Executive Director

Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; McLoud (OK); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma in McLoud, OK seeks an executive leader responsible for administrative management and operational development of tribal programs and services, including implementation of policies, procedures, strategies, legislation, and regulations enacted by the Tribal Business Committee and Kickapoo General Council.

The role oversees Social Services, Education, Tribal Administration, HR, Finance, Police, Tribal Court, Enrollment, and other departments; requires leadership,

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s Degree in Business Administration or related field with ten years’ experience with Indian Tribal governments preferred; or Bachelor’s in Business Administration/Public Administration with at least five years’ experience; or ten years of recent experience with Indian Tribal government.
• Skills: Must be highly motivated, results oriented, and foster an atmosphere that supports and enables others to become highly motivated.
• Requirements: Experience in administration of tribal government, finance, human resources, and current with MS Office programs.

Responsibilities

• Directs and coordinates the administration of the Tribal governmental components in accordance with policies as determined by the Business Committee.
• Develops and executes operational plans in accordance with the Tribal Government.
• To the maximum extent feasible, assists with obtaining funding for Tribal projects and programs through private, federal, state, and other appropriate sources.
• Reviews program activity reports and financial statements to determine the status and progress of the Tribal programs to ensure they are achieving their objectives. Revises objectives and plans in accordance with current conditions.
• Attends Tribal Business Committee and Kickapoo General Council meetings and informs the members on all matters related to the administration of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma.
• Reviews all continuing Federal competitive and non-competitive grant and contract applications. Ensures applications are submitted timely and are administered in accordance with Federal regulations and Tribal policy.
• Conducts analysis of administrative policies and procedures regularly. Updates policies regularly and creates new policies when necessary.
• Supervises and maintains oversight of the Tribal Administration department directors and provides direction as necessary. Provides mentorship and training as needed.
• Provides leadership and vision for the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma associated programs and services. Attends training as needed.
• Monitors Human Resources functions and policies. Advises the Business Committee of significant employee relation matters.
• Protects tribe against fraud and mismanagement of resources by applying policies with administrative controls.
• Ensures checks and balances are in place and operational procedures are followed.
• Exercises program management controls ethically and in alignment with Federal and Tribal laws and policies.
• Manages the cost productivity of programs through budgetary planning and adherence.
• Assists the Finance Director and Business Committee in the development of the annual General Fund budget.
• Communicates the programmatic and financial condition of the Tribal Administration with the Business Committee monthly, and at least annually with the Kickapoo General Council.
• Ensures financial audits are completed annually in accordance with Federal and Tribal law.
• Serves as a direct contact for tribal members in resolution of issues and need for services.
• Identifies issues and formulates programs and policies that impact the beneficiaries of the services provided by the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma.
• Collaborates with other tribes, Federal Agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Services, local governments, private and/or public sector programs, and the extensions of all other KTO entities to ensure continuity of services for tribal members.
• Communicates Tribal Administration program information, events, and other relevant information to the members of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Public administration

Policy development

Education

Master’s Degree in Business Administration

Bachelor’s Degree in Business/Public Administration

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job Location: Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma - McLoud, OK 74851

Position Purpose and Summary

This position organizationally falls under the Business Committee of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma. Operational hours are Monday through Friday; 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. or as may be needed to manage the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma programs and services to better serve the tribal members. The purpose of this position is to provide executive leadership, administrative management, and operational development of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma. This position is responsible for administering the governmental affairs of the tribe including implementation of policies, procedures, strategies, legislation, and regulations enacted by the Tribal Business Committee and Kickapoo General Council.

The Tribal Administration programs include Social Services, BIA Self-Governance, Childcare, Cultural Resources, Indian Child Welfare, Child Support, Environmental Protection, Tax Department, Education, Head Start, Elder Services, Tribal Maintenance, Police Department, Tribal Court, Enrollment, Property and Procurement, Human Resources, Accounting, and Tribal Committees and Commissions.

Position Qualification Preferences

• Knowledge of the operations of tribal programs; must be able to meet with the public on a constant daily basis.
• Ability to speak and understand the Kickapoo Language.

Work Environment

Ability to work under pressure and maintain personal composure; evaluate situations and act/react appropriately, using tact in dealing with staff, visitors, and tribal members in difficult situations. Excellent management skills are essential. The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the primary functions of this job as an administrator in a tribal office setting with programs and services normally associated. Normal office conditions exist as do conditions with other associated programs and services; noise levels, stress, tribal members/visitors flow and number of staff directly managed will vary but may be considered high. Administrative workload will be managed daily with additional hours required from time-to-time. The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the primary functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to frequently stand, walk, sit, bend, twist, talk and hear/listen. There are prolonged periods of sitting, keyboarding, reading as well as standing. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to fifty (50) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include reading, distance and computer and color vision. Talking and hearing/listening are essential to communicate with tribal members/clients/staff and peers. There are constant deadlines associated with this position. The employee must be able to multi-task, and interact with a wide variety of people at various times and on complicated and diverse issues. Must be able to maintain a professional demeanor at all times and on any occasion wherein representing the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma.

