Planning Director

The Spokane Tribal Planning Director is responsible for the day-to-day management activities of the Planning Division. These programs include but are not limited to Transportation, Land Use, and Community Development Planning. The position develops policy and procedures recommendations to improve accountability and programmatic compliance within the respective division.

• Responsible for providing directions to the Planning Department.
• Responsible for monitoring departmental personnel to ensure compliance with Tribal policies and performance standards.
• The position facilitates comprehensive planning coordination between the Tribe and outside agencies.
• Coordinate planning activities including development and implementation of Tribal plans, goals, and objectives.
• Responsible for overseeing and managing all tribal budgets within the Planning Department. This includes but is not limited to general revisions, annual fiscal revisions, management of funding, and if applicable, ensuring funding stays within the parameters of the funding agreement.
• Reviews and develop program operations in accordance with federal guidelines.
• Develop and coordinate strategies for project financing. Serves as Tribal liaison for developers, and business entrepreneurs.
• Develop and maintain a working relationship with the appropriate entities such as municipal, state, county, other tribal governments, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Federal Highways Administration, Housing and Urban Development, etc.
• Provides employee position descriptions, evaluations, and development plans.
• Provides an equitable, consistent program service delivery for all programs of the Tribe, and continued service to the Tribal reservation community.
• Research, compiles and presents technical information, and prepares and coordinates presentations to the Tribal Business Council, Department Directors, Program Managers, Tribal employees, Tribal members, and various community groups.
• Work cooperatively with the various Tribal programs and communities to provide Tribal leadership with the information and technical support necessary to formulate comprehensive plans, make informed decisions, and develop new policies and initiatives.
• Continually evaluate Departmental operations and activities and propose improvements when necessary.
• Must be able to prepare and submit grants.
• Train any new staff within the Planning Department on internal STOI procedures and policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the OED or TBC.

• Knowledge of Rural Development and Urban/Regional Planning theory.
• Knowledge of Tribal governance.
• Deep understanding of tribal structures, sovereignty, and working with elected officials.
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and directly with tribal nations.
• Ability to understand and execute complex oral or written instructions and to apply extensive and obscure guidelines to a wide variety of work situations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, public and private officials, and the public.
• Ability to take directions and carry out objectives effectively with minimal supervision.
• Ability to research complex information and effectively present such information in a public setting.
• Knowledge of GIS, data analysis, and software like MS Office.
• Ability to track spending and produce budget reports.
• Ability to work in an open team environment.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in a variety of forms.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several different variables in non-standardized situations.
• Ability to work effectively and respectfully within the Spokane Tribe of Indians community and Tribal culture.
• Provides an equitable, consistent program service delivery for all programs of the Tribe, and continued service to the Tribal reservation community.
• Grant writing knowledge and skills.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be able to communicate effectively and can perform presentations to a…