Federal Policy Director

About Wild Montana and Wild Montana Action Fund:

Wild Montana has consistently been listed on Outside Magazine’s list of the “50 Best Places to Work.” We take pride in a strong culture, which includes competitive benefits, flexibility, trust, work-life balance, and fun. 

Wild Montana unites and mobilizes communities to keep Montana wild. We work across the state and beyond to secure a future where people and wildlife flourish because public lands and waters are wild and connected, and all communities can enjoy the quality of life these lands and waters provide. Our work safeguards wildlands, secures wildlife habitat and migration corridors, and keeps headwaters and streams running cold, clear, and connected. 

Wild Montana Action Fund (the Action Fund) builds the political power necessary to protect and conserve public lands and wild places across the state by elevating the voices of Montanans who cherish our outdoor way of life.

Summary of Position:

The federal policy director is an energetic leader who drives federal land administrative policy campaigns across their assigned issue areas. They synthesize information in policy, politics, and public opinion to guide campaigns and programs that unite and mobilize communities to keep Montana wild. They work with a wide range of coalitions, elected officials, partner organizations, members and supporters, and the general public.

The federal policy director develops and oversees strategy and campaigns for agency planning processes and projects as well as administrative rulemaking related to the organization’s objectives. They direct our engagement with agency staff and partners in their issue areas and contribute to the development of organizational positions that affect public land. The federal policy director also supports and leads other federal policy campaigns as needed. 

This position provides strategic, supportive leadership to an experienced staff by contributing to a cohesive, positive team approach and leading by example. The federal policy director is expected to facilitate learning and problem-solving. They work with the deputy director,  senior program director, and communications director to guide the activities of other program staff in relation to the campaigns that they lead.  They also build and maintain effective relationships with other program directors, operations, communications, and development staff.  

This position’s duties and responsibilities support both Wild Montana and the Wild Montana Action Fund (Action Fund). 

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide strategic leadership for Wild Montana’s campaigns, planning processes, and projects on federal, public land by drafting substantive comments, engaging collaboratively with partners and agency staff in priority landscapes, and developing engagement strategies to build support for the organization’s goals.
• Track, evaluate, and respond to federal agency projects, as appropriate.
• Monitor and engage in land management plan implementation, as needed.
• Design and manage the development,  implementation, and evaluation of campaign and program strategy and plans, including coordinating staff, consultants, and volunteers.
• Support legislative priorities with policy expertise at the state and federal levels.
• In coordination with other staff, develop and maintain strategic relationships with, key agency staff, partner organizations, coalition members, and community leaders necessary for achieving campaign goals and objectives.
• Serve as a spokesperson for Wild Montana and the Action Fund when appropriate.
• Work with the communication staff to ensure communication goals are being achieved.
• Assist development staff in identifying and communicating campaign-related work to donors and foundations.
• Maintain steady communication with program staff, including regularly scheduled phone calls and face-to-face meetings in the respective regions where staff members are located.
• Work with the deputy director and other staff in the development of program budgets and manage and track expenses, as appropriate.
• Support the board of directors, as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proven ability to perform the major duties and responsibilities above.
• Demonstrated experience in successful environmental advocacy, public policy, and public lands issues.
• Ability to research and maintain a working knowledge of local, state and national public land issues.
• Ability to work collaboratively with conservation and community partners.
• Ability to effectively work with a diverse range of people and groups.
• Ability to draft written materials that advance the mission, including policy papers, fact sheets, news releases, alerts, and articles.
• Ability to develop and manage program budgets.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.

REQUIREMENTS:    

• Ability and willingness to travel up to 15% of the time, as well as the willingness to work nights and weekends as needed.
• Valid United States driver’s license and insurable.