Tribal Attorney

Job Summary

Incumbent will provide a broad range of legal services to the Ketchikan Indian Community Tribal departments and entities, including consultation, research, drafting, representation in administrative proceedings.

Developing Tribal resources and infrastructure, defending and preserving Tribal Sovereignty, and reaching and expanding Tribal self-sufficiency through the exercise of inherent sovereign rights. This position provides a broad variety of legal services in support of the goals of the Tribal Council and all of the Tribal departments.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides legal services for Tribal Council including drafting resolutions, correspondence, contracts, agreements, amendments to tribal codes, policy and procedure, employment law decisions, legal memoranda, intergovernmental agreements, pleadings and documents.
• May conduct litigation in Tribal, State and/or Federal courts.
• Oversees and works with outside legal counsel on numerous projects including land into trust acquisitions, employee benefits, housing tax matters, litigation.
• Works with state and federal agencies on areas impacting tribal government, commercial and community issues.
• Negotiate contracts in collaboration with senior management.
• Provides legal guidance to Tribal Council on state / federal government issues, and works with lobbyists at state and national levels regarding national and state legislation affecting the Tribe's interests;
• Provides legal counsel to all tribal departments and review, Independent Contractor agreements, employment agreements, policies, documents as required or requested.
• Works cooperatively within the office and other agencies as needed.
• Other duties as assigned

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and understanding of key legal issues germane to our tribe, primarily, tort law, contract law, statues, regulations and corporate compliance matters.
• Skill in negotiation and interpersonal communication.
• Ability to rationally manipulate complex information, present information in an organized manner and engage in conversation about this information with senior management.
• Ability to develop both tactical and strategic solutions to business challenges.
• Ability to be flexible in order to perform at the highest level as a team player.
• Ability to utilize a high degree of diplomacy with those who may be experiencing a high degree of stress both mentally and/or physically (both public and co-workers)
• Strong understanding and sensitivity to American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal culture and lifestyle, working effectively with AI/AN populations.
• Effective oral and written communication skills with sensitivity to the lifestyles of targeted participants.
• Skills in operating personal computers using a variety of computer software.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with management, coworkers, and outside contacts.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and comply with all applicable federal and tribal privacy laws and KIC policy (HIPAA, HITECH, etc.).
• Ability to learn and apply program/agency operating policies and procedures.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks concurrently and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently as well as with teams.

KIC Competencies

Cultural Competency: To be respectful and responsive to the health beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs of KIC Tribal Members. Developing cultural competence is an evolving, dynamic process that takes time and occurs along a continuum.

Commitment: To serve Tribal Members and set a high standard for yourself in your performance; strive for results and success; convey a sense of urgency and bring issues to closure; and stay persistent despite obstacles and opposition.

Customer Service: Meet/exceed the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identify, understand, and monitor the needs of both internal and external customers; always talk and act with customers in mind; and recognize working colleagues as customers.

Effective Communication: Ensure important information is passed to those who need to know; convey necessary information with respect, clearly and effectively orally or in writing

Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrate a high level of conscientiousness; hold oneself personally responsible for one's own work; and do the required fair share of work.

Working Conditions

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

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and/or sit. The employee is occasionally required to walk, sit, climb, or balance. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. The noise level in the work environment is usually average.

Use of computer to communicate via email, video conference, and similar activities. Stationary position for a majority of the work day, with large portion of time spent in front of a computer screen, reviewing various documents, an. Travel required occasionally.

The environment involves the usual risks and stress of an office environment within a public service facility. Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

Conditions of Hire

• May be required to possess and maintain a valid driver's license or capable of obtaining one, as well as be insurable by KIC’s company insurance.
• KIC is a Drug-Free Workplace. All employees must adhere to KIC drug and alcohol policies and procedures to ensure a safe workplace. Employees must pass a pre-employment and subsequent random and/or for cause drug and alcohol screening to be eligible for and maintain employment.
• KIC has several positions that must comply with the P.L. 101-630 Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Protection Act (ICPA); all employment offers in the "covered" classification are conditional until KIC has received a Federal criminal background check verifying eligibility to work in these programs.

Minimum Education & Experience Required

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school.
• Must be either admitted to practice law in Alaska or admitted to practice in another state and eligible for an Alaska Bar Rule 43 waiver.
• 3 + years preferred experience in a Tribal Organization, employment law, civil litigation, grants, federal government contracts, business law, and tax law.
• A combination of relevant experience, education, and training may substitute for education and experience requirements on a year-for-year basis.
• Proof of valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.