Administration - Realty Specialist - Fee To Trust

The Puyallup Tribe of Indians is committed to protecting and exercising the inherent inalienable sovereign rights of the Tribe and Individuals in the interest of the Medicine Creek Treat Territories, as stewards to ensure preservation of our cultural and environmental integrity for common good and prosperity for all.


Close: When Filled Job Title: Realty Specialist - Fee to Trust Department: Administration Reports To: Administrative Manager Hours: 40 Hrs/Wk - Full Time Salary: DOQ + Benefits Requisition #: 600

*Salaries are market competitive.
For accurate salary information, call (253)573-7863 or email ******.
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians provides a generous benefits package that includes employer paid medical, dental, vision, life insurance, a retirement/401(k) plan with profit sharing, paid holidays, and paid time off including birthday leave.


Position Summary:

Primarily responsible for overseeing coordinating the Fee to trust process.
Maintains file systems, works with title companies, land surveyors, environmental consultants to help prepare federal requirements for the timely processing of fee property to trust status.
Works as part of a team to facilitate fee to trust conversions with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and related agencies involved in the Trust Process.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities Establish positive working relationships with Bureau of Indian Affairs management and support staff to streamline and further the fee to trust process for the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and members requiring fee to trust services.
Maintain contact with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to establish a central point of contact on Fee to trust applications for the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and Tribal Membership.
Acts as the lead on the preparation of fee to trust strategies and plays a major role in a team approach to facilitate the conversion of fee land to trust status.
Collaborates and coordinates with a special team on fee to trust applications composed of the Director, Land Acquisition Specialist, GIS Analyst, Realty Trust Manager, and the legal department.
Provide technical assistance to tribal members in the requirements for fee to trust applications from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Assist and offer guidance to ensure that necessary pre-conveyance clearances and procedures have been secured and completed.
Maintains confidentiality in fee to trust activities and helps prepare applications to declare tribal fee properties as "essential tribal services" for the purpose of tax exemptions under state law.
Provide parcel map information to the GIS office for each application submitted to the BIA.
Attends training in fee to trust application process, federal realty regulations, easements, rights of way and leases, legal descriptions and map reading through workshops and BIA sponsored training.
Compose correspondence directly related to the successful processing of Fee to Trust application.
Works with BIA Everett agency and the Portland area office personnel to initiate, prepare applications, hire consultants to comply with federal requirements, monitor progress, troubleshoot problems, prepare reports and correspondence to BIA officials, package and deliver technical data, make frequent visits to ensure applications proceed in a timely manner, and ensure that fee to trust conversions are properly recorded with the Portland BIA office and county governments, if required.
Stores, organizes and maintains multiple formats of data in usable condition; assures information is readily available; disseminates information effectively and securely.
Performs other duties as necessary.
Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.


Qualifications and Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree in Government Relations, Public Administration Community Planning, Urban Development or a related field preferred; and minimum of two years of related work experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience working with Fee to Trust applications, either in a Tribal realty office, or with the Bureau of Indian Affairs preferred.
Working knowledge of the relevant CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) on Tribal lands.
General working knowledge of the fee to trust process and what role land use planning, community planning, and realty management play in guiding the development of a community.
Working knowledge of Tribal and BIA fee to trust procedures and policies preferred.
Prior training from the BIA or BIA-endorsed training facility on realty management highly preferred.
Intermediate to advanced writing and word processing skills required.


Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret federal regulations related to realty matters on Tribal lands, including legal descriptions, title and ownership records, plat maps, appraisals, and related legal documents.


Ability to build rapport and establish good relations and communications with people at all levels and ranks within the BIA and the Department of the Interior.
Ability to effectively present information to other managers, professionals, and to Tribal Council.


Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.


Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.


Licenses or Certificates

Must have and maintain a valid state driver's license and proof of automobile insurance.


Other Skills or Abilities

Ability to manage and resolve conflicts in a constructive manner to facilitate a positive outcome.
Ability to evaluate current practices and openly seeks opportunities to create a systematic process for fee to trust applications.


Physical Demands

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


Requires the ability to operate a personal computer, multi-line telephone, calculator, facsimile and photocopier.
Requires the ability to read, write, communicate, and interpret information accurately in English.
Requires the ability to concentrate and consistently produce accurate work.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
The employee occasionally is required to stand and walk.
The employee is occasionally required to stand and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level is low to moderate.
The physical exertion is low to moderate.
Work is performed in an office setting.
Employee is required to regularly travel to BIA in Everett or Portland to meet with officials and also travel to various sites to locate properties.
There are frequent employee contacts and interruptions during the day.
Position may be stressful at times due to the sensitive or confidential issues being addressed.

The Puyallup Tribe of Indians reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.
This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.


Indian Preference Employer as Required by Law

Online Application Tips:

1.
If you are using a PC, use Chrome.
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2.
Upload additional documents (resume, cover letter, letters of recommendation, proof of Indian blood, etc.)
to the resume tab as one (1) PDF file or email documents to ****** and we can add them to your online application.
Please send in copies of any degrees or certificates that you have been awarded.


3.
Indian Hiring Preference - send in the appropriate documentation for the category you select.
If you have any questions about the hiring preference policy or what document to send in, email us at ****** or call (253) 573-7863.


4.
Provide 3+ references (we cannot obtain references from direct family members - mother, father, grandparents, sisters, brothers, or children and this includes in laws).
One reference must be your most recent supervisor.
We prefer the rest of your references to include co-workers, subordinates, or other supervisors, but we can accept a personal reference from someone who is familiar with your work ethic, habits, and attendance.
You can send in letters of recommendation to ******

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After you submit your application, you will receive an email confirmation.
If you do not receive an email, please call the office to confirm submission.


*Please do not wear perfumes, colognes, or strong scents to your interview.
Some employees are allergic.


If you have any questions about the positions or the online application, please call (253) 573-7863

or email ******.
3009 E. Portland Ave., Tacoma, WA 98404

Native American preference applies and job placements are given on a competitive basis, using job related factors.
Because of the large number of applications received and limited job positions, your application will not guarantee employment.