Executive Director

Nature and scope of the position:

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer, providing visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight to advance the organization’s mission to protect, preserve, and strengthen the rights, sovereignty, culture, and natural resources of its member Tribes. The Executive Director is responsible for implementing the UCUT Strategic Plan, fostering collaboration among member Tribes, and ensuring the organization’s financial sustainability, operational excellence, and cultural integrity.

Duties and responsibilities:

Pursuant to the Rules of Procedure of UCUT, the Executive Director is responsible for:

• General administration of the Central Office and staff in a manner consistent with the Charter, Rules and Procedures.
• Providing visionary leadership to implement the UCUT 2025-2029 Strategic Plan, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission, vision, and core values.
• Collaborating with the UCUT Commission to set long-term goals, priorities, and policies that reflect the collective interests of member Tribes.
• Promoting a values-driven workplace culture that prioritizes staff well-being, professional growth, and high performance.
• Overseeing the preparation and management of the annual budgets, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and efficient use of resources.
• Maintaining official files and publications.
• Reporting to the Commission on activities and accomplishments.
• Other duties described in the Charter and as assigned by the Commission.

Examples of the Executive Director’s responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Maintaining close liaison with each member Tribe and their staff through frequent individual visitation, phone conferences, and periodic meetings. This will include the submission of routine fiscal and administrative reports to the member Tribes.
• Coordinating and preparing agendas for all UCUT Senior Manager and Commission meetings.
• Ensuring staff preparation, participation, and facilitation of all technical/policy committee meetings: Fisheries; P2IP; Environment/Toxics; Timber, Fish, and Wildlife/Forest and Fish Report; and Wildlife.
• Directing the operations and administration of all UCUT contracts and ensuring the timely completion of all products, deliverables, and commitments associated with each contract.
• Identifying opportunities to seek additional mission related funding sources to enhance the capability and capacity of the organization in support of the member Tribes, including the development and submittal of proposals for grants, contracts, and other fiscal strategies.
• Directing and providing leadership for all UCUT staff.
• Overseeing and managing the fiscal affairs of UCUT.
• Carrying out all policy decisions of the member Tribes as they relate to the organization and its mission.
• Representing UCUT in both formal and informal forums and settings to promote UCUT mission, goals, and objectives. This includes working with Tribal, First Nation, federal, state, provincial, and local governments, particularly concerning natural resource management issues, as appropriate.
• Overseeing the implementation of the UCUT strategic plan—as adopted by the Commission in 2025—and the development of associated annual implementation plans.
• Prepare annual budgets in consultation with policy and technical representatives from each tribe.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Knowledge of natural resources management, specifically the role of Tribes as fish, wildlife, and natural resource managers.
• Deep understanding of Tribal sovereignty, Executive Order and Treaty rights, and the unique cultural and environmental challenges facing Tribal communities.
• Knowledge of Tribal relations and values, including intertribal relations and cultures.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and foster collaboration among diverse groups.
• Demonstrated skill in setting priorities, implementing actions, and communication.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage people, projects, contracts, and budgets.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Columbia River Basin, Federal Columbia River Power System, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the intergovernmental, political, ecological, and cultural context in which UCUT and its member Tribes operate.