Tribal Government Relations Manager (Government Relations Specialist III) at City of Portland, OR

About the Department

Job Appointment: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8 am-5 pm. An alternate schedule may be available.
Work Location: 1221 SW 4TH AVE, PORTLAND, OR 97204
Benefits: For an overview of the benefits for this position, you can visit our benefits tab.
Union Representation: Non-represented, no union affiliation

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to attach a resume and a cover letter.

The Office of Government Relations seeks to hire a Tribal Government Relations Manager (Government Relations Specialist III). Long before the city of Portland was incorporated, Native American and Indigenous people lived in thriving communities along the Columbia and Willamette rivers and throughout the surrounding geography. Now, the City of Portland seeks to address a history of harm to indigenous people, rebuild trust, repair relationships, and create an inclusive, welcoming city for Tribal members and all Portland residents alike.

The position will facilitate city efforts to engage elected officials, city leaders, and program staff to coordinate, collaborate, and consult with federally recognized sovereign Tribal governments. This will include establishing meaningful relationships to honor treaty rights and cultural heritage, inform decision-making, and improve outcomes for Tribal Nations and their members.

The work will advance the City’s core values of Anti-Racism, Equity, Transparency, Communication, Collaboration, and Fiscal Responsibility.

As the Tribal Government Relations Manager (Government Relations Specialist III), you will:

• Support city leadership and elected officials to establish government-to-government relationships with sovereign Tribal Nations.
• Lead the facilitation of mutual agreements between the city and Tribal Nations to help inform decision-making, guide city programs, and/or align the city’s internal policies, procedures, and practices to improve outcomes for Tribal communities.
• Serve as the primary liaison for the City of Portland to support coordination and consistency in our relationships and effective program delivery related to Tribal Nations and their members.
• Inform and advise city leadership, elected officials, and city staff on Tribal history, treaties, sovereignty, self-governance, protocols, customs, and traditions, to support respectful and trusting relations with Tribal governments that honor cultural heritage.
• Provide staff support to city elected officials and city leadership at key meetings, conferences, ceremonial events, and public hearings dealing with tribal affairs. 
• Provide information and talking points to city elected officials and city leadership for media inquiries and other external communications.
• Identify opportunities for city leadership and elected officials in ways that inspire robust participation in the Government-to-government Tribal Relations body of work. 
• Convene an internal program advisory team to support a process of engagement and collaboration with sovereign tribes.
• Build and maintain close working relationships with regional and state governmental partners.
• Build and maintain close working relationships with bureau staff across the City to create efficient avenues to advance program work and ensure outcomes are aligned with core City values.
• Participate in the City’s internal bureaus' Tribal liaison convenings to inform and advise the liaisons on work related to the city’s agreements with Tribal Nations.
• Collaborate and coordinate closely with the Urban Native and Indigenous community engagement work that will be separately located under the leadership of the city’s Community Engagement Officer.

Position Duties

Applicants must specifically address and demonstrate in their cover letter and résumé how their education, training, work experience, and/or lived experience meet each of the following minimum qualifications: 

1. Knowledge of Tribal matters and policies, which may include federal, state, and local laws, regulations and court decisions relating to federal Indian policy, historic and cultural resources, treaties, natural resources, and tribal consultation.
2. Knowledge of local and regional Tribal issues and political landscape, as well as intersectionality of urban Native issues.
3. Knowledge of intergovernmental affairs, community relations, and public affairs issues and challenges, relevant laws and regulations, and court decisions.
4. Ability to think critically, creatively, and proactively to identify City programs, operations, and policies that would benefit from tribal government involvement, as well as how enhancing Tribal relationships can benefit City goals.
5. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials and their staff, the public, bureau leadership and staff, intergovernmental and other agency staff, and others encountered in the course of work.
6. Ability to collaborate with communities of color and people traditionally underrepresented in local decision-making; facilitate inclusive participation in programs and activities; communicate cross-culturally.

Training and Experience

A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities outlined above is:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, public policy, or a related field; AND 

Six (6) years’ experience in legislative analysis or intergovernmental affairs; OR

Any equivalent education and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the position's duties and responsibilities as stated in the above minimum qualifications.

Desired, but not required qualifications:

• Experience working with sovereign tribal governments and elected officials.
• Experience managing communications in a political environment.
• Ability to navigate sensitive political environments.
• Knowledge of conflict resolution and coalition building.

Minimum Qualifications

STEP 1: Apply online between September 8, 2025, and October 6, 2025

• Cover letter.
  • Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Resume
• Answer to three (3) Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)
• Optional Application Materials:
• If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.
• Application Tips:
• Your cover letter can exceed one page but no more than three, to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. A subject matter expert will evaluate your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your cover letter.
• How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying.  It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid, regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note that all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage the use of AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. 

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and cover letter, is weighted 100%.
• Your resume and cover letter will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required before the establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

• The hiring bureau will review and select candidates to interview.
• Please note, that the selection process may take up to 90 days from the notification of being placed on the eligible list.

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.
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Other Qualifications

OPTIONAL INFORMATION SESSION

To assist you in understanding this position, a one-hour online information session on the Tribal Government Relations Manager (Government Relations Specialist III) position will be offered at 1 p.m. on Thursday, October. 2nd, using Zoom. Time will be reserved for a question-and-answer period. Prospective candidates may participate by phone or computer, but are not required to use video or provide their full names to allow for anonymity.  You are not required to attend to apply for this job.

If you need an interpreter or other accommodations to fully participate in this meeting, please contact Terrol Johnson at [email protected].
 

How to join:

Tribal Government Relations Manager Recruitment Information Session

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89371055398?pwd=ArvPb4DYekhkrGqaWc3mkVbUTZcO8b.1