be responsible for the overall coordination and the development of relationships/partnerships with Native America tribal governments and American Indians and Alaska Natives living in King County. You as our successful top candidate will provide expertise and guidance on Pacific Northwest and Washington state tribal history, treaties, sovereignty, self-governance, protocols, customs, natural resources, and cultural properties. In addition, you will facilitate the identification and discussion of the needs of tribes in King County and will develop, establish, and strengthen ties and relationships with tribal councils, chairpersons, officials and staff, regional treaty resource managers, and appropriate State of Washington Agency Tribal Liaison staff.

This position performs work remotely and onsite.

An information session will be held for this position on June 12th from 12:00 - 12:45 pm PST ( Microsoft Teams Link )

About the Team:
DNRP’s mission is to foster environmental stewardship and strengthen communities by providing regional parks, protecting the region's water, air, land and natural habitats, and reducing, safely disposing of and creating resources from wastewater and solid waste, and this work must be done in partnership with tribes, acknowledging their priorities and their unique role in stewarding these lands since time immemorial. The Tribal Relations Liaison ensures that the County meets its obligations to uphold all aspects of its obligations to Native American tribal governments and to American Indians and Alaska Natives living in King County.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a King County Employee you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .

Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.What You Will Be Doing:

• Assist the County in developing and maintaining relationships with local and regional Indian leaders.
• Advise County officials, management and staff on Pacific Northwest and Washington tribal history, treaties, sovereignty, self-governance, protocols, customs and traditions, natural resources, cultural properties and other issues concerning the County's relationship/partnership with local and regional tribal governments.
• Develop and implement procedures and protocols for County relationships with local and regional Indian tribal governments and other native leaders.
• Develop strategies for County discussions and negotiations with Native American tribal governments (or tribal government supported entities such as the Northwest Indian Fish Commission) to create mutually beneficial agreements and partnerships between the County and the tribal governments.
• Facilitate engagement with tribal representatives on capital project and restoration activities impacting tribal resources.
• Manage special projects as needed, such as County and departmental Tribal Government training efforts, establishing "listening sessions" with senior tribal government staff and facilitation of planning and implementation efforts for King County programs and projects.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Demonstrated working experience with Native American tribal protocols, customs, tradition, and culture specific to Pacific Northwest Tribal Governments.
• Experience with technical management and legal support related to tribal treaty rights and government to government consultation.
• A commitment to equity and a track record of expertise in developing relationships with diverse populations.
• Ten years of increasingly responsible experience in policy analysis and development in fields such as natural resources and cultural resource management and tribal community and economic development, including staffing tribal and/or governmental decision makers.
• Advanced knowledge of communications (oral and written) techniques and principles, including public speaking.
• Translating and articulating the County’s strategic agenda from vision to policy to key steps in implementation.

License Requirements:

• Washington State Driving License or consistent reliable transportation as this position will be traveling to tribes, DNRP & County wide events, providing external engagement and accompanying the Department Director.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Law degree or equivalent experience working in the field of Indian Law, and experience applying, interpreting and understanding tribal treaty rights.
• Ability to track and understand court decisions at a local and national level to inform King County of evolving trends in Indian Law.
• Demonstrated skill in the application of conflict resolution and negotiation techniques and principles.
• Existing relationships with Pacific Northwest Tribal leaders and staff.

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role will primarily be working at different tribal locations, with some work performed remotely at a home location. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department’s vision of Green Where We Work.
• Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week with flexible schedules. This position is not covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.

Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.
Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.
To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter – Detailing your experience that makes you a good fit for this position. (required)

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Helen David at hdavid@kingcounty.gov

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.