Culture - Assistant Director

The Puyallup Tribe of Indians is committed to protecting and exercising the inherent inalienable sovereign rights of the Tribe and Individuals in the interest of the Medicine Creek Treat Territories, as stewards to ensure preservation of our cultural and environmental integrity for common good and prosperity for all.

Open:
August 31, 2026

Close:
When Filled

Job Title:
Assistant Director

Department:
Culture

Reports To:
Director

Hours: 40 Hrs./Wk. – Full Time

Salary:
Based on Salary Matrix+Benefits

Requisition: 947

* Salaries are market competitive. For accurate salary information, call  or email (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). . The Puyallup Tribe of Indians provides a generous benefits package that includes employer paid medical, dental, vision, life insurance, a retirement/401(k) plan with profit sharing, paid holidays, and paid time off including birthday leave.

Administrative:

• Assists Director with Cultural related events:
  First Fish Ceremony, blessing of buildings, Canoe family.
• Schedules and coordinates traditional healers.
• Maintains department equipment, including canoes, support boat and canoe/carving shed.
• Assists with implementation of Healing of the Canoes curriculum.
• Provides backup to Culture instructors by teaching classes as needed.
• Responsible for hiring temporary staff to work events.
• Processes payment requests for all contracted and temporary staff.
• Responds to telephone and written inquiries from general public and other Tribal departments.
• Performs administrative duties to include composition of correspondence on behalf of the Director, maintenance of office records and file systems, daily picks up and delivers mail to and from the main Administrative office. Timely distributes the mail and other office information within the department. Prepares check requests, purchase orders, tracks invoices for payment. Orders and maintains office supplies.
• Establishes and maintains contact with service and equipment vendors, including obtaining bids for new equipment and services.
• Assists Director with various duties to include preparation and routing of Agenda Request Forms to Tribal Council; budget modifications, etc.
• Schedules meetings and appointments for the Director, and may attend meetings on behalf of the Director.
• Assists Director with various projects such as developing departmental policies and procedures on an as-needed basis.

Traditional Healers:

• Meets with clients to determine needs and selects Healer that best meets those needs.
• Schedules appointments with client and healers.
• Works with Travel Department to coordinate Travel for healers.
• Meets with healers interested in working with the community. Makes recommendations to Director.
• Coordinates background checks on new healers.
• Advertises when events and healers are available to meet with clients in newspaper.

Canoe Journey:

• Facilitates all written communication between the Puyallup Tribal Council, the Tribal programs, and community partnerships with Metro Parks of Tacoma, City of Tacoma, Port of Tacoma and others identified by the planning committee.
• Responsible for placing all public announcements in the Puyallup Tribal Newspaper and coordinating those announcements with John Weymer of Tribal News.
• Assists the Cultural Director and the Canoe Journey Committee with creating, managing and monitoring a budget. Responsible for creating, seeking approval for and monitoring budget modifications or supplemental budget requests.
• Responsible for negotiating contracts with vendors, including seeking approval of such contracts through proper channels.
• Processes requests for payment or purchase orders as needed.
• Responsible for developing logistics for Canoe Welcoming Ceremony including camping needs, transportation needs, evening protocol and hosting.
• Responsible for developing and overseeing the logistics for hosting meals.

Language:

• Teaches Language at cultural classes, canoe family meetings and other events.
• Creates curriculum appropriate for each class.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

This position is responsible for hiring and directing the work of temporary workers. May act as the supervisor of all Culture staff in the absence of the Director. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians personnel policies and procedures, and all applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, coaching and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work;

appraising performance; rewarding, recognizing and counseling employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The…