Director of Tribal Affairs (0224U), Government & Community Affairs #83347

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

At the University of California, Berkeley, we recognize that every member of our community has benefited, and continues to benefit, from living, working, and occupying the ancestral territories of California Native Nations. Consistent with our values of community and diversity, the University has a responsibility to acknowledge and make visible its role in the injuries committed against
California Native Nations. In this way the University seeks to prioritize respect for both the historic culture and the contemporary presence of Native Americans throughout California and on its campus by striving to hold UC Berkeley more accountable to the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native Nations and Native Hawaiian Organizations.

Given the unique history of the state of California, and UC Berkeley's role as the flagship land grant institution of the UC system, as well as the inherent sovereignty of Native Nations, it is imperative that the university include Tribal needs and perspectives within the fabric of the institution.

The Office of Government and Community Relations within the Office of the Chancellor will house the Office of Tribal Relations. The Director of Tribal Relations will lead UC Berkeley's efforts to build, repair, and nurture relationships with sovereign Native Nations and serve as an ambassador between the campus and Tribal communities.

The First Review Date for this job is: January 5, 2026

Tribal Consultation

• Serve as campus ambassador to all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples, including both federally recognized and non-federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes as well as Native Hawaiian Organizations.
• Promote and foster better relationships between campus and Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples by engaging in transparent and consistent communications.
• Connect Native American/American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian peoples with campus units, including libraries and archives, reserves, and research units, and help identify and establish relationships and partnerships.
• Develop an outreach and implementation plan that centers on making visible and honoring the history and celebrating the continued existence and flourishing of Native Nations in California, and particularly the Tribes whose ancestral homelands are the territories within which Berkeley occupies and utilizes.

Internal Coordination and Strategy Setting

• Strategize with key campus experts, including but not limited to the following units:
  • Native American Student Development Office
  • American Indian Graduate Program
  • Undergraduate Admissions Native American Outreach Coordinator
  • Native American Community Center
  • Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Implementation Committee
  • NAGPRA Repatriation Coordinator
  • Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, the California Language Archives, the Bancroft Library, and other libraries and repositories holding items of Native heritage
  • Native and Indigenous Staff and Faculty Council.
  • Joseph A. Myers Center for Research on Native American Issues
  • Council of Deans
  • Lawrence Hall of Science and the 'ottoy initiative
  • Berkeley Natural Reserve System
• Co-Chair the Chancellor's Native American Advisory Council
• Advise the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor for Research, Assistant Chancellor, and other senior leaders on internal and external strategy as it relates to Native American communities.
• Create and oversee implementation of campus-wide practices and policies, including:
  • Tribal engagement and consultation policies and guidance
  • Protocol for receiving tribal leadership and facilitation of tribal leaders' visits
  • Research policies and practices as pertaining to Native Nation communities, traditional knowledge and intellectual property rights
• Establish and guide campus strategy and practices to ensure an inclusive climate and support a thriving community of Native American/American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students, staff, and faculty, including:
  • Engage with the Chancellor's NAGPRA designee, Campus NAGPRA Implementation Committee, and the campus NAGPRA repatriation coordinator to understand NAGPRA progress and communicate feedback and concerns from Native Nation communities.
  • Engage with the Chancellor's NAGPRA designee, Campus NAGPRA Implementation Committee, and the campus NAGPRA repatriation coordinator to understand NAGPRA progress and communicate feedback and concerns from Native Nation communities.

External Relations

• Engage with the California Native American Heritage Commission to build relationships and ensure open communication between the campus and the commission.
• Serve as campus liaison with government entities and Tribal governments on Native American issues.

• Extensive expertise and experience working with Native Nations (particularly California Native Nations), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Organizations.
• Knowledge of Tribal protocols, cultures, histories, sovereignty, and government relations, particularly for California Native Nations, but also for American Indian/Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian People.
• Expert knowledge and understanding of issues in higher education and campus specific issues, especially as they relate to the Native American/American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities.
• Demonstrated knowledge, experience and extensive skills in diplomacy, Tribal consultation and building bridges to achieve institutional goals and objectives, and advancing positive relationships among communities that may have differing views and interests.
• Expert level written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including attentive listening skills and skills to ascertain constituency perception.
• Expert skill to quickly identify and develop strategies to effectively communicate the institution's message to Native Nations and organizations, and vice versa.
• Expert level analytical and decision-making skills, sound judgment and highly developed political acumen.
• Expert skill to recognize potential areas of constituency concern and skill to effectively address, resolve and/or mitigate problems or issues.
• Ability to communicate across cultural lines to include interpretation of research and policy between the university and tribal governments.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.

• Expert knowledge of the legislative and political process, and expert skill to correctly and appropriately read, interpret, understand and respond to proposed legislation, including writing effective position statements and drafting proposed legislation.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $156,000.00-$185,000.00

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.