Tribal Liaison

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We strive to be a workplace where we share our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals, and while collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. We celebrate and appreciate diversity, champion equity, and treat each other with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Qualifications: 8 years of experience performing professional-level evaluative, analytical, and planning work.

Substitutions:

Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, behavioral or social sciences, finance, political science, or a closely related field may substitute for 3 of the required years of experience.

Candidates who are most competitive will also reflect the following desired attributes:

Proven or lived experience collaborating with Tribes, preferably in Oregon, including making sure services are equitable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of Tribes and their communities.

Knowledge and understanding of local, state, and federal Tribal relations laws, and other applicable laws, and experience interpreting and advising colleagues and external partners on aspects of those laws.

Knowledge of, or lived experience with local, state, and federal Tribal matters and concerns, including anything related to historic and cultural resources, treaties, and natural resources.

Knowledge or lived experience with tribal worldviews and indigenous ways of knowing.

Ability to advise on and support Tribal consultation and Tribal relations; experience providing training on Tribal relations.

Knowledge and experience working in or with natural resources regulations and programs.

Skill in conflict resolution, negotiation, collaboration, and engagement; strong interpersonal skills with an ability to break down traditional barriers that exist between programs, challenging people to take a coordinated rather than independent perspective.

Demonstrated experience building and fostering relationships with a diverse group of partners including colleagues, interested parties, communities, organizations, and businesses; experience building collaborative partnerships and cooperative relationships with Tribal leaders and Tribal government representatives statewide.

Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historic and ongoing impacts to marginalized and underrepresented communities, particularly tribal communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing their knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Highly motivated; a willingness to take initiative; ability to work creatively to find solutions; innovative; and excellent problem-solving skills involving detailed thinking for solving complex issues.

Experience representing an agency or organization in meetings with the public, regulated community, and/or other organizations.

Demonstrated ability to learn program details and communicate effectively.

Demonstrated ability to advise executives and other decision-makers; demonstrated political adroitness.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to provide clear, concise, and compelling communication of policy, program, or technical information tailored to the needs of diverse audiences; skill in writing and presenting clear and concise program briefs or reports that include analyses, recommendations, and conclusions to diverse audiences.

Working Conditions:

DEQ believes in a diverse and inclusive work environment. All employees are expected to contribute to a work environment that collectively values and benefits from respecting its diversity and promotes a culture of inclusiveness.

This position will be based out of DEQ’s office in Headquarters office in Portland, however, the successful candidate may be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide necessary hardware (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cell phone) for an employee to successfully work from home. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.

This position requires regular travel by car throughout the state, including to Tribal lands and facilities, for meetings, trainings, seminars, hearings, and workshops for meetings, conferences, trainings, seminars, public hearings, and workshops, some of which will involve evening work, weekend work, and/or overnight stays.

What you will do!

Strengthening relationships with sovereign Tribal governments to promote meaningful and respectful engagement is one of DEQ’s strategic priorities. In support of this work, you will serve as DEQ’s Liaison to the nine federally recognized Tribes of Oregon. You will represent DEQ in meetings with Tribal leaders and staff, advise DEQ managers and staff on how DEQ actions can address Tribal interests and concerns, facilitate relationship-building between Tribal leaders and DEQ’s Director and Executive Managers, provide guidance to DEQ managers and staff on Tribal relations, and report annually to the Legislature on DEQ’s Tribal relations activities. You will advise DEQ leadership, staff, consultants, and partners on aspects of local, state, and federal Tribal relations laws. Under the supervision of the Policy and External Affairs Administrator, you will work with DEQ leadership, management, and staff to develop and maintain a comprehensive Tribal affairs program; ensure DEQ maintains a comprehensive and current awareness of issues of interest to tribes; represent DEQ in cross-jurisdictional settings, such as at meetings of the Legislative Commission on Indian Services and associated cluster meetings and workgroups, inter-agency convenings of Tribal Liaisons, and issue-specific workgroups involving representatives of Tribal governments; and represent DEQ on national and statewide Tribal affairs committees and organizations.

What’s in it for you!

The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! DEQ cares deeply about employee wellness and benefits. We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today!

$7,353 - $10,827