Location: Bozeman, MT (other western MT locations may be considered)

Application Deadline: Please submit resume & cover letter by September 25th (https://www.wilderness.org/careers-internships)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Montana State Director is a member of The Wilderness Society’s (TWS) Conservation program team who plays a leading role in advancing the organization’s mission to unite people to protect America’s wild places and our vision to create a future where people and wild nature flourish together, meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing planet. The State Director will help develop and support major aspects of the organization’s work in Montana, including assisting TWS’s national campaign or policy priorities tied to our collective impact results.

The person in this role will be central to partner and philanthropic relationships in the state, support TWS’ landscape conservation work in close partnership with relevant landscape directors and teams, as well as help advance community-led conservation to ensure all people in the state benefit equitably from public lands. In addition to directly managing relevant staff, the State Director also provides support, strategic guidance, and direction to additional staff outside of the state office who contribute to our work. The State Director plays a critical role in cultivating and managing relationships with a wide range of partners, supporters, and the press, as well as with federal, state, and tribal officials and their staffs to advance conservation outcomes and other shared goals developed with partners.

The ideal candidate for this position is an experienced leader and strong project manager who works collaboratively and will ensure The Wilderness Society’s Montana conservation work is well integrated across all parts of the organization. This person will bring strategic focus in helping to achieve the organization’s priorities in Montana and ensure we approach our conservation work in a manner that is equitable in terms of who benefits from conservation outcomes and inclusive in terms of the partners we engage.

The Montana State Director plays a critical role in establishing and reinforcing an inclusive organizational culture that is grounded in trust and accountability to shared goals and outcomes. TWS has made diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic priorities for the organization. This leader will integrate these priorities throughout our work in the state, from expanding our partnerships to bringing an equity lens to facets of the job. Across our team, we aspire to be campaign -oriented, nimble, collaborative, innovative, transparent, solution-oriented, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Develop and execute strategic program priorities for the state in furtherance of TWS’ overarching goals and vision.

· Oversee and/or support implementation of appropriate projects or campaigns in Montana, striving to position TWS as a trusted collaborator with partners and decision makers. This includes leading any state-based campaigns that are not within or focused on a priority landscape, as well as supporting state-based tactics to advance TWS national campaigns.

· Perform government relations duties concerning outreach and engagement of agency, local elected, tribal, and federal delegation contacts connected to Montana.

· Manage select conservation staff and provide support to multi-disciplinary teams of TWS staff contributing to our Crown of the Continent and Greater Yellowstone—High Divide landscape work.

· Ensure TWS’ commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is part of all of our work in the state, including having equity embedded into the development and implementation of our in-state goals. This includes early and effective engagement with Montana’s Native American tribes and when possible, elevating other communities that have been historically marginalized.

· Steward existing relationships and further build a network to educate and influence Montana decision makers, media outlets, and opinion leaders on TWS’ state and national conservation priorities.

· Help secure major gifts from philanthropic foundations and major donors in close coordination with Philanthropy staff. Support Philanthropy and relevant Landscape Directors in developing key funder relationships that advance the fundraising strategy developed for the state and/or larger landscapes.

· Ensure program plans effectively incorporate national and Montana perspectives and insights, with effective coordination between staff in Montana and elsewhere in the organization.

· Interact with and inform senior management on Montana-specific issues.

· Act as a spokesperson for the organization with the media and other audiences.

· Perform other related duties as required, potentially including support of TWS administrative needs in the state (office space, coordination with IT, support staff, etc).

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience, Competencies, and Education

• At least 8 years of experience working on or leading issue advocacy or political campaigns and/or work to advance public policy changes at the local, state or federal level.
• An effective leader, capable of meaningful engagement with a wide range of diverse audiences, including industry (ranching, timber, mining, etc).
• Commitment to supporting others in accomplishing our goals in an equitable and inclusive manner. Proven cultural competency working with communities of color, particularly Native American, is preferred.
• Solid communication and interpersonal skills that can be applied to complex conservation issues, partnerships and coalitions.
• Strong staff management experience and competency in cross-organizational collaboration.
• Experience leading and managing teams representing a rich mix of talent, backgrounds, and perspectives. This includes a track record of successful recruitment, cultivation, and retention of highly skilled staff and the ability to manage a complex array of personnel, programmatic, and organizational demands.
• Experience building and maintaining strong relationships and networks among key stakeholders, government officials, donors, and partner organizations.
• Strategic thinking and demonstrated ability to craft a compelling vision and set goals and priorities.
• Good time management skills, with the ability to aptly balance short- and long-term demands.
• Strong writing skills and the ability to speak effectively in public, with donors, partners, elected officials, and the media.

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. 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 occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, or handle; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 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 not exposed to adverse weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of this position and it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of experience, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

The Wilderness Society offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; sick and vacation leave; a sabbatical program; paid maternal & parental leave and a retirement plan. TWS is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair treatment of our employees and constituents across culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

TWS has instituted a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all staff reporting to a TWS office or engaging in in-person work meetings. There is an exception to the vaccine mandate for any staff who have an objection because of a medical or religious reason. We will do our best to devise reasonable accommodation that respects your objection while balancing the competing demands of your specific position.

As an organization, we aspire to be inclusive in the work that we do, and in the kind of organization we are. Internally, this means working as a team that listens to different points of view, recognizes the contributions of every employee and empowers each employee to bring their whole selves to work every day. Externally, this means ensuring that public lands are inclusive and welcoming, so that our shared wildlands can help people and nature to thrive. We are committed to equity throughout our work, which we define as our commitment to realizing the promise of our public lands and ensuring that all can share in their universal benefits.

To learn more about our commitment, please see http://wilderness.org/our-commitment-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-wilderness-society