What are the responsibilities and job description for the Tribal Cultural Affairs Grant and Engagement Officer (TCA Cultural Affairs Program Specialist 4) position at State of Washington Arts Commission?
Description
Schedule: A flexible/hybrid work schedule may be requested, subject to supervisory approval. Standard business hours are Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but you may be expected to adjust your work schedule to meet business needs.
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 and the creative economy in the lives of individuals and communities throughout the state. We are a vibrant, busy agency with a friendly, knowledgeable staff, serving diverse populations and striving to increase equity and access in the arts for all Washingtonians.
We encourage you to visit www.arts.wa.gov to gain insight into our mission and strategic plan.
The Opportunity:
Tribal Cultural Affairs (TCA) is a vital and relatively new ArtsWA program. Its purpose is to directly support Tribal communities and their arts and cultural vision, helping them expand community-directed access to both economic and creative opportunities.
As the TCA Grant & Engagement Officer, you will be instrumental in nurturing this program, ensuring it appreciates, respects, and deeply supports Tribal culture, arts, education, and history across the state.
You will report to and work closely with the TCA Program Manager. This position plays an important role in making sure the TCA grant programs are easy to access and respectful of different Tribal cultures. Your main responsibilities will include helping design, manage, and execute the grant programs. You will also provide technical support and help connect with communities to grow the program. Working with the TCA Program Manager, you will support the Tribal creative economy and help raise awareness about the important role of Indigenous arts and culture.
If you are passionate about the power of Indigenous arts and have a deep understanding of Washington’s sovereign Tribal Nations, we encourage you to apply.
Duties
The main focus of this job is to manage the grant process and build strong, respectful relationships with our Tribal partners.
Specific activities include:
- Oversee the design, administration, and implementation of TCA grants
- Providing technical assistance to applicants and recipients
- Work with the TCA Program Coordinator to track applicant and grant recipient data in accordance with state agency record-keeping policies
Tribal Government-to-Government engagement:
- Act as a key Tribal Liaison for the program
- Build respectful, sustainable relationships with Tribal Governments, communities, staff, and Native artists/culture-bearers
Cultural fluency & review:
- Review all written documentation for cultural appropriateness and sensitivity
- Provide guidance to agency staff on community norms and protocol as directed
Outreach & communications:
- Communicate with grant applicants, recipients, and the public
- Work with the ArtsWA Communications team
- Develop and implement the TCA communications and outreach plan
Panel & program support:
- Design and manage fair and culturally sensitive panelist recruitment
- Review processes as appropriate
Qualifications
REQUIRED:
The most qualified candidates for this role will possess specialized knowledge and experience that demonstrates a deep connection to Washington’s Tribal communities.
- Cultural & Governmental Competency: Knowledge of the unique legal and political Government-to-Government relationship between the Federal government, state government, and Tribal governments.
- Fluency in Tribal Arts & Expression: Demonstrable fluency in the arts and diverse forms of Tribal cultural expression, such as carving, storytelling, dance, media arts, theatre, poetry, and music.
- Professional Experience:
OPTION 1:
A minimum of six (6) years relevant work experience in the public administration, arts administration or related fields *to include a minimum of two (2) years of experience working directly with Federally recognized Tribes and Tribal communities on policy development, regulations, government relations, matters of Tribal law or Tribal affairs OR two (2) years of Tribal community outreach/development experience.
OR
OPTION 2:
Bachelor’s Degree (or higher) in Public Administration, Arts Administration or related field and with two (2) years of experience working directly with Federally recognized Tribes and Tribal communities on policy development, regulations, government relations, matters of Tribal law or Tribal affairs OR two (2) years of Tribal community outreach/development experience.
OR
OPTION 3:
Any combination of education and/or relevant work experience related field to total six years *to include two (2) years of experience working directly with Federally recognized Tribes and Tribal communities on policy development, regulations, government relations, matters of Tribal law or Tribal affairs OR two (2) years of Tribal community outreach/development experience.
PLUS
Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Competencies:
Incumbents to this position must possess and demonstrate the following competencies:
- The ability to take action to learn and grow.
- The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
PREFERRED:
- Lived Experience: Lived experience of the unique issues, history, and challenges facing Washington’s Tribal communities.
- Washington Tribal Experience: Extensive experience working with Washington Tribal communities and a comprehensive understanding of Tribal governments and culture in Washington State.
- Program Development: A background in developing and implementing Tribal cultural programs or community initiatives within Washington State.
- Skills: Strong organizational, analytical, and computer proficiency skills, including general office applications and virtual meeting platforms. Ability to forge relationships with a broad constituency.
Supplemental Information
How to Apply: Interested? We would love to hear from you! Click “Apply” at the top of this page to start your application. You can save the application and come back to it, if needed. Be sure to complete the application fully to include a full work history and responses to the supplemental questions. Please provide the following documents in order to be considered; failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position:
-
A cover letter that addresses these topics:
- What is your understanding of equity?
- How has your understanding developed and what actions have you taken based on that knowledge?
- Describe a situation where you took specific action to make a process, service, or opportunity easier to navigate or more accessible for customers. What was the impact?
- A current resume, detailing experience and education; and
- 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.
Union Inclusion:
This position is included in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
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:
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.
For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Angie Anderson at (360) 407-8446 or email: jobs@des.wa.gov.