Deputy Director for Tribal Relations, Exempt

Recruitment #2026-3-A183 Full-time, Exempt 2, Non-represented position

Location:

Olympia, WA Partial Telework flexibility 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

This position will play an important role in supporting the Director of Tribal Relations by providing strategic advice, policy analysis, and research, and supporting legislatively required activities outlined in the HEAL and Climate Commitment Acts. This role will serve the Commissioner and report to the Director of Tribal Relations. They will be a cross-team collaborator with the Equity and Environmental Justice group and contribute to the Tribal Affairs program while supporting the agency with expertise and project management on major policy and program outcomes to ensure compliance with legislative mandates.

The Deputy Director for Tribal Relations will directly report to the Director of Tribal Relations, who is a direct report to the Commissioner (RCW ) in the organization chart. Both the Director and Deputy Director of Tribal Relations are in the Chief of Staff team, which is managed by the Chief of Staff.

• 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 rule making 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.

• 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.

• 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…