Intergovernmental and Tribal Council Liaison in Shelton, Washington at Squaxin Island Tribe

Job Title: Intergovernmental and Tribal Council Liaison

Department: Executive

Reports To: Tribal Council

FLSA Status: Exempt

TS Range: DOQ

Prepared By/Date:

Approved By/Date:

Opening Date: 6/19/2026

Closing Date: 7/03/2026

SUMMARY: Serves as a resource to the Tribal Council: assists the Tribal Council in developing organizational goals, objectives and priorities; offers input/feedback; provides advice and strategy; receives and responds to constituent concerns; acts as liaison between the Tribal Council and other governments, tribal and non-tribal; general public, including individuals or public organizations; the Squaxin Tribal Community; and/or the multiple entities of the Tribe. This is a top executive position reporting to the Squaxin Island Tribal Council.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Acts as the Public Relations Spokesperson for the Tribe, including pro-active and reactive messaging. Develops message for Council in concert with affected department or entity. Works with news agencies, publications, community speaking opportunities and other public relations persons.

• Serves as the liaison for Council for all intergovernmental relations, including lobbyists, direct contact with federal and state legislators/staff, county governments, special districts, ports, and other tribes.

• Acts as the first contact for receiving community concerns and complaints. While not a decision-maker, gathers information necessary to understand the nature of the concern or complaint, mediates resolution, offers potential solutions, presents unresolved concerns or complaints to Council with information necessary for a sound decision by Council and recommendations, if any, for changes in policy or law as it applies to the unresolved problem. Purpose is to ensure that constituent concerns are fairly and quickly addressed, and that Council is reserved for legislative and policy matters.

• Provides opportunities and/or suggestions regarding training to better equip Council members to successfully complete the legislative duties of their elected positions, for example, through training, tutoring or mentoring on specific skills or topics.

• Provides advice and strategy to Tribal Council as requested.

• Assists Council in focusing on legislative and policy matters.

• Aides Council in ensuring that its deliberations are public and transparent.

• Offers insight regarding appropriate decorum in public and private deliberations, encouraging transparency.

• Advices Tribal Council on policy issues.

• Coordinates and works with the Chairman in setting and streamlining Tribal Council agendas. Aides Council in adhering to agenda.

• Provides advice and counsel on special projects as assigned with a focus on projects that involve multiple entities of the Tribe. While not a decision-maker, assists with coordinating the efforts of the decision-makers for each of the entities.

• Serves as trustee or alternate trustee for the Tribe’s “Permanent Trust”, Minor’s Trust (adopted through the Revenue Allocation Plan) and Shellfish Settlement Fund.

• Performs related work as required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Master’s Degree and six years of related experience. OR Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and eight years experience in tribal administration, management, or supervision, and 2 years of demonstrated experience and understanding of Tribal Governance, general grant/contract management, and tribal fiscal management OR Associate of Arts Degree in Business Administration and ten years of responsible experience in tribal administration, management, or supervision, and 2 years of demonstrated experience and understanding of Tribal Governance, general grant /contract management, and tribal fiscal management.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. Ability to write policy positions, speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Demonstrated ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Demonstrated ability to work with financial concepts such as discounts, present value, and return on investments.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract or concrete variables. Ability to objectively apply policy considerations to a particular problem.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Must have a Washington State Drivers’ License.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee may regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Extensive travel may be required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

DRUG FREE WORKPLACE: The successful candidate will be required to have a urinalysis for drug and alcohol screening in accordance with the Tribe’s Drug Free Workplace Policy.

INDIAN PREFERENCE: Indian Preference will be exercised in the hiring of this position in accordance with the Tribe’s Personnel Policies.

CONTACT: Human Resources Department (360) 426-9781.