Tulane University Tribal and Indigenous Coordination Fellow

This position is part of the NOAA Coastal Resilience Fellowship Program, supporting the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (CRRC) projects. The fellow will support the project: Southwest Louisiana and Central Acadiana Resilient Future.

Host Organization: Tulane University
Location of Position: Lafayette, Louisiana, or another location within the project region
Duration of Position: Two years
Annual Salary: $42,000
Benefits: Medical insurance, 11 paid federal holidays per year, 15 paid personal days per year, professional development training, travel funding, relocation allowance

Work Environment:

The fellow’s responsibilities will include outreach, engagement, and other activities in varied work environments throughout the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge project region. The fellow may work in an office-based setting at one of the project partners locations, such as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and remotely at a home office within the project region. The fellow will have access to a laptop computer and other office resources for the project.

Fellowship Position Description:

The overall focus of the fellowship is to support Indigenous participation in the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge project. Mentors will work with the fellow to define detailed strategies and tasks associated with this role, which will evolve over the course of the fellowship.  Specific tasks may include contacting, coordinating with, presenting to, and developing informational materials for Tribal and Indigenous staff, leadership, knowledge holders, and other community members; supporting the development of agreements between the project team and Tribes and Indigenous communities and organizations regarding the project; compiling existing tribal and Indigenous information and developing new information within the framework of those agreements; and other tasks relevant to tribal and Indigenous needs for this project that support the establishment of trusting relationships. The fellow may also work with the Community and Governance committees for the project (see the CRRC project description). The mentors and fellow will determine specific products and services based on tribal and Indigenous community and organization needs over the course of the fellowship.  

The fellow will complete a summary of tribal and Indigenous participation in the climate resilience project, describing the details of the process, challenges, successes, and any lessons learned, with attachments that are appropriate within the framework of Tribal and Indigenous agreements, as a final product for the fellowship.

Anticipated Travel:

Fellows are required to attend the peer-to-peer sharing event in 2027. Fellows may use their travel funds to attend meetings with Tribes and Indigenous communities and organizations in the project area and for other project-related meetings and events. The fellow may also use their travel funds to travel locally and regionally for professional development opportunities and to attend knowledge sharing and networking events. 

Qualifications:

Required qualifications include direct experience in Tribal or Indigenous communities, which may include lived experience as a Tribal member or Indigenous person or previous employment or direct project work for a Tribe or Indigenous community or organization. Strong communication skills are also required. 

Desired qualifications include having strong local or regional connections to Southwest Louisiana and Central Acadiana, especially traditional, local, or applied knowledge about places and systems within the region; prior experience with outreach and engagement; writing, graphic design, and research skills; and organization and time management skills. Holding an associate’s or bachelor’s degree is another desired qualification.

Tribal members and Indigenous persons from the region are strongly encouraged to apply.

Fellow Mentoring:

The fellow’s primary mentor will be Dr. Simone Domingue, research assistant professor at the ByWater Institute at Tulane University. Dr. Domingue is the overall Climate Resilience Regional Challenge project lead and is a connective thread between the various project partners. She will be a main point of contact for the fellow and will ensure the fellow receives the resources and support needed to accomplish the project goals as well as the fellow’s individual and professional goals. Dr. Domingue will establish a mentoring plan and set of guidelines and expectations with the fellow upon the start of the fellowship. 

Dr. Sharon Hausam, climate adaptation planner and research scientist at South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center at the University of Oklahoma, will be the other main point of contact for the fellow. Dr. Hausam is a Climate Resilience Regional Challenge project co-lead with extensive experience working for Tribal governments and will help guide the fellow’s efforts with Tribal and Indigenous communities and organizations.

To apply, please upload the following materials in one PDF file:

• Resume (two-page limit)
• Statement of interest, where the candidate describes what they hope to gain from the fellowship experience and what they can contribute. Candidates should also highlight any connections to or special interests in the region, including Indigenous or local knowledge and relevant life experiences (500-word limit)
• Unofficial academic transcripts to show coursework (or joint services transcript for veterans)
• Two professional or academic references (names and contact information)