Tribal Liaison (TPS4)

Washington State Health Care Authority; Spokane (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedule options

Paid leave & holidays

Tuition assistance

State benefits

Job summary

Washington State Department of Transportation is seeking a Transportation Planning Specialist 4 to serve as the Tribal Liaison for tribal concerns across designated regions. The role advances equity, environmental stewardship, and meaningful government-to-government relationships in planning, project development, and maintenance.

The position requires coordinating with tribal governments, MPOs, RTPOs, and local agencies, while guiding planning activities in NEPA/SEPA contexts and ensuring

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex transportation, environmental, regulatory, policy information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate meetings, consultations, workshops, and discussions with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience developing professional written materials including reports, briefing documents, and recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary lead for Tribal transportation topics and establish strong government-to-government communications.
• Assist with tribal consultations related to compliance with HEAL Act.
• Develop and maintain tribal coordination procedures and document tribal consultation in NEPA/SEPA/106 contexts.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Coordination

Policy analysis

Project management

Technology & data

Growth mindset

Service oriented

Job description

About WSDOT

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT leads an award‑winning Active Transportation Plan, manages the world's longest floating bridge, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

The Opportunity

WSDOT is currently seeking a Transportation Planning Specialist 4 to serve as the Tribal Liaison for all tribal concerns, acting as the primary point of contact between WSDOT and the federally recognized Tribes within the Eastern, North Central, and South Central regions. The Tribal Liaison ensures compliance with applicable laws, policies, and directives, including the National Historic Preservation Act, Executive Order 21‑02, and the Centennial Accord, and advances WSDOT’s commitments to equity, diversity, inclusion, and environmental stewardship. This role is pivotal in fostering and maintaining meaningful government‑to‑government relationships, ensuring that Tribal sovereignty, interests, and perspectives are fully integrated into transportation planning, project development, construction, and maintenance activities.

What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you will:

• Serve as the primary lead for Tribal transportation and transit topics, establishing, cultivating, and maintaining strong, respectful, positive, and effective government‑to‑government communications and relationships.
• Assist with tribal consultations related to the Health Environment for All (HEAL) Act compliance.
• Develop, implement, and maintain tribal coordination procedures and protocols for represented regions and facilitate and document tribal consultation in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), Section 106, and Executive Order 21‑02.
• Provide expert advice and mentoring across all disciplines, engaging with tribal governments or working on projects and maintenance activities with tribal implications needing tribal consultation processes.
• Oversee the facilitation and coordination of tribal input into represented regions’ activities, plans, studies, procedures, timetables, and projects.
• Support multimodal transportation planning efforts by participating in coordination with tribal governments, metropolitan planning organizations (MPO), regional transportation planning organizations (RTPO), local agencies, and WSDOT program staff to advance integrated transportation planning outcomes.
• Lead technical planning efforts, working groups, site visits, and data collection activities as assigned.
• Support the development of innovative planning approaches by identifying emerging practices and contributing to process improvements within assigned planning efforts.

Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required:

• Communication, Facilitation, & Public Engagement:
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate complex transportation, environmental, regulatory, policy information clearly effectively to technical & non‑technical audiences. clearly and effectively to technical and non‑technical audiences.
  • Demonstrated ability to facilitate meetings, consultations, workshops, and discussions involving diverse stakeholders and perspectives.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop professional written materials including reports, briefing documents, consultation records, presentations, correspondence, and recommendations.
  • Demonstrated ability to represent the agency professionally when working with tribal governments, elected officials, partner agencies, community members & other stakeholders.
• Leadership:
  • Demonstrated ability to provide leadership, guidance, and technical direction to interdisciplinary teams & partners in support of complex transportation planning or programs activities.
  • Demonstrated ability to mentor & support staff regarding consultation practices, community engagement, & equitable transportation planning.
  • Experience developing policies, procedures, training materials, guidance documents, or best practices.
• Transportation Planning & Program Coordination:
  • Demonstrated competency in applying multi modal transportation planning principles, community engagement practices, and intergovernmental coordination strategies to transportation programs or initiatives.
  • Experience coordinating complex planning efforts involving multiple organizations, jurisdictions, disciplines.
  • Experience providing planning recommendations and technical guidance to support project development, environmental review, and agency decision-making.
  • Experience integrating community, tribal, environmental, equity, and mobility considerations into transportation planning processes.
• Policy Analysis, Research, & Problem‑Solving:
  • Experience analyzing complex issues involving transportation planning, tribal interests, environmental considerations, & regulatory requirements.
  • Demonstrated ability to research, evaluate, & synthesize information from multiple sources to develop recommendations and inform decision -making.
  • Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment & make independent decisions when addressing complex, sensitive, or potentially competing issues.
• Project Management:
  • Experience independently managing multiple complex assignments, priorities, deadlines, and stakeholder commitments.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop work plans, track progress, coordinate resources, and ensure completion of deliverables.
  • Demonstrated initiative, accountability, attention to detail, and ability to work independently with general direction.
• Technology & Data Management:
  • Demonstrated proficiency in using business application & technology tools to develop reports, presentations, correspondence, spreadsheets, virtual meeting materials, & other planning documents.
  • Ability to learn & apply agency‑specific systems, databases, & project tracking.
• Growth Mindset:Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service‑Oriented:Takes action to meet the needs of others.

The following qualifications are also required:

• Ability to work during inclement weather, on uneven or steep terrain, and within highway right of way, in all weather conditions typical of the State of Washington.
• Ability to travel as required to attend meetings, consultations, field visits, trainings, conferences, and interagency coordination sessions. Travel may include day trips or limited overnight stays, often within the represented regions or adjacent areas, including Idaho and Oregon.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• Tribal Relations & Community Engagement Experience:
  • Experience working directly with federally recognized Tribes, tribal governments, tribal organizations, or Indigenous communities.
  • Experience leading or supporting government‑to‑government including coordinating activities.
  • Experience developing and maintaining effective partnerships between government agencies and Tribal governments.
• Transportation Planning Experience:
  • Experience applying multimodal transportation planning principles, land use planning concepts, environmental considerations, or community engagement strategies to transportation programs, projects, or planning initiatives.
  • Experience supporting transportation projects, corridor studies, planning studies, or infrastructure programs involving multiple jurisdictions, organizations, or disciplines.
• Environmental & Regulatory Experience:
  • Experience supporting environmental review processes, including NEPA, SEPA, Section 106 consultation, or related regulatory processes.
  • Experience coordinating with environmental professionals, project managers, engineers, consultants, and regulatory agencies.
• Public Engagement & Facilitation Experience:
  • Experience planning and facilitating public meetings, workshops, stakeholder engagement activities, or community outreach events.
  • Experience developing engagement strategies for communities with diverse needs and perspectives.

Important Notes

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
• In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union‑represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non‑represented positions can be found in Chapter 357‑28 of the Washington Administrative Code.
• WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Why WSDOT

• Work‑Life Balance – We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle. As such, there are a number of flexible schedule options available, including telework options for eligible positions.
• Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full‑time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
• Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information.

Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?

WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the listed Recruiter.

WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Contact Us

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at [e-mail]. Please be sure to reference 26DOT-ER-60958 in the subject line.