Tribal Partnerships Intern

King County•Seattle, WA

15h•Hybrid

About The Position

As part of King County’s commitment to regional partnership on climate action, the County serves as organizational host and co-chair of the Puget Sound Climate Preparedness Collaborative (the Collaborative), a network of more than 30 local and county governments, Tribes, regional agencies, and other organizations working to build community, economic, and environmental resilience to climate change. The Tribal Partnerships Fellow will support the development and implementation of a new Tribal Partnership Learning Series (TPLS) hosted by the Collaborative. The TPLS is a Puget Sound–focused effort to strengthen understanding and collaboration between local and regional partners and Coast Salish Tribes in advancing climate action. Rooted in place and partnership, the series seeks to build shared understanding of history, responsibility, and opportunities for co-created solutions. The TPLS, developed and hosted across approximately 12 months, will provide education on the legal and historical foundations of Tribal sovereignty and treaty rights; the impacts of climate change on Tribes, treaty-reserved resources, and traditional ways of life; and best practices for building respectful, enduring partnerships. The TPLS will include a multi-part webinar series, one or more story maps, and other products to be determined as part of series development. Beyond leading the TPLS, this internship will also provide the opportunity to assist and advise on Tribal engagement and inclusion across other Collaborative programming, including regional alignment workshops and convenings focused on climate resilience topics. Working closely with Collaborative staff, the TPLS Advisory Group, and Tribal partners, the Fellow will help elevate Tribal priorities and perspectives throughout all aspects of the project. The Tribal Partnerships Fellow will work with a TPLS Advisory Group and Collaborative staff to develop the content, format, and schedule for the TPLS. The Fellow will coordinate with speakers and partners, manage logistics for learning sessions, and support grant reporting related to the series. Developing the TPLS will also include developing a companion resource library, which the Fellow will help curate by compiling existing (or where needed developing new) guidance, training materials, and case studies. This internship is part of a broader effort to build regional climate resilience in the Puget Sound Basin that is grounded in equity, partnership, and Indigenous leadership. The Fellow’s work will support enduring change by strengthening relationships, deepening understanding, and expanding regional capacity to center Tribal priorities in climate preparedness efforts. This internship seeks to be full-time during summer months and part-time during school months with flexibility for the Fellow’s academic schedule. The position is currently funded through December 2027 and will report to Collaborative staff within the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Director’s Office.

Requirements

Currently enrolled student in environmental studies, Indigenous studies, public policy, or a related field.
Background knowledge and/or lived experience related to Tribal communities, Indigenous climate leadership, regional climate impacts, and/or frontline community impacts of climate change.
Strong relationship-building skills with an ability to work across cultural and organizational contexts.
Ability to communicate verbally and in written mediums within teams and partners from various backgrounds.
Experience with organizing and supporting discussions in virtual meetings and other collaborative mediums. Includes proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
Demonstrated success managing multiple deadlines and working collaboratively within a team.

Nice To Haves

Experience with facilitating workshops, trainings, or public presentations.
Familiarity with climate adaptation, resilience planning, or intergovernmental collaboration.
Experience with conducting community engagement or drafting public-facing educational materials in multiple mediums (such as newsletters, flyers, and social media).

Responsibilities

Support the creation of a TPLS Advisory Group, to consist of five to eight Tribal government staff and/or Tribal members. Support with organizing and conducted Advisory Group meetings, including meeting logistics, agenda development, and facilitation.
Collaborate with Coast Salish Tribes, Tribal organizations, and the TPLS Advisory Group to co-develop the content, format, and schedule of the TPLS. Anticipated content includes information on treaty rights, Tribal sovereignty, climate impacts on Tribal communities, Tribal-led adaptation, and other relevant topics.
Secure participation from Tribal leaders, presenters, and subject matter experts.
Facilitate TPLS webinars and meetings, in collaboration with other partners.
Ensure TPLS webinars are accessible and add value for participants through supporting materials.
Compile, and when necessary create, guidance documents, training materials, and resources related to the TPLS for inclusion in the Tribal Partnership Resource Library on the Collaborative website.
Summarize notes and key messages from TPLS sessions to share post-meeting.
Elicit feedback from presenters and participants during and after TPLS sessions and summarize findings to support evaluation and improvement of the series.
Support Tribal engagement and inclusion in the Small Communities Cohort Program.
Support facilitation and Tribal representation in Collaborative webinars, regional convenings, and workshops.
Help identify opportunities to highlight Tribal perspectives in webinars, technical guidance, and case studies.
Track activities, participation metrics, and outcomes of the TPLS.
Contribute to reports and presentations on program progress.
Collaborate with Collaborative staff to share updates and support continued program development.
Participate in Collaborative grant staff team meetings, convenings, and other activities (mix of virtual or in-person).