Tribal Liaison - NewRange

Job Summary:

Reporting to the General Manager as a part of the Social, Environmental and Regulatory Affairs (SERA) group, the Tribal Liaison will perform their duties as a member of the NewRange management team and will be accountable for the implementation of tribal engagement and cultural awareness initiatives. The key function of the role will be tribal outreach, sharing project information updates, and coordination and organization of tribal engagement activities. The role requires extensive engagement with tribal governments, tribal citizens, tribal businesses, and internal engagement and reporting.

The Liaison collaborates with project team members, including but not limited to corporate partners, contracting and procurement, human resources, and external affairs, to ensure appropriate expertise and practices are considered in the implementation of programs. The Liaison will ensure activities are undertaken in alignment with NewRange Management Standards, Policies, and Values. The liaison will be responsible for investing energy and attention over time to form relationships with collaborators and must provide regular updates on activities and program needs to the Manager and SERA Director.

Overview:

Located in the historic iron range mining region of northeastern Minnesota, NewRange is a joint venture between Teck American Inc. (Teck) and PolyMet Mining Corp (PolyMet) that is advancing two major copper-nickel-platinum-palladium deposits, NorthMet and Mesaba. Project activities range from readying the feasibility stage NorthMet project for a production decision pending clearance of mine permits to advancing the nearby Mesaba project to pre-feasibility studies and environmental review. NewRange is committed to unlocking a new domestic supply chain of critical metals for the transition to a low-carbon economy and positioning Minnesota as a world leader in sustainable mineral resource development.

More information on the Project is available at https://newrangecoppernickel.com/

Responsibilities:

• Be a courageous safety leader, leading by example, and encouraging a proactive safety & sustainability culture built on Courageous Safety Leadership.

• Ensure that NewRange is guided by principles of respect for Native American tribal self-government, sovereignty, and treaties.

• Foster a workplace culture based on respect, collaboration, involvement, inclusion, and responsibility.

• Listen to and learn from tribal governments and communities to understand and support internal awareness of tribal rights, cultural identity, and Indigenous ways of life, with specific reference to 1854 Treaty rights.

• Listen and learn to understand real and perceived impacts to wild rice, fish, and the health of citizens dependent on those and related natural resources within the project area.

• Educate employees and contractors on the history of tribes in the region and the history of mining and tribes.

• Identify and support champions in tribes to collaborate and co-develop engagement plans aimed at building a shared understanding of rights, culture, priorities, and sustainability.

• Develop and maintain a meaningful engagement strategy that facilitates relationship-building and coordination with tribes to co-develop and build support for collaboration and development projects.

• Provide ongoing guidance, support, capacity building, and training.

• Coordinate with tribal councils, tribal natural resource departments and other tribal organizations to review environmental reports and related environmental presentations, and support tribes in submitting questions and comments to the appropriate project personnel.

• Support the development and sharing of information on the project with tribes and the sharing of information from tribes with key project personnel and management.

• Organize tribal engagement including logistics, health and safety, communications, and engagement tracking.

• Identify and develop organizational relationships to support transparent communications.

• Coordinate the administration and implementation of tribal community development programs including ensuring impact measurement of programs and bi-annual reporting.

• Support the advancement and implementation of development agreements.

• Support governance reporting requirements, risk assessments, and corporate reporting.

• Represent NewRange in various meetings as assigned.

The above accountabilities are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Qualifications:

• A responsible individual with 5-10 years of proven experience in the fields of Native American relations and communities.

• Must be familiar with the history of the tribal nations in Minnesota.

• Knowledge of government organizations, functions, and relationships.

• Knowledge of the values, customs, and attitudes of the tribal communities to sufficiently craft outreach efforts to these communities.

• Familiarity working with the mining sector.

• High school graduate certificate. A diploma, post-secondary college or university-level education in Native American studies, anthropology, environmental sciences, sustainability, or other related field is beneficial.

• Proven success implementing engagement and community investment projects.

• Excellent communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills and experience of working with a broad range of people and groups. Experience in training and presentation are strong assets.

• Strong analytical and writing skills and an attention to detail.

• Experience with engagement, dispute management, monitoring and reporting.

• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational, planning and decision-making skills.

• Digital literacy in Microsoft programs and other IT programs.

• Integrity, respect and solutions-focused with a dedication to inclusion and collaboration.

• Ability to travel regionally, approximately 50% of time.

• Demonstrated commitment to NewRange’s safety and sustainability principles.

HOW TO APPLY

At NewRange, we value diversity. Our teams work collaboratively and respect each person’s unique perspective and contribution. All qualified candidates will be considered; however preference will be given to individuals who are members of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, or Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.  

Qualified applicants interested in joining a dynamic team are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter electronically.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for the position; however, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Your application to this posting is deemed to be your consent to the collection, use and necessary disclosure of personal information for the purposes of recruitment. NewRange respects the privacy of all applicants and the confidentiality of personal information.

Learn more about NewRange at https://newrangecoppernickel.com/

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.