Description
POSITION DESCRIPTION and VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
POSITION TITLE: Attorney
SALARY: Pay Range 18–19 $127,892.04-$153,330.96 annual DOE/DOQ
DEPARTMENT: Administration, Office of Legal Counsel
LOCATION: Nixyaawii Governance Center, Mission, Oregon, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Eligible for Telework Agreement in compliance to the Tribal Personnel Policies Manual.
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full Time with benefits package, Exempt
SUPERVISED BY: Lead Attorney, Office of Legal Counsel
OPENING DATE: May 18, 2026
CLOSING DATE: Open until filled with review June 18, 2026 of complete packets
CTUIR MISSION STATEMENT
Exercise the Tribe's sovereign authority to achieve the maximum protection of resources identified in the
Treaty of 1855, to protect newly acquired lands wherein the Tribe has a vested interest, to protect the lands of
all the citizens and residents of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. This position will protect human life, water land, air, and wildlife by exercising professional skills and abilities in the protection of the resources of the
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES
CTUIR Attorneys work in the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), which provides legal services and representation to
all departments and programs of the CTUIR tribal government. OLC's client is the Board of Trustees, the
governing body of the CTUIR pursuant to its Constitution and Bylaws. The CTUIR is a federally recognized Indian tribe with broad treaty-reserved rights and self-governance duties for its enrolled members and the residents of the 172,000-acre Umatilla Indian Reservation in Northeastern Oregon.
The Attorney will be expected to regularly perform general legal services to the organization as assigned by the
Lead Attorney and consistent with the Annual Work Plan approved for the Office of Legal Counsel.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Litigation/Dispute Resolution. Enforce CTUIR rights and interests before the Umatilla Tribal
Court, state, federal, local and administrative judicial forums and any other courts as necessary. - Legal research and advising. Advise and collaborate with policy, executive, management and
technical professionals to brief options concerning the CTUIR's legal rights and interests; develop
strategies to promote and protect those interests; track and monitor cases, agency actions,
regulations, rulemaking and legislation; develop strategies and recommendations to benefit the
CTUIR's positions and relationships with executive officials, legislative bodies, administrative
bodies and corresponding forums of tribal, federal, state/local governments. - Drafting and negotiation. Review, drafting, and negotiation oi contracts, intergovernmental
agreements, leases, codes, policies, and procedures. - Law and Policy. Review and advise concerning existing and proposed legislation, regulations,
and agency policies and activities to protect CTUIR interests; represent the CTUIR in forums,
meetings, hearings, training, and presentations promoting and defending the CTUIR's legal rights
and interests. - Assignments. Responsible for assignments delegated through the Lead Attorney.
SUPERVISORY & SIGNATORY AUTHORITY:
This position does not have supervisory or signatory authority on behalf of the CTUIR. The Attorney may, from time to time, be delegated acting supervisory and limited signatory authority on behalf of the Lead Attorney.
ACCESS TO SENSITIVE AREAS:
This position has access to the Office of Legal Counsel's offices, files, and records, both physical and electronic. This includes files containing sensitive and attorney-client-protected work products and communications. CTUIR Attorneys often attend sensitive meetings and briefings where confidential information is discussed. Office of Legal Counsel staff are routinely required to access sensitive and confidential tribal records.
REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: (It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate in writing ha/she does meet the following minimum qualifications.)
1. Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
2. Admission to practice before the Oregon State Bar, or membership in another state bar and ability to attain reciprocal admission to the Oregon State Bar within 6 months of hire.
3. Demonstrated experience and interest in Federal Indian Law. Preference for experience working with federally recognized Indian tribes in the context of government employment, employment by a federally recognized tribe, related tribal entity, or a law office specializing in Indian law. A strong record of legal education or other experience in federal Indian law matters will also be considered.
4. Strong interpersonal, written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
5. Commitment to protecting and enhancing tribal government interests. Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to integrate: (a) advice suited to navigate intersections of tribal, federal, and state entities; and (b) law and policy options that may span litigation, policy engagement, legislative, rulemaking, agency agreements, and consultation processes to advance client interests.
6. An understanding of and ability to apply the principles of federal Indian law to civil and criminal jurisdiction, contracting, self-governance, sovereign immunity, government-to-government trustee relations, and protection of treaty rights.
7. A demonstrated ability to serve in a broad attorney-advisor role, providing general services on a wide array of legal practice areas, and advise in a manner to consistently integrate with existing law, policy and organizationally preferred solutions.
8. An ability to work with minimal supervision and carry out assigned duties/projects in a timely manner. This qualification includes routine reporting to the Lead Attorney, balancing multiple projects, and coordinating with staff and policymakers to complete projects within defined timelines.
9. Familiarity and ability to work with current software and research tools, including Microsoft Office products, Adobe, Westlaw, and other legal research tools and resources.
