Tribal Liaison Manager

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: recruit, grow, create – recruit out-of-state companies to expand their operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to grow their business in Arizona and beyond; and partner with entrepreneurs and companies large and small to create new jobs and businesses in targeted industries.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Tribal Liaison Manager will build partnerships, bridge the lines of communications, seek out opportunities for partnership, and serve as the primary contact for tribal leadership when interacting with the ACA. This individual will collaborate with Tribal Partners, state and local government officials and community organizations to support economic, workforce, broadband enhancement, and community development to diversify the economy in Arizona’s tribal communities. This is a hybrid role based in Phoenix, AZ. Incumbents must be able to travel up to 80% via personal automobile to remote sites throughout Arizona.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for tribal leadership in their interactions with the ACA.
• Engage tribal nations in discussions on mutually beneficial economic development activities and opportunities.
• Work with Tribal partners to ensure alignment of the Tribes’ and State’s priorities for broadband development and digital equity services.
• Make recommendations to leadership regarding development and implementation of broadband processes and protocols.
• Facilitate and participate in tribal committees, forums, councils, and meetings with tribes, state and local governments officials, and communities statewide serving as a vehicle to share information and resolve issues.
• Evaluate sensitive issues to Tribes and recommend the necessary steps to address those issues; monitor programs that affect tribes and communicate to ACA on tribal perceptions of the status of projects and programs.
• Represent ACA at meetings, forums, and applicable conferences; schedule and participate in education and awareness events including public speaking engagement, as necessary.
• Advise leadership on funding for special projects supporting tribal economic development and support the tribe on the application process where appropriate.
• Support adherence to Tribal sovereignty and appropriate protocols and regulations, and collaboration on cultural sensitivity.
• Serve as a valuable resource, externally and cross functionally within the organization.

COMPETENCY, EDUCATIONAL, & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Public Administration, Political Science, or Social Services preferred by not required.
• Minimum three (3) years of specialized experience that includes responsibility for advising managers on tribal consultation and coordination; coordinating tribal outreach efforts with appropriate offices; evaluating sensitive projects and providing recommendations to management on necessary steps to resolve issues; and communicating technical and non-technical information to a diverse audience.
• The ideal candidate will possess a firm grasp of tribal sovereignty and the intersection with non-tribal governments and businesses.
• Demonstrated familiarity or experience with workforce development, business development, and consensus building.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of economic development challenges and solutions that affect Tribal and rural communities.
• Ability to travel up to 80% via personal automobile to remote sites throughout Arizona.
• Successful record of managing multiple projects with demonstrated ability to work independently in rapidly changing environments.
• Excellent verbal, written and oral communications skills to make concise presentations before public and private groups; explain complex issues; highly detail oriented and responsive.
• Proficient in MS Office suite and web-based technologies.

HIGHLY PREFERRED SKILLS, ABILITIES & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated knowledge of real estate and community development practices a plus.
• Familiarity with grants and broadband essentials.
• Proven track record of building meaningful relationships across a diverse group of stakeholders and the ability to manage large-scale projects from concept through fruition.
• Certificate in Tribal Relations or equivalent; or, having a Native perspective or lived experience a plus.
• Possess a deep background in both project management and communications as well as a flair for community engagement.
• High tolerance for ambiguity, service orientation, and a high level of humility for successful assimilation in our highly collaborative, entrepreneurial culture.
• Ability to gain credibility and establish the required relationships to influence and generate results; can quickly organize and influence teams to execute and deliver results.