Indigenous Relations Program Lead

Position Details

Position Information

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26458 For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Siriana Lundgren

siriana.lundgren@montana.edu

Classification Title Program/Project Lead Working Title Indigenous Relations Program Lead Brief Position Overview

The Indigenous Relations Program Manager coordinates and supports Museum of the Rockies' Indigenous relations work across departments. This position helps sustain respectful, reciprocal, and accountable relationships with Native Nations, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, Indigenous artists, cultural representatives, contributors, and community partners.

Position Number 4C2296 Department Museum of the Rockies Division Museum of the Rockies Appointment Type Professional Contract Term Fiscal Year Semester If other, specify From date If other, specify End date FLSA Exempt Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining FTE 1.0 Benefits Eligible Eligible Salary $55,000 - $60,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications Contract Type LOA If other, please specify Recruitment Type Open

Position Details

General Statement

With over 250,000 general visitors and program participants, MOR is one of Montana's most visited museums. The museum has recently completed an ambitious and transformative master plan and anticipates a significant campaign on the horizon. With vision and a record of success in a thriving community, MOR is poised for substantial growth. MOR has actively established and seeks to maintain reciprocal relationships with Tribes across Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. The Indigenous Relations Program Lead will be a fundamental player in the success of the museum and these relationships.

The position reports to the Curator of Cultural History, serves as an integral member of the Cultural History Team, while also coordinating across museum departments.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate Indigenous relations work that fosters respectful, reciprocal relationships with Native Nations, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, designated tribal representatives, Indigenous artists, cultural advisors, contributors, and community partners.
• Serve as a primary point of coordination for Indigenous relations across Cultural History, Collections, Paleontology, Education, Exhibits, and Public Programming.
• Oversee tribal relations to ensure equitable opportunities are provided for all willing tribes in MOR's geographic region in working with MOR activities.
• Coordinate with MOR Departments for tribal visitation support processes, including scheduling, correspondence, agenda preparation, meeting materials, travel logistics, documentation, and follow-up.
• Coordinate with Cultural History, Collections, and the Associate Curator of Indigenous History to support research, documentation, collections care, and exhibit development related to Indigenous cultural items, histories, and community priorities.
• Coordinate with Paleontology staff on Indigenous relations needs related to tribal consultation, culturally significant sites, fieldwork, research communication, interpretation, educational content, and community engagement.
• Coordinate with MOR Education Department in working with Tribal colleges, K-12 schools, and governments to represent the needs of the Museum.
• Coordinate with MOR departments to develop their specific goals, objectives and strategies to guide to achieve a reciprocal relationship with individual tribes.
• Collaborate with relevant MOR directors and curators to develop and administer the overall oversight body that oversees MOR Tribal relations on all MOR activities.
• Identify and coordinate effective strategies for MOR's Indigenous relations work, and track commitments made to Native Nations, contributors, artists, and community partners, across MOR departments.
• Coordinate with MOR Education and Cultural History departments to conduct outreach to Native communities, including identified public cultural gatherings, such as powwows, conferences, and other significant tribal events, and report on feedback of tribal nations and communities.
• Represent the Indigenous Relations Program in MOR internal planning meetings that involve Indigenous relations, including project discussions, tribal consultation and coordination preparation, programming, exhibit development, educational planning, docent training, and community partnership work.
• Build a plan to present at conferences and scholarly venues to represent MOR Indigenous Relations Program to advocate the tribal relations process to museums, schools, tribal offices, and other requested education and outreach requests.

Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in any field.
• 3-5 years of experience coordinating projects, programs, events, meetings, outreach, or communications involving multiple stakeholders.
• 3-5 years of experience working with tribal governments, Indigenous communities, Native student organizations, cultural organizations, community partners, or relationship-based programs.
• Must have knowledge of the tribes within MOR's geographic region.

Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Significant experience working with Native communities, Native student organizations, tribal representatives, Indigenous artists, cultural workers, educators, or community leaders in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho.
• Established relationships with Native Nations, Indigenous communities, Native student organizations, Indigenous artists, cultural workers, educators, or community partners in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho.
• Successful experience in respectful internal relations with MOR Departments and staff members.
• Experience in Indigenous student leadership, campus-community engagement, cultural programming, community organizing, outreach, or Native student support.
• Familiarity with Museum of the Rockies, including its departments, collections, exhibitions, programs, audiences, institutional priorities, and internal procedures.
• Experience coordinating tribal culturally responsive meetings, programs, visits, events, consultations, or community partnerships.
• Experience supporting communication between museums and Native communities, contributors, artists, students, cultural advisors, or community partners.
• Familiarity with museum work, collections care, exhibitions, public programming, education, tribal consultation, or Indigenous-centered cultural projects.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Be knowledgeable of NAGPRA consultation requirements for specific MOR staff.
• Builds trust and maintains respectful, reciprocal, and accountable relationships with Native Nations, Indigenous communities, colleagues, students, artists, contributors, community partners, and with internal MOR staff.
• Communicates effectively, clearly, and professionally with people from a wide range of backgrounds, roles, and communities.
• Represents Museum of the Rockies with professionalism, cultural humility, discretion, and care.
• Navigates university, museum, and community environments with confidence, good judgment, and respect for appropriate protocols.
• Coordinates complex projects involving multiple departments, partners, timelines, logistics, and communication needs.
• Maintains organized records, tracks follow-up, manages details, and ensures commitments are completed.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

This position is contingent upon continued funding.

Must possess a valid driver's license, an acceptable driving record, and meet all State of Montana requirements to operate State/University vehicles. (If successful candidate possesses a valid out-of-state driver's license, must obtain a valid Montana driver's license within 60 days of hire.)"

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

This position has supervisory duties? Yes

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1 Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search Position End Date (if temporary) Open Date Close Date Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on July 14, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).