Tribal Administrator

TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LOUISIANA

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Position: Tribal Administrator

Status: Full-Time

Division: Administration

Salary: $125,000 - $200,000

Reports to: Chairman/CEO

Supervisory Status: Yes

Classification: Exempt

Closing Date: 09/15/2026

Summary: The Tribal Administrator (TA) of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana (Tribe) plays a pivotal role in steering the operations of the Tribal government. Reporting directly to the Tribal Chairperson, the TA oversees the comprehensive daily operations, encompassing areas such as administration, financial management, human resources, information technology, property, and procurement. Furthermore, the TA is tasked with the crucial responsibility of supervising all tribal directors and their direct reports.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities: The TA shall perform such administrative duties and functions as delegated by the Tribal Chairman, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Sovereign Governance: Work cooperatively with the Tribal Chairman to execute tribal administrative affairs, as delegated by the Tribal Council, i.e., to adopt a governance framework that preserves and supports the sovereign nature and actions of the Tribe.

2.  Strategic Planning: Prepare annually, short- and long-term strategic plans that will support and promote the mission, vision, goals, and objectives set forth by the Tribal Chairman to execute tribal administrative affairs as delegated by the Tribal Council (i.e., sets strategic goals and makes sure they are measurable and describable).

3.  Legislative & Policy Recommendations: Recommend the creation of laws, codes, ordinances, contracts, or similar documents, materials, policies, and procedures to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness for tribal government operations.

4.   Accountability: Develop, review, and maintain policies and procedures to ensure accountability.

5.  Programmatic & Health Clinic Oversight: Provide direction and oversight for all operating procedures for programs and departments in accordance with any and all applicable federal program guidelines or requirements and tribal government initiatives.

a.   Health Clinic Development & Expansion: Direct and oversee the administrative planning, development, expansion, and enhancement of the Tribe’s Health clinics, healthcare services, and designated service areas in close collaboration with the Health Department Director and in alignment with Tribal Council directives.

b. Healthcare Need Assessment: Assess community healthcare needs and evaluate the administrative and operational performance of tribal health programs to ensure high-quality care, regulatory compliance, and programmatic efficiency.

6. Reporting: Report weekly/monthly updates, or as needed, to the Tribal Council, other parties/entities, and tribal members on the operational and financial status of the government. Relay pertinent information back to operational components as needed.

7. Compliance, Risk, & Regulatory Monitoring: Ensure Tribal compliance with the various federal laws as well as the Tribe’s Constitution and any other governing agreements or relevant laws. Assess risks to the Tribe and ensure those are monitored and minimized.

8. Financial & Budgetary Leadership: Oversee the preparation of the annual budget and audits by a reputable auditing firm for Council consideration and approval. Submit the audits to any other authority as required and approved by the Council or appropriate federal agency. Ensure all audit corrective actions are sustainable and timely implemented.

9. Official Representation: Serve as an official representative of the Tribe. Represent and communicate on behalf of the Tribe at local, state, and federal legislative events, membership, professional, civic, and other activities, or associations when called upon.

10. Expenditure Control: Review and approve (electronic and manual) the expenditures of the Tribe to ensure compliance.

a. Grant Development & Lifecycle Management: Establish and maintain a robust, proactive grant management infrastructure that aggressively identifies, researches, and secures federal, state, and private grant opportunities; maintain active and positive contacts with funding agencies and auditors for awarded grants and contracts; and assure that all programmatic, financial, and reporting requirements of contracts and grants are strictly fulfilled from award through audit, review, and closeout.

b. Staff & Filing Organization: Manage controlled Tribal correspondence and communications properly; ensure files (such as project documents, correspondence, accounting, and employee records) are organized and appropriately maintained.

c. Financial & Tax Obligations: Ensure appropriate staff completes and files payroll taxes timely, and ensures appropriate staff appropriately maintains, files, and pays health and life insurances timely.

