Job Details
At The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Washington State, we have a "." Our goal is to ethically and effectively support and partner with Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations in Washington State in alignment with TNC's North America Indigenous Right Relations team to co-create a shared future of healthy lands, waters, and communities.
The Pacific Northwest Tribal Government Relations Director will help guide TNC's Washington State strategies to build influence, leverage and momentum for environmental progress in Washington State as a trusted and value-added partner working in support of Indigenous conservation and restoration priorities and Indigenous-led conservation across the Northwest. As such, they will offer guidance and direction to TNC chapters in Oregon and Idaho through work on cross-state strategies, and collaborate with the in British Columbia and Alaska.
This position will be TNC Washington's lead for the global priority of "Collaborating with Indigenous Peoples to support their voices, choices, and actions by honoring and lifting up their rights and leadership to improve natural resource policies." Under this effort, they will lead government relations efforts for TNC Washington with Tribal government representatives and senior Tribal staff, and will engage all local, state and federal governments for policy or budget appropriations necessary to achieve joint Conservation goals and implement strategies. They will work collaboratively with TNC colleagues locally, regionally and across the global organization to strengthen external relationships. Their work will strive to enable TNC Washington to have the greatest possible impact to protect the environment and improve well-being of communities in our region, with particular attention and emphasis on Washington Tribal Communities with the understanding that traditional Tribal use and territories do not adhere to state, provincial or national boundaries. They will work with consideration for how actions and communication in one area will impact others in Indian Country, as well as ensuring and promoting the principle of "do no harm."
Essential Functions Include:
Lobbying, Fundraising and Government Relations
- Cultivating lines of communication with Tribal, state, federal, and/or local government decision-makers with an emphasis on relationship building and relationship management.
- Advancing conservation policy, collaborating with Indigenous Peoples to support their voices, choices, and actions by honoring and lifting up their rights and leadership to improve natural resource policies through regular contact with Tribal, local, state, and federal government officials.
- Work with TNC's public funding team, philanthropy team, and other staff when needed to secure funding and investment in service to Indigenous-led conservation.
- The position will serve to have a pulse on the Indian country's needs and interests and serve to share and convey Indian Country's needs to TNC in order to find pathways to collaborate on mutually shared priorities.
Collaborating with Program Teams
- This position will be a member of the "Supporting Indigenous Rights and Connections to Lands and Waters" strategy team, and dependent on the candidate's interest and discussions with chapter leadership, may serve as Co-Lead for that strategy.
- Provide guidance and leadership in collaborating with Tribal Nations on land return, land access and engaging in opportunities to increase Tribal capacity to use, access and manage lands and waters of cultural significance.
- Collaborate closely with conservation, science and policy and government relations staff, to develop equitable policy initiatives and guide government relations strategies that advance conservation goals across all strategies, with particular emphasis on those with strong alignment with overall scope of this position.
- Work with conservation staff to develop and implement high level strategies to deepen relationships and improve partnerships, particularly with Tribal governments and their representatives.
- Develop multi-faceted legislative campaigns to increase impact and achieve specific policy goals.
Collaborating with TNC Cross-boundary programs
- Collaborate cross-boundary with regional business units and cross-boundary programs, including TNC chapters in Idaho and Oregon, and the Emerald Edge Program. This position will also supervise a staff person focused on Tribal engagement across the Columbia Basin on Salmon issues.
- Cooperative and ongoing relationship with the North America Indigenous Right Relations team, with a focus on advancing policy that respects sovereign visions, interests, protected treaty and reserved rights, and need for healing.
The Pacific Northwest Tribal Government Relations Director will supervise a staff person leading tribal engagement in the Columbia Basin (to be hired in Fall 2024) and manage the work of other professionals and partners. They may negotiate complex and innovative agreements and/or partnerships. This position reports to the TNC WA's Director of Policy and Government Relations and works collaboratively with TNC's local and global strategy and Indigenous Led Conservation teams, Science, Conservation staff and other External Affairs departments to further conservation goals, policies, and strategies.
Location and Schedule:
- The primary work location for this position is flexible within Washington State (home office or existing TNC office location), with the requirement to be onsite in Seattle and Olympia at least few times a month with more frequency on an as need basis, especially during Washington's legislative session (January - March/April).
- The position requires travel throughout Washington state and occasionally to other U.S. locations and working long or flexible hours as needed.
#J-18808-Ljbffr