Role Description

WSDOT is seeking a dynamic, people-focused Tribal Relations Director to join our team in Olympia, WA. This strategic leadership role is responsible for shaping and advancing the agency’s vision and approach for tribal engagement. The Tribal Relations Director provides expert guidance on tribal policy, facilitates meaningful consultation, and ensures WSDOT meets its obligations under federal and state law. In this role, you will lead efforts to harmonize agency rules, policies, and priorities with the interests of federally recognized tribes, neighboring state tribes, and relevant legal frameworks, including federal treaties, executive orders, environmental regulations, and natural, cultural, and archaeological resource management.

The Tribal Relations Director also plays a critical role in resolving complex disputes and cross-jurisdictional issues involving tribal governments, local and federal agencies, and WSDOT programs ensuring collaboration, compliance, and respect for tribal priorities and treaty rights.

If you are passionate about fostering strong government-to-government relationships and advancing meaningful tribal engagement, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact at WSDOT.

What to Expect

• Respond to issues of treaty rights, cross border and jurisdictional issues with the 29 in-state federally recognized tribes, bordering states’ tribes, and related federal agencies.
• Ensure executive government-to-government communication in compliance with the Centennial Accord and related intergovernmental agreements and the agency’s responsibilities.
• Lead management efforts with regard to tribal policy identification, development and implementation, and both short term and long-term strategies for promoting cooperation and avoiding conflicts.
• Consider impacts to tribes, identifying potential risk or harm to WSDOT projects and tribal communities near project sites, and identifying opportunities for collaboration with meaningful engagement with tribal governments.
• Lead government-to-government consultation with tribes.
• Develop tribal policy guidance, templates, and agreements.
• Advise executives and project teams on tribal engagement.
• Facilitate resolution of tribal project concerns and conflicts.
• Ensure inclusion of tribal considerations in agency plans and manuals.
• Train WSDOT staff in tribal relations and best practices.
• Ensure consistency across WSDOT regions and programs in tribal relations through dotted line supervision with regional and program tribal liaisons.
• Represent WSDOT on tribal transportation committees and conferences.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to contribute to and sustain a respectful, inclusive, and culturally responsive work environment that supports equal opportunity and fosters collaboration among diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with tribal governments and communities, including understanding tribal sovereignty, governance structures, intergovernmental relationships, and culturally grounded decision-making processes.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate complex issues arising from cultural differences, varying government structures, and competing priorities, maintaining respectful, constructive dialogue and achieving productive outcomes.
• Demonstrated expertise in tribal treaties, federal Indian law, tribal case law, federal policies affecting tribes, and the historical and contemporary context shaping tribal–state relations.
• Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge of transportation programs, funding mechanisms, and relevant federal and state laws in support of tribal governments and tribal transportation priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to follow and implement Governor-approved best practices for tribal consultation, agency operating procedures, and applicable programmatic agreements, ensuring consistent and legally compliant engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise staff and lead teams effectively, including setting clear expectations, coordinating work, fostering collaboration, supporting professional development, and guiding performance.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex legal, policy, and technical information into clear, audience-appropriate written and verbal communications for tribal, state, federal, and public stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, facilitate, and negotiate meetings and discussions on sensitive or high-profile issues involving tribal, state, and federal interests, ensuring equitable participation and constructive outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively in fast-paced, high-stress environments, managing multiple competing deadlines and priorities with accuracy and accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and collaborate across divisions and with external partners to advance shared objectives, particularly in complex, multi-stakeholder, deadline-driven environments.
• Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Takes action to meet the needs of others.

Benefits

• Flexible work schedules that allow you time for your life outside of this excellent opportunity.
• In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
• Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more.

How to Apply

Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the “Work Experience” portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible.

In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:

• An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
• An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
• Contact details for a minimum of three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies.

Please click the "APPLY" button to proceed. Note that you will be prompted to either sign in or create an account. This step is required in order to submit an application to this opportunity.

Contact Us

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter, Amanda Strebeck, at amanda.strebeck@wsdot.wa.gov . Please be sure to reference Tribal Relations Director #0W241 in the subject line.