Summary
The Senior Economic Development Specialist serves in a leadership capacity, providing high-level economic development expertise in support of the DEMD’s Business Development Team. This role is integral to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD) mission, which focuses on providing technical and economic advisory support to Indian mineral owners and Tribal communities to produce income and jobs. This position supports the economic development of American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native communities through the sustainable development of their renewable energy and mineral resources. The Senior Specialist will be responsible for complex financial analysis, project management, and providing day-to-day direction of technical work as required by individual work orders. A key function of this role will be the evaluation and administrative support of grant programs, such as the Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) grant program, including the review of grant applications from tribal organizations and monitoring assigned grants throughout their entire lifecycle. This position operates within a single-award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract valued at up to $46,000,000.00, providing a comprehensive range of technical services to Tribes.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
- Serves as a leadership position within the economic development functional area, providing day-to-day direction of technical work as required by specific Task Orders.
- Provides expert support to the DEMD Business Development Team, focusing on energy and mineral resource projects that stimulate economic growth in Indian Country.
- Performs analysis of grant budgets from tribal organizations and provides recommendations for allowable amounts; conducts program evaluations to determine grant efficacy and performs related policy analysis.
- Evaluates grant proposals from Tribal organizations, such as the Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) grant, assessing the viability of project proposals and alignment with program goals.
- Monitors assigned grants throughout their full lifecycle, from award to closeout. This includes performing project management duties, conducting site visits to grantees, and serving as a liaison between the funding agency and the grantee to ensure compliance and project success.
- Performs agency-wide public relations functions, including the development of marketing strategies and materials, website and social media content management, and creating public information for dissemination.
- Researches, analyzes, and applies economic development approaches to address specific challenges on reservations, such as lack of collateral, infrastructure, and entrepreneurial know-how.
- Supports the preparation and execution of conferences and industry trade shows to promote tribal resource information to potential industry partners and stimulate development interest.
- May perform supervisory responsibilities, reporting to the On-Site Lead and the IDIQ Program Manager.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Skills and Qualifications
- Analytical Skills: The ability to analyze tribal economic development decisions and complex project proposals to determine viability. Strong skills in financial analysis, including experience with discounted cash flow rate of return spreadsheets.
- Complex Problem Solving: Capable of researching and applying economic development policies to specific problems on reservations, including infrastructure, workforce, and financial challenges.
- Project Management: Ability to effectively manage and track grant-funded projects, create timelines and checklists, and ensure purposeful project completion.
- Communication & Marketing: Demonstrated skill in developing marketing strategies, creating promotional materials, and managing public relations functions. Ability to communicate effectively with Tribal leaders, government officials, and industry partners.
- Leadership and Direction: Ability to provide day-to-day direction of technical work to other team members as required by specific work orders.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Public Policy, or a closely related field; Master’s preferred (e.g., MBA, MPP, MPA, MS Finance).
- 6-8 years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, project finance, or investment/feasibility analysis for energy, minerals, infrastructure, or industrial development, ideally including work with Tribal governments or on trust lands.
- Demonstrated success building investment-grade business cases (market analysis, demand forecasting, operating models, sensitivity/scenario analysis) and presenting bankable pro formas to support go/no-go decisions.
- Significant experience leading feasibility studies (technical, economic, and land-use considerations), capital stack design (grants, loans, NMTC/HTC/LIHTC, SSBCI, tax incentives), and grant strategy (EDA, DOE, DOI/BIA, Treasury, state/local) from application through award, compliance, and closeout.
- Experience representing project owners enterprises in commercial negotiations (term sheets, PPAs/offtake, leases/rights-of-way, JV/operating agreements), including coordination with counsel and regulatory bodies.
- Track record of delivering executive-level presentations and advising senior stakeholders (Tribal leadership, boards, agency program managers, lenders/investors) with clear recommendations, risks, and mitigation strategies.
- Supervisory experience managing and developing analysts/consultants; setting workplans, overseeing day-to-day technical tasks, and conducting QA/QC on models, memos, and deliverables.
- Fluency with financial and data tools (advanced Excel/Google Sheets modeling, Power BI/Tableau dashboards; comfort interpreting GIS outputs to inform siting and market access).
- Working knowledge of regulatory and program contexts relevant to Tribal and rural development (e.g., NEPA touchpoints for schedule/cost, procurement basics, economic impact methodologies, federal grant compliance) preferred.
- Willingness to travel and engage respectfully with Tribal communities; commitment to cultural competency and the Federal trust responsibility context.
Supervisory Responsibility
This position may be expected to perform supervisory responsibilities, reporting to the On-Site Lead and Project Manager.
Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers. Work will primarily be performed at the DEMD facility in Lakewood, Colorado, with options for authorized remote work.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time position. Normal business hours align with DEMD’s core hours of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Evening and weekend work may occasionally be required to meet project demands.
Travel Requirements
Travel is required to provide support at government or Tribal sites, attend meetings, conduct grant site visits, and represent DEMD at conferences. All travel must be pre-approved by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and will be reimbursed in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations (FTR).
Clearance/License Requirements
- A Public Trust clearance is required for this position. A minimum background investigation (NACI) is required for access to DOI facilities and information systems.
- Must maintain a valid Driver’s License and be insurable under the company insurance program.
Our Values: Native American Owned & Proud | Accountable | Team Focused | Innovative | Visionary | Excellence
AAP/EEO Statement Ho-Chunk, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered without regard to age, sex, race, national origin, religion, marital status or physical disability. However, preference may be extended to persons of Indian descent in accordance with applicable laws.
