Tribal Affairs Contracts Portfolio Manager - Internal

This is a full-time permanent, remote position. Employees may occasionally be asked to attend an in-person meeting or event based on business needs. This is an internal opportunity and is only open to current HCA employees. All HCA employees are required to be Washington state residents upon their first day of employment.

The Opportunity

The Office of Tribal Affairs (OTA) is seeking a Tribal Affairs Contracts Portfolio Manager to lead HCA's portfolio of government-to-government contracts with Tribes, including the Tribal Nation Agreement, Primary Care Case Management, and Medicaid Administrative Claiming. Valued at more than $40 million, this portfolio supports health services for Tribal communities across Washington.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, lead, and manage OTA's enterprise contracting portfolio, ensuring every contract and procurement has an agreed scope, procurement method, and timeline.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team on Indian Nation contracts, working closely with Office of Contracts and Procurement (OCP) professionals and project managers.
• Lead large-scale procurements on behalf of OTA and make decisions on contracting and procurement strategies.
• Monitor, manage, and improve the Tribal Nation Agreement, coordinating multi-divisional workgroups and meetings with clear agendas, outcomes, and tracked deliverables.
• Develop a method to track and monitor the portfolio using Power BI and other data systems and represent OTA at the HCA Data Utilization Committee and other governance forums.
• Partner with the Division of Audit, Integrity, and Oversight and the Finance Division to ensure contracts meet expenditure and invoicing requirements and approve invoices and distribute funds.
• Escalate issues and risks with well-researched recommendations, coordinating legal review through OCP before bringing matters to leadership.
• Manage OTA's contracting policies and procedures and provide expert technical assistance and regular communication to Tribal Nations and other contractors, including through Dear Tribal Leader Letters.
• Analyze legislation affecting contracts and procurement and advise the Tribal Affairs Deputy Assistant Director on potential impacts.

Why You’ll Love This Role

You'll help direct more than $40 million in funding that expands health services for Tribal communities across Washington. You'll strengthen HCA's government-to-government relationships with Washington's 29 federally recognized Tribes. Your work will shape how HCA contracts with Tribal Nations for years to come, including how the Sovereign Nation Agreements evolve. You'll work remotely, with occasional travel to connect in person with Tribal partners and HCA staff.

What You Bring

You are a highly organized, politically aware professional who keeps complex, time-sensitive work moving and knows when and how to escalate an issue. You deal with others in a straightforward and honest way, maintain confidentiality, and respect Tribal sovereignty in every interaction. You meet your commitments, work independently, and stay focused under pressure, giving careful attention to detail while always looking for ways to improve. You bring excellent interpersonal skills and respond to questions and concerns with professionalism and care, building trust with Tribal leaders, agency partners, and colleagues alike.

Required Qualifications

Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and application.

• Demonstrated ability to manage and anticipate Government-to-Government protocols in daily work.
• Demonstrated understanding of Government-to-Government protocols obtained through lived and/or professional experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Federal Indian Law, including the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 and the Tribal Self-Governance Act of 1994.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Tribal Health Jurisdiction.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Washington's Tribal legal frameworks, including the Centennial Accord, Millennium Agreement, and RCW 43.376.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to manage large volumes of contracts or grants within a governmental or similar setting.
• Expert-level verbal and written communication skills in various business areas and functions, including, but not limited to, personnel, legal proceedings, meeting logistics, and procedures and processes at the agency and divisional levels.
• In-depth process and procedural knowledge of state government budget, travel and expense requests, contracts and purchasing, and information technology and facility service requests.
• Working knowledge of programs funded by Medicaid or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
• Knowledge of state government at all levels, including legislators and the Governor's Office.

Required Competencies

• Equity lens – All HCA employees are required to consider equity in their decisions, processes, and day-to-day work, including how their work may affect the people and communities we serve.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow – You take action to learn and grow by seeking new perspectives, learning from experiences, and using what you’ve learned to continuously improve how you work and serve others.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others – You take action to meet the needs of others by listening, understanding different perspectives, and responding with care, respect, and solutions that support the people of the communities we serve.

Preferred Qualifications

While these are not required, having them may help you stand out as an applicant.

• A bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, business law, commerce, economics, mathematics, statistics, or a closely allied field.
• Demonstrated professional experience working with Tribal entities and managing large volumes of contracts or grants within a governmental or similar setting.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects.
• Demonstrated ability to problem-solve, prioritize workloads, meet deadlines, and provide independent strategic direction and decision-making.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex information, verbally and in writing, to a non-technical audience.
• A law degree from an accredited college or university approved by the Washington State Bar Association.
• Experience with process improvement and Lean Six Sigma.

About the Office of Tribal Affairs (OTA)

The Office of Tribal Affairs (OTA) supports HCA in meeting its government-to-government obligations outlined in chapter 43.376 RCW and the State Government-to-Government policy. OTA supports the agency in meaningful collaboration and communication with Tribal partners, Indian Health Care Providers, urban Indian health programs, and Tribal consortia and organizations. It also manages a large volume of contracts with Tribal partners and programs on behalf of and in coordination with HCA's Medicaid and behavioral health programs.

Supplemental Information

About the Washington State Health Care Authority

Better Health. Better Care. A Healthier Washington. At HCA, we work to ensure people across Washington have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible. As the State’s largest health care purchaser and behavioral health authority, HCA serves nearly 3 million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) programs, and behavioral health services.

Through this work, HCA purchases and coordinates care coverage, supports behavioral health prevention, treatment, crisis response, and recovery and helps strengthen access to high-quality care across Washington.

More than a benefits package

We want our employees to have the support, flexibility, and benefits they need to do their best work and build a career that works for their life. As a Washington State HCA employee, you’ll have access to a comprehensive benefits package that supports your health, financial well-being, and work-life balance. Our benefits are designed to support you today while helping you plan for the future.

Work Location and Schedule:

This is a full-time 40-hour-per-week remote position. Our standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with alternative work schedules considered based on business needs and supervisor approval. In this role you will regularly collaborate with colleagues, agency leaders, state and federal partners, and other external partners or customers. Occasional travel may be required for meetings, training, or other business needs. All employees are required to report to our Olympia office on their first and final day of employment.

Our commitment to an inclusive workplace:

The Health Care Authority is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a workplace where employees are respected, included, and supported in bringing their experiences, perspectives, and ideas to work. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in how we work together and serve the people of Washington.

Application Directions

To be considered, you must complete the online application in full and submit all required materials. Incomplete applications or applications missing required materials will not be considered.