11. Other Duties: Perform other duties/responsibilities as delegated by the Tribal Chairman relative to services to the Tribal Council.

Knowledge and Competency: The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the following skills and competencies:

1.   Communication: Excellent communication skills: verbal, written, electronic, and auditory.

2.  Cultural Competence: Awareness of and sensitivity to Native American issues and challenges faced by Native communities and tribal families, particularly the Tunica-Biloxi community.

3. Negotiation: Sharp negotiating skills: ability to enhance the Tribe's ability to secure the best rates/benefits possible in services and contract crafting.

4.     Computer & Technical Skills: Extensive knowledge and experience with Microsoft Suite and Adobe Acrobat. Proficient in developing and maintaining operating and reporting requirements for all budgeting, reporting, and grants as required by federal, state, and private entities. Must have a working knowledge of business and financial concepts and perform financial analysis as needed or directed.

5. Program Management Expertise: Proven record of development, completion, and monitoring of complex policy, program project, administrative, and budget plans. Programmatic development of program goals, meeting project deadlines according to the required timetables. Keen problem-solving capabilities focused on timely and productive resolutions.

6. Grant Lifecycle & Administration Expertise: Advanced knowledge of federal, state, and private grants, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) compliance, and the ability to manage and supervise the entire grant lifecycle from pre-award proposal development and budgeting, to post-award management, reporting, programmatic audits, and final closeout reviews.

7.   Healthcare Services & Clinic Administration: Familiarity with the operational and administrative models of tribal health clinics (including IHS, HRSA, or Medicaid/Medicare regulations), healthcare program development, healthcare service area expansion, and health-related grant funding mechanisms.

8. Teamwork: Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively within and outside of the Tribe and Tribal Council; exercises tact and diplomacy in working with other agencies. Fosters internal teamwork. Strong, authoritative managerial skills that inspire mutual respect amongst colleagues and foster a positive, team-building atmosphere around co-workers.

9. Judgement: Demonstrate skills to effectively negotiate, mediate, and make decisions; proven record of being detail oriented.

10.Planning/Organizing: Ability to develop, monitor, and complete short- and long-range goals; consistent work in quality improvement; ability to multi-task and shift priorities; effectively develops plans, programs, and objectives; effective use of time, personnel, and funds for maximum efficiency. Proven record of successful organizational management, positive revenue development, and trends.

Qualifications: To perform the job successfully, the candidate must meet the following qualifications:

  A Master’s Degree from an accredited college/university with an emphasis in one of the following: Public Administration, Community Development, Municipal Planning, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or other related degree in a disciplined area applicable to the requirements of the position,

AND

·        Must have a minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience, including a proven track record in successful grant development/management and/or healthcare operations, and a minimum of five (5) years of specialized experience working with a Tribal government in an executive level position.

·        Preferred Qualifications:

o  Executive-level experience with a federally recognized Indian tribe.

o  Knowledge of federal grant requirements, including 2 C.F.R. Part 200; and

o  Experience overseeing Tribal healthcare programs, clinics, or federally funded health services.

o Demonstrated experience managing personnel, budgets, federally funded programs, regulatory compliance, and complex organizational initiatives.

NATIVE AMERICAN PREFERENCE

Qualified Native Americans will be given preference in employment as required by the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S. 450, ET. Seq) including other relevant laws. In accordance with Title VII of the 1984 Civil Rights Act, Sections 701(b) and 703(1), preference in filling all vacancies may be given to qualified American Indian candidates. In other than the proceeding situations, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE); Tribal and/or Indian preference applicable in accordance with Title XX of the Tribal Code of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana.

SUBJECT TO TRIBAL DRUG FREE WORKPLACE TESTING POLICIES

To apply for this position, interested candidates must submit their completed application, or cover letter and resume to:

Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana

Attn: Human Resources

150 Melacon Rd.

Marksville, La. 71351

or

HR@tunica.org