Tribal Cultural Affairs (TCA) Program Manager (WMS2)

State of Washington • Thurston County – Olympia, WA

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is central to the development, management, and expansion of ArtsWA’s Tribal Cultural Affairs (TCA) Program. The role involves nurturing a program that appreciates, respects, and supports Tribal culture, arts, education, and history. The Program Manager will work with the TCA team to implement and expand statewide grant programs for Native artists, culture-bearers, and creative organizations. Responsibilities include conducting outreach and ensuring access to technical assistance, professional development, and other relevant services. The role also serves as ArtsWA’s liaison to Tribal populations and the agencies and organizations that serve them.

Requirements

• Nine (9) years of experience working directly with federally recognized Tribes and Tribal communities as a primary responsibility.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Government-to-Government protocols and sovereignty.
• Understanding of ArtsWA, its programming, structure, and mission.
• A valid driver’s license, free from serious traffic violations.
• A strong public service and customer focus ethic.
• Ability to adapt communication and approaches to different communities and individuals, including the ability to understand and appropriately respond to the Tribes.
• Experience working for a state or local government as a Tribal Liaison.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrable fluency in the arts and forms of Tribal cultural expression, 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.
• Extensive experience working with Washington Tribal communities and a firm understanding of Tribal governments and culture in Washington State.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Extensive professional experience with arts, culture, or cultural preservation.
• Background and experience in 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.
• Experience with the legislative and budget process.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills.
• Ability to work both independently as well as within a team.
• Extensive leadership experience is a benefit.
• Computer proficiency, including general office applications and virtual meeting platforms.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Engage with constituents, board members, partner agencies, legislators, funders, and the public.
• Coordinate and work collaboratively with internal agency programs and outside partners to deliver technical assistance to Tribal communities.
• Promote and improve cultural learning, cultural humility, cultural responsiveness, and government-to-government training within ArtsWA and with our partners to assure understanding of Tribal issues.
• Cultivate relationships and connections across regions and states, including virtual meetings, in-person visits, or conference travel.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed