Tribal Programs Specialist - Apprenticeship

Munro Footwear Group; Helena (MT); Hybrid; USD 39,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedules or partial telework (

Health Insurance

Paid Leave & Holidays

Job summary

Montana Department of Labor & Industry seeks a Tribal Programs Specialist for an apprenticeship to empower Native youth and strengthen partnerships with Tribal Nations. The role focuses on co‑creating career pathways that honor Tribal values and sovereignty while connecting with schools, partners, and community leaders.

You will help design and implement culturally relevant workforce strategies, collaborate across programs, and support ongoing outreach to Tribal communities for sustainable,

Qualifications

• Tribal engagement and relationship building
• Culturally grounded program support
• Policy and systems awareness
• Collaborative planning and problem solving
• Communication and facilitation
• Program coordination and follow‑through
• Education and outreach delivery

Responsibilities

• Support youth workforce pathways: design and support culturally relevant career and education pathways for Native youth and young adults, including apprenticeships and internships.
• Advance nation‑building strategies with Tribal Nations to strengthen economies and long‑term prosperity.
• Honor sovereignty and protocols in engagement with Tribal communities and partners.
• Identify barriers and co‑create solutions reflecting Tribal priorities and local needs.
• Build and maintain trust‑based relationships with Tribal leaders, educators, and community partners.
• Coordinate with DLI programs and Tribal partners to ensure information and resources are communicated clearly.
• Provide cultural guidance and training to staff on Native history, sovereignty, and outreach strategies.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Job Description - Tribal Programs Specialist - Apprenticeship (26142334)

Position Title:

Opportunity looks different when communities lead. This apprenticeship puts you at the center of that work, helping Montana's Tribal Nations create career pathways for the next generation of Native leaders. You'll connect Tribal governments, schools, and partners to programs that remove barriers and open doors for young people. Along the way, you'll gain hands‑on experience and mentorship that set you up for a lasting career in public service.

Mission Statement

Empowering all Montanans through work and opportunity.

It's about the people and the impact we make in our communities every day. We are proud of our open, team‑based, supportive, and collaborative work environments. Learn more about DLI here.

Position Overview

The Tribal Programs Specialist is a mission‑driven apprenticeship role that supports Montana’s Tribal Nations in creating sustainable, community‑led workforce strategies for Native youth ages 16–24. Reporting to the Tribal Liaison in the Office of the Tribal Liaison, the apprentice will champion Tribal empowerment and nation building by helping design career pathways that reflect Tribal values, culture, and priorities.
The apprentice will work closely with Tribal governments, Tribal programs, schools, and community partners to connect programs such as 406 JOBS, Jobs for Montana Graduates, registered apprenticeships, and other resources to local visions for economic strength and self‑determination. Through this work, the apprentice will help remove barriers, expand opportunity, and deepen the partnership between the State of Montana and Tribal communities in a way that honors sovereignty and community voice.

What’s in it for you

• Grow as a leader and practitioner: gain deep, hands‑on experience in Tribal engagement, workforce development, and policy implementation, with access to training, mentorship, and clear pathways for professional advancement.
• Build lasting relationships: develop meaningful, long‑term connections with Tribal leaders, youth, and community partners, along with ongoing opportunities to learn from Tribal cultures, histories, and knowledge keepers in a respectful, relationship‑centered way.
• Make a difference: provide regular input into program design and co‑create new approaches to how the State partners with Tribal Nations.

Essential Functions

• Support youth workforce pathways: collaborate with Tribal programs, schools, cultural departments, and community leaders to design and support culturally relevant career and education pathways for Native youth and young adults, including apprenticeships, internships, entrepreneurial efforts, traditional knowledge‑based skills, and workforce exploration opportunities.
• Advance nation‑building strategies: work alongside Tribal Nations to develop and implement workforce strategies that strengthen Tribal economies, build workforce capacity, and promote long‑term, intergenerational prosperity.
• Honor sovereignty and protocols: ensure that all engagement and outreach respects Tribal sovereignty, cultural protocols, and government‑to‑government relationships, and supports nation‑building and self‑determination goals.
• Identify barriers and co‑create solutions: partner with Tribal leadership and stakeholders to identify systemic barriers to workforce access, job creation, and program participation, and collaborate to develop solutions that reflect Tribal priorities and local needs.
• Build and maintain relationships: develop and sustain strong, trust‑based relationships with Tribal leaders, workforce programs, TERO offices, educators, employers, and cultural departments to support shared initiatives and expand economic opportunities.
• Coordinate with DLI programs: serve as a bridge between DLI programs (e.g., 406 JOBS WIOA, Jobs for Montana Graduates, registered apprenticeship, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and occupational licensing) and Tribal partners, ensuring information, resources, and support are communicated clearly and effectively.
• Provide cultural guidance and training: advise DLI staff and leadership on culturally grounded practices, Native youth engagement, and Tribal priorities, and support or deliver training on Native American history, cultural strengths, sovereignty, and effective outreach strategies.
• Support strategic outreach and sustainability: assist the Tribal Liaison and leadership team in implementing outreach, consultation, and engagement strategies that emphasize long‑term sustainability, Tribal readiness, and youth‑centered, nation‑building values.

Required Skills and Competencies

Candidates must demonstrate the ability to:

• Tribal engagement and relationship building: build and maintain respectful, trust‑based relationships with Tribal governments, Tribal leadership, youth programs, and community partners, including the ability to engage in sensitive cultural discussions with humility and respect, and to respect the protocols of Tribal Consultation.
• Culturally grounded program support: design, support, or coordinate programs and initiatives that center Indigenous youth, incorporate Tribal values and cultural strengths, and promote community‑driven workforce and youth development outcomes.
• Policy and systems awareness: understand how Tribal, State, and Federal policies intersect in workforce development, youth services, and sovereignty contexts, and use that understanding to help identify barriers and inform practical solutions.
• Collaborative planning and problem solving: analyze needs, identify opportunities, and co‑create strategies and solutions with Tribal leadership and partners, including coordinating collaborative initiatives across multiple departments or organizations.
• Communication and facilitation: communicate clearly in writing and in person with diverse audiences, including youth, Tribal councils, program staff, and state partners; facilitate meetings, listening sessions, or trainings that uplift Tribal perspectives and support shared goals.
• Program coordination and follow‑through: plan, organize, and track activities across multiple projects or initiatives, follow through on commitments, and help ensure that workforce and youth development efforts are sustainable and aligned with agreed‑upon objectives.
• Education and outreach delivery: provide training, presentations, or outreach that translates complex workforce, education, or policy concepts into accessible, culturally relevant information for Tribal youth, families, and community stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience)

Applicants must demonstrate an interest in supporting Tribal communities, youth, workforce development, education, apprenticeship, or related community‑based initiatives. This may be demonstrated through employment, volunteer service, internships, school activities, cultural involvement, lived experience, or participation in Tribal or community programs.

• Interest in working collaboratively with Tribal governments, Tribal programs, Native community organizations, schools, employers, youth‑serving organizations, cultural departments, or nonprofit partners.
• Ability to build respectful working relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and to communicate in a manner that is professional, culturally responsive, reliable, and respectful of Tribal sovereignty, community priorities, and local knowledge.
• Basic communication skills, including the ability to listen carefully, share information clearly, prepare routine written materials, and participate in meetings, outreach activities, presentations, or community events.
• Ability to learn and apply new information related to workforce services, education, youth employment, apprenticeship, and community resources.
• Ability to assist with organizing projects, events, meetings, outreach activities, or program tasks involving multiple people or organizations.
• Ability to identify concerns, ask thoughtful questions, gather input from participants or partners, and communicate observations to a supervisor or team.
• Demonstrated dependability, initiative, willingness to learn, attention to detail, and ability to complete assigned work in a timely manner.
• Willingness to travel within Montana, including travel to Tribal communities, schools, partner organizations, meetings, training events, and outreach activities, as assigned.

As part of the apprenticeship position will receive a 5% increase every 6 months until they reach the full ROP which it $38.50

Preferred Qualifications

The following qualifications are preferred but not required:

• Experience, volunteer involvement, internship participation, student leadership, cultural involvement, or community service connected to Tribal communities, Native youth, workforce development, education, community development, or related areas.
• Familiarity with one or more Montana Tribal communities, Tribal government structures, Tribal programs, Native community organizations, or culturally grounded approaches to community engagement.
• Experience participating in or supporting youth programs, school‑based activities, career exploration, job‑shadowing, work‑based learning, mentoring, community events, or similar initiatives.
• Basic familiarity with workforce, education, or public-service systems, including workforce centers, youth employment programs, career and technical education, Registered Apprenticeship, WIOA‑funded services, or related programs.
• Coursework, a certificate, or progress toward a degree in American Indian Studies, Social Services, Community Development, Education, Workforce Development, Public Administration, Communications, or a related field.

Education and Experience Equivalency

A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Postsecondary education is not required for entry into this apprenticeship.

Relevant education, work experience, internships, volunteer service, community involvement, cultural participation, military service, and lived experience may be considered when evaluating whether an applicant demonstrates the foundational skills and interest needed to succeed in the apprenticeship.

Possible Apprenticeship Opportunity

This agency may utilize a registered apprenticeship program to train and qualify employees for this position. Employees hired into an apprenticeship placement will be paid on a graduated wage scale that starts below the advertised base rate for fully qualified incumbents. Apprentices will receive predetermined pay increases each time they achieve defined apprenticeship milestones and demonstrate the required competencies. The specific terms, including the wage progression schedule, will be provided in writing at the time of hire.

Benefits

Being able to enjoy the quality of life in the beautiful state of Montana is one of the benefits you will love about this opportunity! Our mountains, waterways and open spaces provide not only beautiful scenery but year‑round recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, biking, fishing, boating, hunting, skiing and snowmobiling. Montana boasts a high-quality education system and a variety of entertainment including fairs, rodeos, and theaters. Read more about our great state here.

See our other incredible benefits here . These are some of our benefits just to name a few:

• Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana.
• 38 paid days off a year including vacation, sick leave and holidays.
• Military leave: You'll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
• Longevity raises with continuous service, as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises.
• Health, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts, EAP - click here to learn more.
• Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan - click here to learn more.
• Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73% - 9.07% of your annual salary. A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available. – Click here to learn more.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness- click here to learn more!
• Career progression, training opportunities and room for professional growth.
• State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.

E-Verify

This agency is participating in E‑Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I‑9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here, https://www.e-verify.gov/

Applicant Pool Statement : If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection. Training Assignment : This agency may use a training assignment. Employees in training assignments may be paid below the base pay established by the agency pay rules. Conditions of the training assignment will be stated in writing at the time of hire.

Salary

28.40 - 30.80 Hourly Telework Eligibility : Telework Eligible (Full-time telework is not available. Telework schedule must be supervisor approved.) Benefits Package Eligibility : Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan

Number of Openings

1

Employee Status : Regular Schedule : Full-Time

Job Type

Standard

Shift

Day Job

Travel

Yes, 25 % of the Time

Primary Location

Helena

Agency : Department of Labor & Industry Union : Montana Federation of Public Employees

Posting Date

Sep 23, 2026, 5:35:41 PM Closing Date (based on your computer's timezone) : Oct 1, 2026, 5:59:00 AM

Contact Name : Office of Human Resources | Contact Email : [e-mail] | Contact Phone : [phone] Anyone who needs to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.

State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.