Tribal Cultural Affairs (TCA) Program Manager / (WMS2)

Schedule and Working Conditions: This is primarily an office position based in Olympia but may also partially work from a remote site as approved by the Executive Director. There is significant travel to Tribal events to build relationships and be in community. The schedule is M-F, 8 am - 5 pm; Position may require occasional flexible schedule, including some evening, holiday, or weekend work.

Who we are: ArtsWA is the Washington State Arts Commission. Our mission is to be a catalyst for the arts, advancing the role of the arts in the lives of individuals and communities throughout the state. We serve diverse populations and strive to increase equity and access in the arts. We are a vibrant, busy agency with a friendly and knowledgeable staff.

We encourage you to visit www.arts.wa.gov to gain insight into our mission and strategic plan.

What you will be doing: You will be central to the development, management, and expansion of ArtsWA’s Tribal Cultural Affairs (TCA) Program. You will nurture a program that appreciates, respects, and supports Tribal culture, arts, education, and history. You will work with the TCA team to implement and expand statewide grants program for Native artists, culture-bearers, and creative organizations. You will conduct outreach and ensure access to technical assistance, professional development and other relevant services. You will collaborate across ArtsWA programs to expand agency-wide, intentional engagement with Tribes and intergenerational Native artists, educators, and leadership. You will act as ArtsWA’s liaison to tribal populations and the agencies and organizations that serve them. Interested candidates are encouraged to visit our website Home - ArtsWA and the Arts in Education pages Tribal Cultural Affairs - ArtsWA to gain insight into the agency and TCA program goals.

Who we are looking for: An individual with an understanding of Native arts, culture, and intergenerational community relationships. You will engage with diverse groups of constituents, partners, and contributors statewide. In addition, you will demonstrate excellent program management skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage a small staff and multiple overlapping projects and deadlines.

Some of what you’ll enjoy doing:

• Act as ArtsWA’s primary liaison to tribal communities and the agencies, organizations and individuals that serve them
• Develop and manage a $1,650,000 bi-annual program budget, while seeking additional resources in partnership with the team, the budget office, legislators, stakeholders, and the Executive Director
• Supervise, oversee, and empower two support staff affiliated with the TCA program
• Maintain/oversee all contract and other files and records of program details, ensuring compliance with the records retention requirements and other laws
• Serve as key point of contact and assist tribes in navigating the agency
• Identify, engage with, and leverage local, regional and federal contributors and partnerships
• Promote and improve cultural learning, cultural humility, cultural responsiveness, and promote government to government training withing ArtsWA and with our partners to assure understanding of tribal issues that impact the effectiveness and inclusion for tribal issues in development of agency plans, programs and policies
• Manage and expand the Tribal Cultural Affairs Program
• Work with the Executive Director and others to secure additional resources and funding
• Work with partners to provide technical assistance and other services for Tribal communities, organizations, artists, creatives and culture bearers
• Cultivate agency, local, and regional partnerships
• Perform statewide community outreach including public speaking and presentations
• Develop program evaluation tools and methods
• Prepare reports for executive staff, commissioners, the legislature, and other partners

Required Education, Experience, and Competencies: [OPTION 1] Nine (9) years of experience working directly with Washington State, City, or County federally recognized Tribes and Tribal communities as a primary responsibility?

[OPTION 2] Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration/Business Management, or related field, AND Five (5) years of experience working directly with Washington State federally recognized Tribes and Tribal communities as a primary responsibility (knowledge and skills).

**Education may substitute year-for year for education

NOTE: Experience MUST include:

• Demonstrated knowledge of the unique legal and political Government-to-Government protocols and sovereignty
• Experience working with Washington Tribal communities and understanding of Tribal governments and culture in Washington State
• Experience working for Washington State or local government (County or City) as a Tribal Administrator or Manager
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to understand and appropriately respond to the Tribes
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Demonstrable fluency in the arts and forms of Tribal cultural expression and education, such as dance, media arts, theatre, sculpture, carving, storytelling and literature, poetry, and music
• Lived experience of the issues and challenges facing Washington’s Tribal communities
• Understanding of ArtsWA, its programming, structure, and mission
• Experience with program management and budgeting
• Ability to interpret and analyze narrative, budget and statistical information and to convey such information effectively to various audiences using written, graphic, and oral communication
• Computer proficiency, including general office applications and virtual meeting platforms

Equity Competencies State of Washington Employees contribute to ensuring services, programs, workplaces, and interactions are responsive, respectful, accessible, and effective to the people and communities we serve. Employees are expected to: • Take action to learn and Grow: Demonstrate a willingness to learn from new experiences, seek feedback, consider different perspectives, and continuously improve knowledge, skills, communication, and approaches to work.

• Take action to meet the needs of others: Seek to understand the needs and experiences of customers, coworkers, and communities. Identify barriers to access and participation and address them before they become obstacles for the people we serve, providing support that is respectful, timely, and effective.

Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies:

• Knowledge of Washington State Tribes, including leadership structures and protocols
• Two (2) years of experience working with the Washington State legislature including the creation of decision packages
• Three (3) years of professional experience with arts, culture, or cultural preservation
• Experience developing and implementing Tribal cultural programs or community initiatives in Washington State
• Ability to forge relationships with a broad constituency
• Experience providing presentations to various audiences, answering questions, and educating the public
• Strong organizational and analytical skills
• Ability to work both independently as well as within a team
• Extensive leadership experience is a benefit

Please provide the following documents:

• A letter of interest, describing how you meet the qualifications for this position as outlined in the job posting
• A current resume, detailing experience, and education
• A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information (attached or available to provide at the time of interview)

NOTE: By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed. A resume will not substitute for completing the “duties summary” section or supplemental questions of the application. Please do not “refer to resume” for detail, or your application may be disqualified.

Opportunity for All: The Washington State Arts Commission celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.

Contact Information: For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Angie Anderson at (360) 407-8446 or email [email protected].

Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.