Founded in 1990, Kauffman and Associates, Inc., (KAI) is an American Indian and woman-owned management consulting firm dedicated to uplifting American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people, tribal and urban Indian communities, and social sector programs. We value Indigenous Knowledge and believe in the inherent strength, resilience, and sovereignty of tribal nations to find community-led solutions for intergenerational healing, wellness, and growth.
Our expertise spans many specialty areas, including behavioral health, public health, education, and tribal affairs. We work closely with diverse stakeholders, combining stories of lived experiences with data-driven insights, to drive positive change across Indian Country. At KAI, we do work that matters!
The Climate Resilience Specialist (Tribal Communities) is responsible for supporting KAIs portfolio of projects related to climate resilience, renewable energy, and environmental issues across Indian Country. Assignments could include facilitating community visioning exercises or providing technical assistance (TA) to tribal communities seeking federal funding for climate change-related initiatives. This position will be part of a much larger TA team, including engineers, policy analysts, and attorneys.
- Collaborate with various KAI service lines to draft a tribal communications tool kit for engaging tribal communities in identifying environmental sustainability opportunities.
- Collect, document, and organize TA requests from tribal communities
- Assess and bring potential recommendations for actions based on input from partners and project stakeholders
- Research sustainability programs/initiatives and translate to a tribal context
- Support the development of climate- and water-related risk and opportunity assessments
- Produce sustainability reports and other communications for assigned tribal communities
- Design sustainability or climate risk management performance targets and accompanying strategies and achievement plans
- Conduct needs assessment or similar analysis with assigned tribal community leadership to help identify and prioritize TA issues and services that may benefit their community
- Provide the assigned tribal communities with TA for basic capacity building, project planning, and application/project development activities
- Provide project implementation and performance TA to assigned tribal communities to ensure compliance with grant requirements, including grant award execution, administration, performance, reporting, and oversight
- Provide administrative support and services to client organization (e.g., federal agencies) to carry out and report on the program and associated TA activities performed
- Knowledge of climate change issues, challenges, and opportunities facing AI/AN tribal communities
- Passion for sustainability and climate resilience
- Highly proficient with MS Office (Outlook, Excel, Word)
- Effective communication skillswritten and oral
- Strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize multiple assignments and meet deadlines
- Ability to perform in a high volume, time-sensitive and deadline driven environment
- Understanding of the importance of and ability to maintain confidentiality
- Bachelors degree in environmental sciences, energy, sustainability, or related field (required)
- Masters, PhD, or JD in above fields (preferred)
- At least 5 years of relevant experience working on climate/sustainability-related issues with AI/AN populations, tribal communities, and other underserved communities and populations
- Professional certifications (preferred)
None at the moment, but subject to change with organizational needs.
The role will involve direct communication with tribal leadership and stakeholders and coordinating the execution of TA requests with a larger team of subject matter experts.
The position is fully remote. The position will likely include light travel especially to conduct an in-person site visit with assigned tribal communities, occasional meetings after hours, occasional extended hours, and interruptions from time to time. Close computer work for extended periods of time will be required.
This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of this position. All KAI employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed, to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.
Benefits Overview
- 80% company paid medical insurance premiums; portion of family paid
- 50% company paid dental insurance premiums; portion of family paid
- Vision insurance
- $50K company paid life insurance
- Partial internet reimbursement
- 15 days of annual leave in first year
- 100% Remote work
- Matching 401K with immediate vesting
- EAP
Position Status: Full Time Exempt Fully Remote