Tribal Relations Land Use Specialist (Administrator I)

CSU Careers • Chico, CA

6d • $75,000 - $90,000

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Director of Tribal Relations, the Tribal Relations Land Use Specialist provides full scope management and campus wide oversight of the University’s cultural resource compliance and coordinated Tribal engagement related to ground disturbing activities. This position serves as the institutional authority responsible for ensuring compliance with all CSU policies related to ground disturbance, the CSU Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Policy, and applicable state and federal historic preservation laws. The Tribal Relations Land Use Specialist manages a major functional program that governs all University owned, managed, affiliated, or sponsored lands, including the University Farm, Ecological Reserves, main campus properties, and any University sponsored activity that creates ground disturbance. This includes instructional field schools, research projects, agricultural operations, facilities improvements, habitat restoration, infrastructure work, and externally funded or authorized projects conducted under University sponsorship. The incumbent administers the campus review and approval process for any proposed activity requiring coordinated Tribal engagement and/or consultation as specified by CSU Chancellor’s Office policy related to ground disturbance. Coordinated Tribal consultation shall be conducted through the Chico State Office of Tribal Relations and must occur prior to initiation of any qualifying activity. The Tribal Relations Land Use Specialist ensures consultation is initiated early, conducted in good faith, formally documented, and consistent with Campus and Chancellor’s Office requirements for meaningful engagement with culturally affiliated and potentially affiliated federally recognized Indian Tribes and California Indian Tribes without federal recognition. In recognition that the University resides on the ancestral lands of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, the Tribal Relations Land Use Specialist works in coordination with the Director of Tribal Relations to ensure that all ground disturbing activities occurring on campus owned and operated lands, including activities undertaken by auxiliaries, are reviewed for consultation requirements and appropriately coordinated with the Mechoopda Indian Tribe. This includes ensuring that Tribal perspectives, cultural protocols, and recommendations are incorporated into planning and decision making for projects affecting campus lands. The position establishes and implements campus wide procedures, review standards, documentation requirements, and internal controls governing ground disturbing activities. The Tribal Relations Land Use Specialist oversees required cultural monitoring on University owned and/or operated lands, Sacred Lands File coordination with the Native American Heritage Commission, and review of federal and state historic registers. The incumbent ensures the campus defers to consulting parties’ recommendations regarding approval, modification, or denial of proposed activities and confirms that no University sponsored ground disturbing activity proceeds at sites identified by Tribes as sacred, burial, or culturally significant locations. This role provides functional and staff management direction to professional staff, faculty leads, reserve managers, farm management personnel, facilities leadership, and academic departments to ensure compliance is achieved through coordinated institutional processes. The Tribal Relations Land Use Specialist has delegated authority to delay, condition, or deny proposed activities until required coordinated Tribal engagement, consultation, and documentation are complete. Through policy implementation, risk management, cross divisional coordination, and program oversight, the Administrator II ensures institutional compliance, protects Tribal cultural resources, reduces legal and reputational risk, and advances the University’s government to government commitments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Native American Studies, Anthropology, Archaeology, Environmental Studies, Public Administration, Natural Resource Management, Cultural Resource Management, History, or a closely related field.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in cultural resource management, Tribal consultation, environmental compliance, land stewardship, historic preservation, or a closely related program area.
• Masters in related field will substitute for 2 years of experience.
• Experience coordinating or supporting Tribal consultation processes involving federally recognized Indian Tribes and California Indian Tribes without federal recognition as well as experience interpreting and applying federal, state, or institutional policies related to cultural resources, historic preservation, land use, or ground disturbing activities.

Nice To Haves

• Tribal Historic Preservation Officer experience.
• Experience working with Tribes in California, including familiarity with consultation protocols, cultural resource protection practices, and government to government engagement.
• Master’s degree in Native American Studies, Anthropology, Archaeology, Environmental Policy, Public Administration, Cultural Resource Management, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
• Experience administering programs related to NAGPRA compliance, historic preservation, environmental review, or land based regulatory compliance.
• Experience coordinating cultural resource review processes for construction, agricultural, restoration, research, or field based academic activities.
• Knowledge of CSU system policies, higher education governance, and the operational structure of university land holdings, including farms, ecological reserves, and research sites.

Benefits

• This position qualifies for benefits including tuition fee waiver (if eligible).
• CSU, Chico offers a number of benefits to its employees (e.g., sick leave, vacation, health insurance).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees