Manager, US Tribal Relations

Determined, imaginative, curious—if these are some of the ways you describe yourself, we want to learn more about you!

At TC Energy, we are proud to connect the world to the energy it needs.

Guided by our values of safety in every step, personal accountability, one team and active learning, we deliver the critical energy that North America and the world rely on while balancing reliability, affordability and sustainability.

The Opportunity

Our US Tribal Relations team is evolving to meet the needs of our growing business. We are looking for the right candidate to support implementation of the TC Energy Tribal Relations Program, Indigenous Relations Policy, and Indigenous Relations Strategy which guide effective engagement with tribals groups to support access to land and project development.

We are seeking a highly collaborative Manager for our US Tribal Relations team who has experience leading efforts to establish and maintain relationships with tribal groups and knowledge of pipeline infrastructure and associated regulations. We are looking for candidates with a strong understanding of tribal operations, culture, and economic goals.

Reporting to the US External Relations Team, you will work with various internal stakeholder groups, such as Regulatory, Environment, Land, Legal, Business Development, Facilities Management, and Operations and Maintenance to ensure TC Energy meets regulatory and permitting requirements related to engagement for proposed and existing assets, and to enhance our relationships and reputation. The successful candidate will be required travel to visit tribals groups or organizations and/or to facilitate their participation in TC Energy events or visits to TC Energy assets.

Please note this role could be located in Chicago, Washington DC, Michigan, Minnesota, Virginia or Wisconsin.

What You’ll Do

- Provide strategic guidance and oversight to Tribal Relations team members, management, project management teams, and operations and maintenance teams about tribal relations relating to risk mitigation and relationship enhancement measures

- Serve as financial and administrative lead for the US Tribal Relations team including management of advisor(s) and team budget

- Develop and implement project engagement plans in alignment with TC Energy’s Indigenous Relations Policy and Tribal Relations Strategy

- Identify local tribal community/business capacity and inform tribal communities about TC Energy’s approach to contracting and employment (e.g., vendor registration, RFP requirements, etc.)

- Negotiate and implement agreements with tribal communities (i.e., Relationship Agreements, consultation capacity funding agreements, traditional knowledge protocol agreements)

- Prepare and deliver notifications, presentations, and briefings to tribal groups related to TC Energy capital projects, operations and maintenance activities, and other initiatives

- Organize and attend site visits (such as facility tours), and participate in community events (e.g., open houses, cultural events, career fairs, etc.)

- Support internal stakeholders, such as regulatory and environment, working with tribal communities to develop mitigation measures to support project development

- Promote damage prevention by sharing relevant materials with tribal communities

- Facilitate tribal participation in emergency preparedness and response planning sessions

- Support development of TC Energy’s federal and state permitting applications and participate in regulatory hearings

- Facilitate compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements and approval conditions

- Support community investment and education and training opportunities which are aligned with TC Energy’s Corporate Community Investment program guidelines and participate in program funding decision-making

- Document interactions with tribal groups and external stakeholders to ensure accurate evidentiary records of engagement are maintained to support regulatory filings and ongoing relationship building

- Prepare and deliver internal presentations, briefings, and updates

- Participate in industry and Indigenous forums, as required, to enhance the sharing of best practices

- Monitor, analyze and communicate emerging issues, risks, and opportunities, including legislative, regulatory, and legal case developments that could have a material impact on TC Energy’s lines of business

- Support continuous improvement of the US Tribal Relations Team

- Other duties as required

Minimum Qualifications

- Post-secondary education, a degree or a diploma from a recognized institution is required

- A minimum of 10 years of experience in Tribal Relations, Environment, Archaeology, Social Sciences, Law, Community Development, Journalism, Stakeholder Engagement, Land, or Government Relations

- An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered

- Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license

- Knowledge of the federal and state regulatory processes and consultation guidelines where they exist

- Experience engaging with Indigenous groups and working with representatives and community members to resolve complex and often contentious issues

- Proven ability to work with Indigenous groups to identify opportunities to support capacity building

- Superior communication skills with the ability to present to a variety of audiences

- Excellent conflict resolution and facilitation skills

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience engaging with Indigenous Groups across the United States working with representatives and community members to resolve complex and often contentious issues

- Strong business acumen within the energy industry, especially previous experience in the mid-stream sector is considered a valued asset

- Previous work experience with NEPA Section 106 Consultation

- Understanding of Bureau of Indian Affairs operations and relevant processes related to the energy industry

- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong respectful relationships with a variety of groups, from the grassroots to senior levels, both internally and externally

- Ability to be a team player and work independently to achieve project-driven deliverables in a continuously evolving context

- Excellent problem-solving abilities and the ability to find creative solutions to complex problems

This position requires candidates to:

- Have current, valid authorization to travel internationally (including but not limited to Canada, US and Mexico)

- Have and maintain a valid driver's license and provide a driver's abstract (record) for review

- Travel to other company locations for temporary assignments, meetings or training (estimated up to 50% of work schedule)

- Successfully complete pre-employment background checks

About Our Business

We are a leader in North American energy infrastructure, spanning Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Every day, our dedicated team proudly connects the world to the energy it needs—moving over 30 per cent of the cleaner-burning natural gas used across the continent. Complemented by strategic ownership and low-risk investments in power generation, our infrastructure fuels industries and generates affordable, reliable and sustainable power across North America, while enabling LNG exports to global markets.

TC Energy is an equal opportunity employer and participates in the E-Verify program supervised by the US government. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or disability. We are also committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment process. Applicants requiring accommodations or accessible formats are encouraged to contact us at careers@tcenergy.com for support.

All applicants must have legal authorization to work in the country where the position is based, without restrictions. Background screening is required for all positions, which may include criminal and/or credit checks. Offers may be extended at a different level or job title that best aligns with the successful candidate's qualifications.

Learn more

Visit us at TCEnergy.com and connect with us on our social medial channels for our latest news, employee stories, community activities, and other updates.

Thank you for considering TC Energy in your career journey.