Tribal Policy Engagement Specialist

Tribal Policy Engagement Specialist

Federal Communications Commission

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP) of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB), Federal Communications Commission located in Washington, DC.

Duties

Provides expert advice and assistance to the ONAP Chief, ONAP staff and Bureau management on the strategies, policies, and programs covering Federal-Tribal government-to-government affairs and policy, provides education, consultations and coordination with federally recognized Indian Tribal governments and with other Native organizations and outreach to Tribal Nations and organizations.

Leads stakeholder engagement and establish new pathways for Tribal participation in the agency’s policy making processes to help the FCC achieve its digital equity goals. This includes understanding the impact of the agency’s current rules and regulations as well as developing new avenues for meaningful engagement/education to ensure that the Commission has the benefit of a wide spectrum of information and viewpoints in its policy-making processes with a focus on historically unserved/underserved communities including (but not limited to) Tribal communities, low-income households, aging populations, incarcerated individuals, veterans, individuals with disabilities, individuals with a language barrier, racial and ethnic minorities and rural inhabitants.

Leads the development and implementation of ONAP’s nationwide community engagement and outreach strategy. This includes developing campaigns to implement Commission-wide Tribal consultation and coordination activities and education efforts to explain communications issues and opportunities to Tribal government and Native audiences and integrates dialogue feedback and responses into ongoing Commission-wide regulatory policymaking. Develops and implements FCC Tribal engagement programs.

Represents ONAP in interactions and consultation with Tribal leaders and government organizations and at meetings, discussions, policy forums, etc., addressing Bureau and FCC initiatives and their impact on Tribes. Schedules and participates in meetings between the Tribal Nations and organizations and ONAP, Bureau, and FCC management, including meetings at Tribal events and other outreach and engagement for ONAP in the field. In these encounters, the incumbent serves as a conduit for information dissemination and meaningful policy development dialogue between Tribal leaders and FCC officials.

Develops and provides recommendations to the ONAP Chief, and Commission management, including information and policy initiatives concerning proposed or ongoing government-to-government consultative and coordination activities with and affecting Tribal Nations and organizations, the effects of which impact the successful execution and attainment of the Office's and Bureau's mission and objectives.

Provides authoritative input, expert advice and guidance to the ONAP Chief and management on proposed plans and implementation of programs, workshops and seminars, both in person and online, designed to educate Tribal leaders, leaders of tribal organizations, and Tribal members about FCC programs and policies. In coordination with the ONAP Chief, and ONAP’s lead on engagement, develops, manages and implements the strategic outreach plan for ONAP, to include ONAP’s Tribal Workshops which occur in the field approximately once per quarter, and ONAP’s oversight and coordination of the work performed by the Native Nations Communication Task Force, which has meetings and working sessions throughout the year. Evaluates ONAP’s intergovernmental and Tribal government event coordination and consultation program effectiveness and recommends modifications when appropriate.

Communicates with Tribal government leaders and Native organizations, Native and other

media representatives, trade associations, industry leaders, and business entities, regarding significant Tribal policy and rulemaking matters pending at the FCC. Keeps abreast of developments affecting Tribal governments, Native communities, their members, the communications industry, and consumers by reviewing Commission and other federal decisions, professional publications and the trade press. Monitors federal grant and loan programs related to communications deployment. Maintains documentation related to federal programs that benefit Tribal Nations and Native Communities across all relevant federal programs. Reviews and analyzes program/policy impact, and prepares and makes recommendations to the ONAP Chief and Deputy Chief on policy proposals related to the operation and effectiveness of such programs to Tribal Nations.