Summary

Reporting directly to the Board of Gaming Commissioners, the Executive Director serves as the chief administrative and regulatory officer of the Tribal Gaming Commission. The position directs the Commission’s licensing, compliance, investigative, audit, and administrative functions; promotes regulatory independence and integrity; safeguards Tribal gaming assets; and supports compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), the Tribal-State Gaming Compact, National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) regulations and Minimum Internal Control Standards (MICS), Tribal Gaming Ordinances, Commission regulations, System of Internal Control Standards (SICS), and other applicable federal, state, and Tribal requirements. This position is responsible for directing and overseeing all Gaming Commission operations activities and initiatives. In addition, you are the HEART of our Five-Star Experience, embodying our Service Promise: We are the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians Team, where your experience is our top priority. Every person and detail matters. As leaders, you are responsible for delivering our Five-Star Experience through our Mission Statement, Service Promise, and department service standards. This includes consistently performing our service expectations with HEART. Hello, Engage, Anticipate, Respond, Thank.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to perform this job successfully. Upon request, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Provide outstanding customer service to guests and all other employees by exceeding our mission statement.
• Lead by example and carry out our HEART Experience to Guests and all Team Members by fulfilling our Mission Statement, Service Promise and following department service standards. This entails consistency performing our service expectations of: Hello, Engage, Anticipate, Respond, Thank.
• Continually coach and support Team Members to ensure they have the skills, tools and resources to successfully complete their jobs, including the delivering of the HEART Experience expectations.
• Direct the day-to-day administrative and regulatory operations of the Tribal Gaming Commission and establish priorities consistent with Commission direction and applicable law.
• Oversee licensing, background investigations, regulatory inspections, compliance reviews, internal audit, surveillance oversight, and vendor and employee regulatory compliance within the Commission’s authority.
• Provide objective, timely, and well-supported reports, recommendations, and regulatory guidance to the Board of Gaming Commissioners; implement Board directives and maintain escalation protocols for significant regulatory matters.
• Serve as the primary regulatory liaison with the NIGC, the California Department of Justice Bureau of Gambling Control, and other appropriate federal, state, Tribal, and local agencies.
• Recommend, develop, implement, and periodically review Commission regulations, policies, procedures, ordinances, and internal control standards to address legal requirements, risk, and evolving industry practices.
• Direct fair, thorough, and well-documented investigations into potential regulatory violations, patron disputes, licensing concerns, or compliance breaches; prepare reports and recommendations for hearings or other Commission action.
• Direct or coordinate financial, operational, information technology, cybersecurity, and regulatory audits and risk assessments to safeguard Tribal assets, deter fraud, and preserve confidence in regulated gaming operations.
• Ensure the secure handling, retention, and lawful disclosure of sensitive licensing, investigative, audit, surveillance, and regulatory records; protect confidential and privileged information.
• Model impartiality, integrity, accountability, and sound ethical judgment; identify and address actual or potential conflicts of interest and preserve the Commission’s independent regulatory role.
• Coordinate the Commission’s regulatory response to material incidents, control failures, suspected fraud, cybersecurity events, and other matters requiring prompt notification, investigation, or corrective action.
• Develop and administer the departmental operating budget; monitor expenditures, staffing, contracts, and resources; and provide accurate and timely reporting to the Board.
• Maintain a current working knowledge of IGRA, NIGC requirements, the Tribal-State Gaming Compact, Tribal ordinances, internal control standards, anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act requirements, and applicable regulatory developments.
• Interpret complex laws, regulations, compacts, ordinances, internal controls, audit findings, and investigative information and translate them into clear and defensible regulatory action.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Commissioners, Tribal leadership, legal counsel, regulators, law enforcement, gaming operations leadership, vendors, and Commission staff while maintaining appropriate regulatory boundaries.
• Develop, maintain, and nurture a professional work environment that supports accountability, collaboration, confidentiality, and continuous improvement.
• Plan for adequate staffing levels by selecting, training, developing, assigning, evaluating, and supporting Commission Team Members.
• Mentor, coach, and prepare succession planning to encourage Team Members seeking advancement to acquire the education, experience, and personal characteristics necessary to progress toward their goals.
• Ensure a high degree of accuracy, completeness, confidentiality, and timeliness of departmental records, reports, hearing materials, and regulatory submissions.
• Facilitate the flow of information by organizing and presiding over regularly scheduled Commission staff and operational meetings, as appropriate.
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned from time to time consistent with the Commission’s authority and the position’s responsibilities.
• Maintain excellent communications with all Directors and Managers.
• Develops and implements approved departmental policies and procedures.
• Responsible for all necessary record keeping.
• Comprehensive understanding of forecasting, budgeting, scheduling, productivity, inventory controls (if applicable), P&L analysis, and cost controls.
• Ensure the budget for the department is monitored and adhered to by implementing effective processes and procedures.
• Prepare necessary data for the budget in area of responsibility; project annual costs and monitor actual results; take corrective action where necessary.
• Keep abreast of competitive changes including industry trends and local competitive set.
• Develop, maintain and nurture a positive work environment.
• Responsible for maintaining a disciplined environment and implement practices that promote safety, quality and productivity.
• Coordinate and supervise training, assignments, and development of subordinates.
• Ensure compliance with all Minimum Internal Control Standards (MICS) as well as all Tribal Internal Control Standards (TICS).
• Present a positive image of the Tribal organization to its guests and vendors and to assist them as required.
• Must follow all safety policies and procedures and attend all scheduled safety meetings and training as a condition of employment.
• Able to make difficult decision in a fair and honest manner.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, development, and evaluation of Tribal Gaming Commission staff and functions, directly and through subordinate leaders. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with Commission policies, Tribal organizational policies, and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, selecting, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; evaluating performance; recognizing and disciplining employees; addressing complaints; resolving problems; and supporting succession planning and professional development.

