Position Description
August 24, 2024
PD_DOI_Special-Trustee-for-American-Indians
Position Description
SPECIAL TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN INDIANS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Overview
Senate Committee
Indian Affairs
Agency Mission
The Department of the Interior protects and manages the nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives and affiliated island communities.1 Partnership for Public Service position description
Position Overview
The special trustee for American Indians provides oversight, reform and coordination of the policies, procedures, systems and practices agencies use to manage Indian trust assets.2 https://www.doi.gov/ost/about_us/history
Compensation
Level II $179,700 (5 U.S.C. § 5313)3 The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.
Position Reports to
Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Interior4 Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgChart.asp?curp=1&LDIBookId=19&LDISectio
Id=180&LDIOrgId=157395
Responsibilities
Management Scope
In fiscal 2015, the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians had a budget of $139 million and 576 employees.5 Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=157395&LDISecId=180&FromRecent=0&Save=1&Position=-1#O157395
Primary Responsibilities
® Provides effective management of, and is accountable for, the proper discharge of the secretary’s trust fund responsibilities to Indian tribes and individual Indians as delineated under the American Indian Trust Reform Act of 1994
® Oversees reforms of all practices related to managing and discharging Indian fiduciary trust fund responsibilities, which consist of trust fund management operations nationwide and the major Department of the Interior fiduciary trust reform effort6 OPM
Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration]Requirements and Competencies
Requirements
® Demonstrated ability in general management of large governmental or business entities, and particular knowledge of trust fund management, management of financial institutions and the investment of large sums of money (25 U.S.C. § 4042)
® Strong relationships with relevant stakeholders or ability to form them
® Knowledge of tribal issues and relationship to Native American country
® Prior government experience, either from Capitol Hill or a similar state function (helpful)
Competencies
® Strong communication skills to communicate well within the department, across different agencies and with external stakeholders
® Political savvy and sensitivity
® Willingness to travel
Past Appointees
Vincent G. Logan (2014 to 2017): Owner and President , The Nations Group, LLC; Merrill Lynch Private Banking and Investment Group; Schulte Roth & Zabel, New7 https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/2014%2007%2010%20NEWS%20RELEASE%20-%20Vincent%20Logan%20Assumes%20Office%20as%20Special%20Trustee.pdf
Ross Owen Swimmer (2003 to 2009): Director of the Office of Indian Trust Transition in the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Indian Affairs8 Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/PeopleDocument.asp?Perso
Id=-1&LDIPeopleId=471265&Save=1
Thomas N. Slonaker (2000 to 2003): Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Wells Fargo9 https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/news/thomas-slonaker-nominee-as-special-trustee/
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