King County is launching an ambitious effort to ensure that government delivers high-quality, efficient and equitable services to every resident. To support this work, we are seeking a Tribal Relations Manager (Manager) who will promote our government-to-government relationship between King County and tribal nations.
The Manager will be a member of the Government Relations team and is responsible for managing relationships with local tribes, developing and implementing the County’s tribal relations strategy, ensuring compliance with consultation requirements, and upholding honoring tribal sovereignty.
The Manager will serve as the Executive’s primary point of contact on tribal relations, working closely with tribal nations, King County departments, and other members of the KCEO team to advance shared priorities, resolve issues, and strengthen long-term relationships.
Key Responsibilities
Lead King County’s government-to-government relationships with federally recognized tribes, serving as the Executive’s primary liaison on tribal relations.
Develop and implement the County’s tribal relations strategy in alignment with the Executive’s priorities and the broader intergovernmental agenda.
Monitor and track priority issues.
Plan, coordinate, and support formal tribal consultation processes, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, policies, and best practices.
Advise the Executive and Executive leadership on tribal policy issues, treaty rights, and emerging political or operational concerns.
Coordinate with County departments to ensure timely, consistent, and respectful engagement with tribes on policies, programs, and projects. This could include convening and facilitating meetings, as requested.
Coordinate with legislative and intergovernmental partners on issues affecting tribal governments and King County.
Represent the Executive in meetings, working groups, and regional forums involving tribal partners.
Expectations
A focus on being out in the county to connect and build relationships with those we serve and those with whom we partner.
In the office a minimum of 3 days a week. Meetings may not have a call-in option for required in-person days, and the expectation is to be in the office.
Be on time, respectful of others’ time, and responsive when needed.
Bring an urgency to the work. We will start fast. The work will be intense, challenging, and incredibly rewarding.
Meetings will have written expectations, including an agenda with the goals and outcomes. Owners and next steps will be clear.
Processes and work will continuously improve.
Values
Serve with integrity.
Show initiative and work hard.
Prioritize outcomes over optics.
Center those most impacted and put “boots on the ground.”
Resolve challenges with a “yes, and” mindset.
Work as one, adaptable, mission-driven team.
Ideal Candidate We are looking for a Tribal Relations Manager who can collaborate across diverse organizations and communicate King County’s values and priorities effectively. The ideal candidate will have:
Significant experience (5+ years) working with tribal nations, intergovernmental affairs, public policy, or related governmental roles.
Demonstrated knowledge of tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and government-to-government consultation principles.
Strong relationship-building skills with experience engaging elected officials, senior leaders, and strategic partners.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational skills with a demonstrated record of follow-through, attention to detail, and accountability in managing deadlines and deliverables.
Key Attributes
Strategic and Analytical: Sees the big picture, uses data to inform decisions, and can develop and deploy effective strategy.
Equity-Centered: Embeds fairness, inclusion, and community impact into policy work.
Collaborative: Works across departments and builds strong partnerships to drive the policy agenda.
Results-Oriented: Connects policy to action, driving measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.
Why Join Us This is a rare opportunity to shape how King County delivers for its residents. The Tribal Relations Manager will help bring the King County Delivers vision to life—turning bold ideas into accountable, transparent, and effective government action.
The King County Executive Office serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with integrity, transparency, and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and frugal stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve.
We will work in the office at least three days a week to foster connection and responsiveness, arrive prepared and on time, and structure meetings with clear goals and next steps. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust.
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive executive-level salary, commensurate with experience
Comprehensive health, retirement, and leave benefits
Professional development and leadership growth opportunities
Application Process To apply, please submit your résumé, a brief cover letter, and a statement of interest describing how your experience aligns with the King County Delivers vision of transparent, equitable, and accountable government.
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The Manager will be a member of the Government Relations team and is responsible for managing relationships with local tribes, developing and implementing the County’s tribal relations strategy, ensuring compliance with consultation requirements, and upholding honoring tribal sovereignty.
The Manager will serve as the Executive’s primary point of contact on tribal relations, working closely with tribal nations, King County departments, and other members of the KCEO team to advance shared priorities, resolve issues, and strengthen long-term relationships.
Key Responsibilities
Lead King County’s government-to-government relationships with federally recognized tribes, serving as the Executive’s primary liaison on tribal relations.
Develop and implement the County’s tribal relations strategy in alignment with the Executive’s priorities and the broader intergovernmental agenda.
Monitor and track priority issues.
Plan, coordinate, and support formal tribal consultation processes, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, policies, and best practices.
Advise the Executive and Executive leadership on tribal policy issues, treaty rights, and emerging political or operational concerns.
Coordinate with County departments to ensure timely, consistent, and respectful engagement with tribes on policies, programs, and projects. This could include convening and facilitating meetings, as requested.
Coordinate with legislative and intergovernmental partners on issues affecting tribal governments and King County.
Represent the Executive in meetings, working groups, and regional forums involving tribal partners.
Expectations
A focus on being out in the county to connect and build relationships with those we serve and those with whom we partner.
In the office a minimum of 3 days a week. Meetings may not have a call-in option for required in-person days, and the expectation is to be in the office.
Be on time, respectful of others’ time, and responsive when needed.
Bring an urgency to the work. We will start fast. The work will be intense, challenging, and incredibly rewarding.
Meetings will have written expectations, including an agenda with the goals and outcomes. Owners and next steps will be clear.
Processes and work will continuously improve.
Values
Serve with integrity.
Show initiative and work hard.
Prioritize outcomes over optics.
Center those most impacted and put “boots on the ground.”
Resolve challenges with a “yes, and” mindset.
Work as one, adaptable, mission-driven team.
Ideal Candidate We are looking for a Tribal Relations Manager who can collaborate across diverse organizations and communicate King County’s values and priorities effectively. The ideal candidate will have:
Significant experience (5+ years) working with tribal nations, intergovernmental affairs, public policy, or related governmental roles.
Demonstrated knowledge of tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and government-to-government consultation principles.
Strong relationship-building skills with experience engaging elected officials, senior leaders, and strategic partners.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational skills with a demonstrated record of follow-through, attention to detail, and accountability in managing deadlines and deliverables.
Key Attributes
Strategic and Analytical: Sees the big picture, uses data to inform decisions, and can develop and deploy effective strategy.
Equity-Centered: Embeds fairness, inclusion, and community impact into policy work.
Collaborative: Works across departments and builds strong partnerships to drive the policy agenda.
Results-Oriented: Connects policy to action, driving measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.
Why Join Us This is a rare opportunity to shape how King County delivers for its residents. The Tribal Relations Manager will help bring the King County Delivers vision to life—turning bold ideas into accountable, transparent, and effective government action.
The King County Executive Office serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with integrity, transparency, and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and frugal stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve.
We will work in the office at least three days a week to foster connection and responsiveness, arrive prepared and on time, and structure meetings with clear goals and next steps. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust.
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive executive-level salary, commensurate with experience
Comprehensive health, retirement, and leave benefits
Professional development and leadership growth opportunities
Application Process To apply, please submit your résumé, a brief cover letter, and a statement of interest describing how your experience aligns with the King County Delivers vision of transparent, equitable, and accountable government.
#J-18808-Ljbffr