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Nooksack Indian Tribe

Director of Natural Resources

Nooksack Indian Tribe, Deming, Washington, United States, 98244


Department: Natural Resources

Report To: General Manager

Job Status: Regular Full Time

Type: Exempt (Salaried)

Grade: N

JOB SUMMARY:

Responsible for the overall management and administration of the Natural Resources Department and for carrying out the Department mission. Supervise the Assistant Director, Fisheries Program Manager and Office Administrative Assistant, support the Assistant Director/Habitat Program Manager in managing habitat-related programs, and conduct regular staff meetings. Represent the Tribe in policy forums, including Nooksack fisheries comanager meetings, intertribal and Western Washington fisheries co-manager meetings. Represent the Department at Tribal Council meetings, Directors Meetings and meetings with the General Manager and Council members at Natural Resources Coordination and Water Team Meetings. Represent the Department with local Tribes and outside agencies such as the Federal Government, State Agencies, Northwest Indian Fish Commission, and County/City Governments. Serve as main point of contact with other departments. Review and contribute to documents produced by Department and other Tribal staff, by the Northwest Indian Fish Commission and by fisheries co-managers. Produce reports including Director reports to the General Manager.

MAJOR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Under the direction of the General Manager, direct the implementation of Natural Resources Department programs consistent with Tribal policies and priorities, grant requirements, and applicable regulations.

2. Develop and implement administrative and program policies and help guide budget development for approval by the General Manager and Council. Represent the Department at Tribal Council meetings, Council work sessions, Directors Meetings, and meetings and communications with other Departments.

3. Provide oversight for all personnel actions within the Department including recruitment, hiring, retention of staff, timesheet approval, and ensuring annual performance evaluations are implemented. Ensure staff adhere to Tribal Administration, Personnel Policies and procedures in conducting day-to-day operation activities. Lead Department staff meetings.

4. Routinely evaluate the effectiveness of existing and proposed programs, determine problems and priority areas and recommend changes in program direction.

5. Review and approve travel requests and requisitions from Department staff with an understanding of the Department fund codes and associated scopes of work, and of the general ledger codes. Work with Assistant Natural Resources Director and program managers to manage funds within budgets. Generate Management Review and Control (MRC) process submittals and review and approve MRC submittals by Department staff. Present agenda items at Council meetings and work sessions.

6. Supervise the Assistant Natural Resources Director, Fisheries Program Manager, and Administrative Assistant and provide general guidance and policy direction for Department programs. Review and approve timesheets and complete performance reviews for direct reports.

7. Support Office Administrative Assistant and other Department staff to ensure effective delivery of Department services to tribal members. Department services include: 1) issuing fisheries regulations, fishing IDs to members, and commercial fishing decals, and species-specific fishing decals, crab buoy tags, vessel registrations, buyers licenses, the fish ticket accounting system, and fish and shellfish buyers taxes due to the Tribe, and 2) issuing and collecting deer/elk, bear, and cougar hunting tags, SPI access agreement permits and keys, and DNR agreement access keys. Ensure fish and wildlife Treaty harvests are tracked and reported.

8. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, departments, General Manager, Tribal Council, and the community. Serve as main point of contact for Department with General Manager, Council, and other Departments. Represent the Department at Tribal Council meetings and work sessions, Directors Meetings, Natural Resources Coordination, Water Team, and other internal meetings.

9. Establish and maintain effective working relationships and participate in natural resources policy and management forums with representatives of other Tribes, fisheries comanagers, federal, state, local, and other agencies to address issues relevant to Natural Resources and promote treaty fishing rights.

10. Prepare written reports on departmental activities and statistical data for the General Manager and Tribal Council as requested. Coordinate with staff to develop newsletter articles on Department programs and services.

11. Work with the Nooksack Fish Commission, consistent with the Fishing and Shellfish Ordinances (Title 30 and 30A), and attend their meetings to keep them informed of current issues and concerns and to solicit feedback from them.

