Position Summary:

The Executive Director of Human Resources is a senior professional resource for the Tribal Council and Administrative management team.  This position administers all facets of the Human Resources Department for the purpose of ensuring quality Human Resource management, effective and efficient delivery of personnel services and increased Tribal employment for the Tribal Administrative Government, and Tribal community.  This position is responsible for ensuring that the Tribe’s hiring process and other personnel policies and procedures are followed.   

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Provides leadership to the Administration in development of a vision for Tribal member employment, staff career development and training, and works as a team member in creation of Departmental mission, goals, objectives and activities. Recommends and modifies existing processes in order to meet the Tribe’s and Department’s goals and objectives.
2. Participates with Administration and Tribal Council to perform the administrative and management functions necessary to carry out the strategic goals and objectives of the Tribal Human Resources Department and the Tribal Government.
3. Advises the Tribal Council and Tribal Administration on personnel related issues and other management related questions, as requested.
4. Responsible for making the final hiring decision for all Tribal Administration positions after a review of the hiring process to ensure that all tribal policies and procedures have been followed.
5. Serves as a member of the Tribal Administration management team and as such, reviews and authorizes expenditures of funds and Agenda Request Forms on behalf of Tribal Administration in the absence of the Administrative Manager or other authorized staff.
6. Oversees all Human Resource, endeavors of the Tribe (including Training and Employment).
7. Acts as a liaison with other Tribal Entities.
8. Develops, maintains and evaluates operations budget for the department.
9. Directs, administers and supervises departmental staff, as well as assisting other Department Directors in carrying out all H.R. responsibilities and activities, such as: recruiting and hiring, new employee orientations, facilitating the grievance process, benefits administration, maintaining the compensation structure, ensuring occupational injury/work place safety, upgrading and maintaining job descriptions, the development and maintenance of the employee evaluation system and other strategic processes.
10. Directs and oversees the development and administration of the classification and reorganization systems and procedures.
11. Actively participates in a leadership capacity on the Tribe’s Benefit Committee by acting as a liaison for the Committee to Tribal Administration and Tribal Council.
12. Reviews benefits contracts annually, oversees routing to Law Office for final review prior to sending to Tribal Council for signature.
13. Serves as a member of the Tribe’s Retirement Plan Advisory Committee.
14. Oversees the Tribe’s compensation program and provides recommendations to Tribal Council on ways to assure a fair and competitive compensation system.
15. Prepares requests for proposals (RFPs), as requested by the Tribal Council, for various tribal projects. Reviews and analyzes RFPs and makes recommendations to the Tribal Council and/or Tribal Administration. 
16. Ensures the coordination of human resource activities such as orientation, training, employment, performance evaluation, workplace safety between and amongst Tribal departments and entities.
17. Applies and updates policies and procedures within the context of the Tribal approval process.
18. Oversees the grievance area of H.R., including: prevention training, providing technical assistance to all staff regarding the application and compliance of Tribal adopted policies and procedures and all related applicable laws governing the Administration’s Human Resources department, and ensuring the objective facilitation of the process.
19. Ensures accurate record keeping and preparation of statistical reports that may include, but may not be limited to recruitment, interviews, hires, transfers, promotions, and terminations, employee demographics. Submits reports to Tribal Administration as requested.
20. Oversees benefits administration including employee communications and enrollment as well as negotiating contracts, assuring compliance with contracts, and making payments to vendors in a timely fashion.
21. Ensures that all Tribal Government human resource activities are in compliance with relevant Tribal, and federal employment laws and regulations, to include all respective information and tax reporting.
22. Promotes positive employee relations by assisting all staff in resolving personnel and related issues. This position works with both employees and managers to identify causes of problems and methods of resolution; oversees investigations and resolution of complaints.
23. Represents the Puyallup Tribe of Indians at personnel related hearings and investigations.
24. Participates in the development of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians’ vision, mission, strategic planning process, and conveys, models, and carries out such.
25. Develops and maintains ethical and professional relationships with key vendors in an effort to obtain added value to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
26. Contributes to a favorable public image of the Tribe by establishing and maintaining relationships and participation in the community (civic, industry, and professional).
27. Contributes toward effective team problem solving with staff, peers, and Management.
28. Consistently demonstrates Tribal values and encourages and coaches others to consistently demonstrate Tribal values.
29. Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Directly supervises the staff of the Human Resource department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians personnel policies and procedures, and all applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, coaching and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding, recognizing and counseling employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Qualifications and Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

The successful candidate for this position will meet each of the following requirements:

• Law degree; or a Bachelor’s degree with a professional HR certification (e.g., SPHR or PHR).
• Ten years successful experience related to Human Resource Management. Higher levels of education may substitute for experience on a year for year basis.
• Must have at least five years of supervisory and leadership experience involving most functional areas of HR overseeing a staff of HR professionals.
• Knowledge and experience working with fair employment practices, Federal Human Resource regulations, laws and best practices.    
• Knowledge and experience with Tribal Law and policies and procedures governing Human Resources. 
• Intermediate office skills including word processing, spreadsheets and Human Resource Information System processing (i.e., Word for Windows, Excel, and Ceridian Source 500). 

Language Skills

Employee must demonstrate the ability to interact tactfully and positively with Tribal members, all levels of staff and management. Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality. Positively contribute to and/or lead a team.  Ability to read, analyze and interpret common professional journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from staff and regulatory agencies. Ability to write reports and business correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions. Ability to effectively present information to management, employees and groups of people.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions and apply them to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Licenses or Certificates

Law degree or SPHR or PHR professional certification required.

Must have and maintain a valid and unrestricted state driver’s license and proof of insurance.  Driver’s License must not contain any restrictions that would otherwise prevent an employee from driving a GSA vehicle.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Requires the ability to operate a personal computer, calculator, facsimile and photocopier.
• Requires the ability to read, write, communicate, and interpret information accurately in English.
• Requires the ability to concentrate and consistently produce accurate work.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand and walk.
• The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel or crouch..
• The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level and physical exertion is low to moderate.
• Work is performed in an office setting.
• There are frequent employee contacts and interruptions during the day.
• Must occasionally deal with angry or distraught people.
• Position may be stressful at times due to the sensitive or confidential issues being addressed.

The Puyallup Tribe of Indians reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

Indian Preference Employer as Required by Law

About Puyallup Tribe of Indians

The Puyallup Tribe of Indians is committed to protecting and exercising the inherent inalienable sovereign rights of the Tribe and Individuals in the interest of the Medicine Creek Treat Territories, as stewards to ensure preservation of our cultural and environmental integrity for common good and prosperity for all.

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