Bears Ears
Tribal Commission

The Bears Ears Tribal Commission (Commission) serves as a collaborative manager of the Bears Ears National Monument. In its role as a collaborative manager, the Commission stands next to federal land management agencies in guiding management and management planning across the monument. The Director will implement the Commission’s directives as it collaboratively identifies and helps to implement interim visitation, site protection, and interpretation strategies for the monument, and as it engages in the preparation of recommendations for the national monument management plan for Bears Ears National Monument, Utah. The Bears Ears National Monument stands in the public spotlight for its new approach to engaging with tribes in public land management.

The Commission offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a creative, entrepreneurial, highly personable, culturally competent, and experienced professional to become the Bears Ears Tribal Commission Director. The Commission Director will serve as spokesperson and face of the movement – elevating Commission priorities to tribal leaders, national, state, and local political leaders, the National Congress of American Indians, and other stakeholder groups (15%). The Commission Director will be the point person for fundraising to implement the Commission’s vision for the Bears Ears National Monument (30%). The Director is responsible for carrying out the strategic vision of the Bears Ears Tribal Commission by working closely with the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service to partner in land management planning (30%). Finally, the Director is charged with structuring and creating the Bears Ears Traditional Knowledge Institute, an Institute focused on integrating traditional knowledge into land management practices at the Bears Ears (25%). In these latter two efforts, the Director will supervise and work closely with three existing Commission staff – a public land specialist, a cultural resource specialist, and an outreach and operations manager – who are currently implementing land management planning on behalf of the Commission.

We seek an exceptional and entrepreneurial leader capable of and passionate about dedicating their time, energy, and full skillset to growing the Commission into its full potential. The ideal candidate will have experience creating and growing a new organization, preferably one related to Native issues. Experience in land management planning, working with federal agencies, working with tribal nations, and working in collaborations that reach across interest groups is desired. Familiarity with the Bears Ears region and the Colorado Plateau, demonstrated success with fundraising, and supervisory experience are all highly desirable. Above all, we seek an individual willing to put full heart, energy, and intellect into this work to realize the promise of the Bears Ears National Monument, both for the Commission and all Tribes.

Location: Flexible – The residence of the executive director may be located in a community within a three hour drive of the Bears Ears. There is a strong preference for the director to be located in Durango or Cortez, Colorado or in a town in San Juan County, Utah. This position will require extensive travel, mostly in the Southwest.

Compensation: Competitive, commensurate with experience (expected range between $80,000 – $100,000). The Bears Ears Tribal Commission applies Native American Preferences in its hiring practices. We are launching the organization using a two-year contractor structure for all positions, with a vision of building a stand-alone organization with full-time benefit eligible positions at the conclusion of the two years.

Download pdf job description: BETC Executive Director Position Description

Send cover letter and resume to bearsearscommission@gmail.com. Open until February 16th, 2018.