12. Attend Nooksack Hunting Committee Meetings to help coordinate the Department’s needs for issuing permits and gate keys, and tags to hunters, for understanding schedules and for knowing who the pool of designated hunters are.

13. In coordination with the Fisheries Program Manager and the Harvest Manager, communicate and coordinate with the Natural Resources Enforcement officer.

14. Work with General Manager and Council to create and implement short term and long term initiatives for the Department and work to achieve the goals and objectives.

15. Attend and represent the Tribe as an alternate on the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, including at Finance and Organization, Monthly Commissioner, Environmental Policy Committee, and other meetings. Attend and represent the Tribe at Watershed Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 01 Watershed Management Team Meetings and as an alternate at Watershed Management Board meetings.

16. Defend the opportunities for treaty harvest by proactively addressing threats to harvest and hatcheries, in coordination with policy and legal direction.

17. Participate as an active member of the Tribe’s Water Team in the WRIA 01 water adjudication process.

18. Represent the Tribe on the Transboundary Flood Initiative Policy Table.

19. Other duties as assigned.

PREFERENCE:

Indian Preference Policy applies to this and all positions with the Nooksack Indian Tribe.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The following qualifications are required for the incumbent to have, in order to be considered for the position.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING FOR POSITION:

Bachelor Degree from an accredited college or university in Natural Resources, Fisheries, Public administration or related field, and

At least 8-10 years of progressively more responsible experience working in a Tribal government and demonstrated leadership qualities;

Experience with personnel management and direction.

Experience working in a natural resources department and developing program strategies and policies;

Experience managing private, state and federal grants, and grant compliance;

Experience in budget development and management;

Experience in policy and procedure development and implementation;

Experience in writing reports

REQUIRED SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES POSITION:

A strong understanding of the management and pursuit of Treaty fisheries.

An understanding of the importance of hatcheries and how they support Treaty fishing opportunities.

An understanding of the Endangered Species Act and how it applies to Tribal Treaty harvest and hatchery programs.

The ability to make sound judgments; take initiative; be flexible; and detail-oriented;

Knowledge and experience in preparing and controlling budgets and other management type functions;

Must possess excellent communication skills (writing, listening, and speaking);

Must complete tasks or ensure tasks assigned are completed on time and within budget;

Proficiency in computer applications (Word, Excel, databases);

Excellent interpersonal skills in the areas of creative problem-solving, conflict resolution, group planning and decision-making processes;

Ability to prepare and deliver clear, concise, timely, and persuasive reports, both orally and in writing;

Ability to simultaneously manage multiple priorities;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships;

Knowledge of local, federal, state and Tribal natural resources;

Knowledge of Tribal sovereignty and treaty rights issues and agreements that exist between federally recognized Indian Tribes and applicable Federal and State agencies;

Advanced knowledge of government funded grant and contract reporting and management.

REQUIRED CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Must pass alcohol/drug test at time of hire and throughout employment.

Must pass criminal background check at time of hire and periodically thereafter.

REQUIRED LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS:

Must have and maintain throughout employment a valid Washington State Driver’s License and meet the insurability requirements of the Tribe.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (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.):

The standard work week is 8:30-5:00 Monday through Friday.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods and frequently is required to talk and listen.

The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.

Must be able to bend and reach.

The majority of the work will be in an office environment with occasional exposure to noise or outside weather conditions.

The employee is required to periodically travel for meetings.

The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

May have to walk/drive between office locations under a variety of conditions.

DESIRED SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES POSITION

The following qualifications are preferred/helpful for the incumbent who has these skills/knowledge or abilities for this position.

Demonstrated knowledge of Indian Tribes and the Natural Resources disparities that exist within the Native American Indian population.

Understanding of the US v WA Boldt Decision, fisheries co-management, and comanager foundation documents such as the 1985 Puget Sound Salmon Management Plan.

Understanding of the Nooksack Fishing Ordinance (Title 30), the Nooksack Tribe Shellfish Ordinance (Title 30A), and the Nooksack Hunting Code (Title 35).

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