Qualifications

Education And Experience (Must Be Documented)

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Gaming Management, Law, or a related field required; master’s degree or Juris Doctor preferred.
• An equivalent combination of relevant education, specialized training, and progressively responsible experience may be accepted in lieu of the degree requirement when the combination demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in gaming regulation, compliance, law enforcement, auditing, investigations, or gaming operations management.
• Minimum of five (5) years of executive-level leadership experience, including responsibility for organizational strategy, personnel, budgets, complex decision-making, and executive or governing-board reporting.
• Senior executive or leadership experience within a Tribal Gaming Commission or comparable gaming regulatory agency preferred.
• Direct experience applying NIGC regulations and standards and a California Tribal-State Gaming Compact strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting a governing or regulatory board, including formal hearings, administrative records, and implementation of board actions, preferred.
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), or another relevant professional certification preferred.

Certification, Licenses And Any Additional Requirements

• Must pass periodic random drug screens. 
• Must be able to pass background suitability investigation.
• Must obtain a Tribal Gaming License.
• Must obtain all other applicable certifications and licenses.
• Must provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States within 72 hours of employment.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Upon request, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and sit. The employee is occasionally required to use upper extremities, including but not limited to, hands and fingers to handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms. They may be occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, bend, push, pull, twist, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds and/or push, pull up to 50 pounds. The employee is occasionally required use repetitive movements to complete tasks. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Employee may be occasionally required to work in low light conditions, and may be exposed to loud noise for extended periods. 

Work Environment 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Multiple locations.
• Some enterprises are open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week; therefore, you must be flexible to work any and all hours.
• Must be available for emergency calls 24/7. 
• Must be available to work weekend and holidays.
• Some enterprises are gaming facilities.
• Some enterprises are not a smoke-free environment.
• Surveillance cameras and audio equipment monitor the premises recording activity throughout most of the facilities on 24 hours per day, 7 days per week basis.

Indian Preference Act

The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians has a resolution on file with Human Resources to ensure that Indian Preference will be adhered to in the following order in accordance with IPA:

                                         1.  Tribal Members

                                         2.  Other Native Americans

                                         3.  All other ethnic groups