10. Excellent workplace skills and the ability to enhance work relations are required.
11. An understanding of and ability to comply with ethical standards, including the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct and applicable rules of conduct in all other jurisdictions and courts in which the Attorney may be asked to practice.
12. Willingness to work as a salaried, exempt employee, which sometimes requires work beyond normal office hours, and the ability to travel and work remotely as needed.
13. Must have a valid state driver's license, reliable transportation, and meet Tribal insurance requirements.
14. Ability to work on-site at the Nixyaawii Governance Center. This position is eligible for a telework agreement, if approved by the CTUIR Executive Director. If approved, telework eligibility is up to a maximum of 85% of work time with a minimum on-site average of 3 days per month.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
1. Ability to use standard computer programming such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
2. Ability to stand and walk around for long periods of time.
3. Ability to sit in automobiles and or airplanes for travel to conferences, seminars, and training.
4. Ability to lift up to 25 pounds of records or other material in storage containers/totes/boxes, over the head
Pursuant to Tribal Worker's Benefit Code, Section 4.02.A. "All workers shall disclose any pre-existing physical or mental disorder and/or disability that could potentially affect or impair the worker's ability to perform in a reasonable and safe manner the activities involved in the position in which they work. Disclosure shall be made in the employment application or interview before commencing employment or before commencing new job duties after job reclassification, reassignment, promotion, demotion, or other change in job duties. The content of such disclosure shall be made promptly by the covered worker after submitting a claim for benefits under this Code."
SELECTION PROCESS:
Tribal Personnel Policies Manual, Section 3.01: Employment Preferences
The Tribe's employment preferences shall be as follows:
1. Indian Preference. lt shall be the policy of the Tribe to provide preference in hiring opportunities within the Tribal government to CTUIR members and to other Indians enrolled in federally recognized tribes. this CTUlR member and Indian preference shall be applicable ln all employee hiring, promotion, and transfer decisions.
2. Veteran's Preference. It shall be the policy of the Tribe to provide preference in hiring opportunities to veterans honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces.
3. The employment preferences set forth in this section shall apply to all Tribal programs regardless of the program's funding source and shall apply to all classes of positions referenced in $3.05.
4. Except for the employment preferences authorized under this section, it shall be the policy of the Tribe that no employee or job applicant shall be discriminated against in pursuit of employment or career growth due to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or national origin
All CTUIR Tribal positions are competitive. All employment applications and supportive employment material will be evaluated based on the relevance of the applicant's qualifications and experience as it applies to this position. Applicants who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualifications and experience most relevant to this position will be considered qualified to compete for this position and be eligible for an interview.
DRUG FREE WORKPLACE:
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation has a "Drug Free Workplace Policy" and will conduct Pre-Employment Drug Testing. A pre-employment drug test is required before any employment offer is to be made. All tribal employees classified as safety sensitive are subject to random Alcohol and Drug testing pursuant to the Tribal Personnel Policies Manual.
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Complete Tribal employment applications will be accepted until 4:00 P.M., on the posted closing date as found on Page 1 of this announcement or postmarked by that date. ONLY THOSE TRIBAL EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION PACKETS WHICH ARE COMPLETE, WITH ALL ADDITIONAL REQUIRED INFORMATION, AS FOUND IN THE "REQUIRED EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION PACKET MATERIAL" BELOW WILL BE CONSIDERED. Employment application packets received after the application deadline will not be considered.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide sufficient evidence to show they fully meet the qualification requirements.
REQUIRED EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION PACKET MATERIAL:
1. Completed Tribal Employment application (available at ctuir.org/career-opportunities/).
2. Cover letter explaining your qualifications and experience relevant to the functions of this position.
3. Personal resume identifying your qualifications and experiences relevant to the functions of this position.
4. Writing sample, minimum of 5 pages and no more than 10 pages. Suggested samples include Legal memos, client memos, motion briefs or articles.
5. List of professional references.
6. Completed CTUIR Supplemental Application Form.
7. Copy of official law school transcripts.
8. Tribal and Indian preference: If claiming eligibility for preference, must provide copy of Tribal Enrollment Card, Certificate of Indian Blood or such with Federally Recognized Tribe.
9. Veteran's preference: If claiming eligibility for preference, must provide proof of honorable service and discharge or completed Form DD214.
APPLICANT RESPONSIBILITY
It is the absolute responsibility of the applicant to provide sufficient evidence to show they fully meet the minimum qualification requirements. Applicants failing to meet the minimum qualifications are not granted interviews. If it is questionable as to whether an applicant meets the minimum qualifications, an interview may be granted solely to make that determination.
OBTAIN AND SUBMIT APPLICATION TO:
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Office of Human Resources
Staffing and Recruiting
46411 Timine Way
Pendleton, OR. 97801
Phone: (541)429-7180
Email: [email protected]
