Vice President, Government Relations and Communications

Cook Inlet Region, Inc. is seeking a talented Vice President, Government Relations and Communications, to join our Executive Leadership team. CIRI's offices are conveniently located in mid-town Anchorage at the Fireweed Business Center, a modern building that represents CIRI’s cultural diversity, respect for the land, and sustainability. The Fireweed Business Center reflects our heritage in the displayed Alaska Native art and interior design.

CIRI offers a hybrid work schedule for many positions and excellent benefits for eligible employees. Benefits include: paid holidays, paid time off, 401K with employer match, dental, vision, health insurance plans through the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program, as well as life and disability benefits.  

CIRI only accepts applications through our online career page at https://www.ciri.com/careers/jobs/

General Function

The Vice President, Government Relations and Communications is responsible for leading CIRI’s government relations at the tribal, local, state and federal levels and overall corporate communications strategy overseeing the Corporate Communications department. Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills are key in this role as it acts as a senior advisor to CEO.

Major Activities (Typical Duties/Responsibilities)

Government Relations

1. Provide strategic direction and oversight to CIRI’s government relations.
2. At the direction of the CEO and in partnership with the executive leadership team, identify legislative, regulatory, and other governmental priorities affecting the interests of CIRI, its business operations or future operational opportunities, Shareholders, lands, villages and tribally designated organizations. Analyze existing statutes/regulations and proposed legislation and regulations to determine the need for advocacy.
3. Prepare comment letters, consultation comments, talking points, and background documents regarding pertinent issues, including testimony on pending legislation before Congressional committees.
4. Cultivate and enhance CIRI’s relationships at the federal, state and local government levels.
5. Manage internal and external government relations professionals representing CIRI interests.
6. Serve as an internal resource on public policy matters; educate and support the Board, employees and external partners with public policy expertise.
7. Preserve and protect CIRI’s Ecosystem and status as an ISDEAA Tribe.

Corporate Communications

1. Lead the communications strategy and team for CIRI, including media relations and publicity; internal and external strategic communications; and image/media management.
2. Responsible for assuring the organization’s communications reflect its core values and advance CIRI’s business and Shareholder and Descendant engagement strategy.
3. Partner with the CEO and executive leadership team and relevant department leads to collaboratively build and enhance the brand and direct the key communications functions.

1. Lead crisis communication efforts engaging appropriate risk management strategies and ensuring the company’s desired messaging is articulated.
2. Build and maintain strategic relationships within CIRI, CIRI’s affiliated entities and the community that complement CIRI’s initiatives and foster collaboration opportunities. Includes representing CIRI on various task forces, boards and commissions that would have potential impact on the corporation goals.
3. Advise and assist the CEO on CIRI strategy.

Other

1. Supervise direct reports by mentoring, coaching, and providing feedback, as well as conducting performance reviews and overseeing their development.
2. Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills/Abilities

• Expert level knowledge of government relations and corporate communication; ability to execute knowledge effectively and in-line with best practices.
• Demonstrated understanding of Federal and State Legislative procedures.
• Ability to visualize, articulate and solve complex problems and concepts, and make decisions that make sense based on available information.
• Ability to actively listen, write and speak effectively, and develop and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with internal team members and external parties and stakeholders.
• Ability to use good judgement in choices or conclusions by establishing objectives, gathering relevant information, identifying alternatives, setting criteria for the decision, and selecting best option.
• Ability to effectively recruit, select, develop, and retain of competent staff members.
• Ability to maintain a productive climate and confidently motivate, mobilize, and coach employees and subsidiary leadership to meet high performance standards and goals.
• Ability to plan, organize, direct, monitor, and manage a group of employees, departments, and/or entities to accomplish organizational goals and objectives.
• Ability to establish, maintain and utilize a broad network of contacts (e.g. in a specific industry, in government, and the community) to monitor public and internal issues that affect CIRI and its overall strategy.
• Ability to effectively negotiate, leading processes by which compromise, or agreement, is reached.
• Ability to manage, lead and enable the process of change and transition while helping others embrace the process.
• Ability to effectively manage risk, assessing and quantifying business, reputational, and political risk, then taking measures to minimize, monitor, and control them.
• Ability to support strategic implementation/thinking by, promoting, and ensuring alignment with CIRI’s vision, mission and values.
• Strong knowledge of Alaska Native Policy; comprehensive understanding of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and other relevant federal Indian policy and the history and role of the corporation.
• Broad understanding of the business objectives of the corporation’s mission and the ability to recognize new business opportunities.

Physical Abilities

• Sufficient fine motor skills for use of computers, calculators with an ability to withstand repetitive keyboarding for extended periods of time.
• Visual and communications ability adequate to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Ability to kneel, bend and twist at the waist on an occasional basis.
• Ability to reach below shoulder height with regular frequency (desk position) and at or above shoulder height on occasion.
• Ability to push, pull, carry and lift objects weighing up to 20 pounds on a regular basis, and greater weights on an occasional basis.
• Ability to travel by vehicle or aircraft, and ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 5 or more years executive level experience that exhibits strong strategic planning implementation and success.
• 12 or more years government relations experience.
• 5 or more years corporate/government communications or media relations experience.
• Experience demonstrating a strong understanding of all department functions and their roles in meeting organizational initiatives.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time.
• Ability to pass a background check.

CIRI does not discriminate, and the company provides equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, age, marital status, pregnancy or parenthood, handicap or disability, genetics, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic. CIRI adheres to all federal, state and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity and will not discriminate against you in violation of these laws. CIRI reserves the right to apply CIRI shareholder preference to qualified shareholders in employment and advancement opportunities.