Essential Duties, Functions, and Responsibilities

• Directs and coordinates the administration of the Tribal governmental components in accordance with policies as determined by the Business Committee.
• Develops and executes operational plans in accordance with the Tribal Government.
• To the maximum extent feasible, assists with obtaining funding for Tribal projects and programs through private, federal, state, and other appropriate sources.
• Reviews program activity reports and financial statements to determine the status and progress of the Tribal programs to ensure they are achieving their objectives. Revises objectives and plans in accordance with current conditions.
• Attends Tribal Business Committee and Kickapoo General Council meetings and informs the members on all matters related to the administration of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma.
• Reviews all continuing Federal competitive and non-competitive grant and contract applications. Ensures applications are submitted timely and are administered in accordance with Federal regulations and Tribal policy.
• Conducts analysis of administrative policies and procedures regularly. Updates policies regularly and creates new policies when necessary.
• Supervises and maintains oversight of the Tribal Administration department directors and provides direction as necessary. Provides mentorship and training as needed.
• Provides leadership and vision for the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma associated programs and services. Attends training as needed.
• Monitors Human Resources functions and policies. Advises the Business Committee of significant employee relation matters.
• Protects tribe against fraud and mismanagement of resources by applying policies with administrative controls.
• Ensures checks and balances are in place and operational procedures are followed.
• Exercises program management controls ethically and in alignment with Federal and Tribal laws and policies.
• Manages the cost productivity of programs through budgetary planning and adherence.
• Assists the Finance Director and Business Committee in the development of the annual General Fund budget.
• Communicates the programmatic and financial condition of the Tribal Administration with the Business Committee monthly, and at least annually with the Kickapoo General Council.
• Ensures financial audits are completed annually in accordance with Federal and Tribal law.
• Serves as a direct contact for tribal members in resolution of issues and need for services.
• Identifies issues and formulates programs and policies that impact the beneficiaries of the services provided by the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma.
• Collaborates with other tribes, Federal Agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Services, local governments, private and/or public sector programs, and the extensions of all other KTO entities to ensure continuity of services for tribal members.
• Communicates Tribal Administration program information, events, and other relevant information to the members of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma.

Minimum Mandatory Qualifications

• Education and Experience: (1) Master’s Degree in Business Administration or related field with ten (10) years’ experience in working with Indian Tribal governments preferred; or (2) Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or Public Administration from a four-year college or university with at least five (5) years’ experience; or (3) ten years of recent experience in working with Indian Tribal government.
• Skills: Must be highly motivated, results oriented, and provide an atmosphere that fosters, promotes, and supports and allows others to become highly motivated.
• Requirements: Must have previous professional experience in administration of tribal government and tribal employment, finance, and cash management, information control systems, human resources and current with the latest technologies and computer software with emphasis on MS Office programs.
• Must have excellent communication skills both verbally and written.
• Must have excellent leadership skills.
• Must be amenable to a constantly shifting work environment with stress levels related to the overall management and responsibility of a tribal administration which is varied and complex.
• Must maintain all continuing education Units as may be required for licensure and/or certification in a specialty field of study.
• Must possess and maintain a current, valid, active, and unrestricted Oklahoma Driver’s License.
• Ability to be courteous, tactful, and cooperative throughout the workday.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality with regard to all phases of the job duties.
• Ability to manage the stress of having overall responsibility for the operations of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma and associated programs and services.
• Must be able to travel out of state and locally to attend meetings/trainings as needed.

Performance Expectations

• Fully uphold all principles of confidentiality to the fullest extent possible.
• Adhere to all professional and ethical behavior standards of the Kickapoo Tribe, must be compliant with the personnel policies.
• Interact in an honest, trustworthy, and dependable manner with staff and peers/clients/tribal members.
• Must be culturally sensitive and respectful to the beliefs and traditions of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma.
• Meet or exceed the performance standards as set out by the organization.
• Work independently and as a team member; consistently demonstrating professionalism, courtesy, efficiency, excellent internal and external customer service, high ethical standards and behavior that contribute to harmonious relationships.
• Uphold the Policy and Procedures of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma and associated programs services and the Kickapoo Tribe Employee Policy and Procedures.
• Must have the willingness to learn new skills and participate in training sessions, including maintaining of CEU’s.
• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming.