Job opportunities:  Montana Wilderness Association has paid staff and working around the state in a variety of capacities.  Our staff works hard to listen and bring people together around solutions that result in the protection of Montana's special wild places.  Please check here regularly to see if one of our jobs might be the perfect fit for your talents.  You can also check out our volunteer opportunities at volunteer.  Currently, we have the following positions available:

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Title: Executive Director

Location: Helena

The Opportunity: Executive Director

 "A day in the life of an executive director is filled with fundraising, board tending, and 'fire‘ extinguishing. Meanwhile, staff members work long hours in barebones facilities. These are stereotypes, sure, but like most stereotypes, they contain a kernel of truth. Leaders and employees of nonprofit organizations are constantly being pulled in different directions to serve multiple constituencies."

- Jeffery Bradach, Thomas Tierney and Nan Stone, "Delivering on the Promise of Nonprofits"

 The next Executive Director of MWA will have an opportunity to take the helm of a vibrant and respected organization and lead it to the next level.  The Executive Director for MWA is an individual who has that unique skill of respecting the past while shaping a vital future. We seek an individual with proven leadership skills who can continue to grow and strengthen the organization.   The new ED will lead a collaborative, high functioning team in fulfilling MWA's mission. In our conversations with both Council and Staff one message came through loud and clear-Leadership. Leadership in this case is an individual who recognizes the incredible assets of both the Staff and Council and who can inspire both groups to deliver their very best on behalf of the Association to ensure the preservation of Montana's pristine public wildlands.

 The successful candidate must be a team leader and have experience managing and mentoring a staff of similar size.  It is imperative that this person have financial management skills required to manage a budget north of $1M.  The next Executive Director of MWA will possess excellent communication skills, fundraising acumen, and personnel management experience. Familiarity with policy issues, the ability to conduct all aspects of a growing business, knowledge of non-profits, team-building expertise, flexibility, a willingness to work long hours, and a dedication to the mission are clear requirements for this position. To succeed in challenging economic times, MWA must continue to strengthen relationships with current members, major donors, and funding partners. Currently MWA's funding partners include the Campaign for America's Wilderness, the Campion Foundation, Wilburforce Foundation, the Wyss Foundation, the Brainerd Foundation, and many others. The next Executive Director will be as comfortable in a major donor/foundation development conversation as they are in the backcountry of Montana's wild places.

 This person must have a deep love of wild places and a strong desire to share the benefits of that sentiment with the citizens of Montana. We seek a passionate individual who can embody and effectively communicate the importance of the organization's work to a broad community of stakeholders, future partners, and the citizens of Montana. Strategic insight and pragmatic wisdom are two key elements to any successful executive director. MWA is active on many fronts and the ability to see and hold the big picture will be critical skills needed from the next leader of this remarkable organization.

 The Executive Director reports to the Council President, currently Daphne Herling, and the Executive Committee. The ED must be comfortable taking policy direction from and working with a group with diverse backgrounds and concerns. This is an active board and the ED must foster a strong working relationship with Council Members. The ED provides essential input to the Council as a catalyst for new ideas and ways in which the organization can achieve its mission and ultimately fulfill its obligation to its members and the wilderness community. Below is an outline of the day to day responsibilities for the Executive Director:

 Leadership

 · Provide inspiration to and ensure consistent communication with membership

· Lead with creativity and provide progressive thinking while identifying the right opportunities and working towards wilderness designation throughout the state.

· Ensure organization strategies are consistent with, and directed to, accomplishing MWA's mission and goals, and provide leadership in developing those strategies.

· Oversee and direct preparation of an annual business plan, which includes individual workplans developed by the staff, to achieve progress towards the long-term Strategic Plan developed and maintained by the State Council.

·Develop and maintain positive working relationships with Montana's federal representatives and state political, conservation, business and cultural leaders.

·Provide direction and guidance in development of: organizational structure, programs, communications, financial plans, and policies.

·Provide guidance on litigation decisions.

·Serve as MWA's spokesperson to agencies, organizations and other key constituencies.

·Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the field.

·In partnership with the development team and the Development Committee, create a long-term fundraising plan.

·Maintain a portfolio of major donor prospects.  Lead and participate in face-to-face solicitation meetings.

·Manage and develop existing and future foundation collaborations.

·Ensure organization compliance with all legal and ethical regulations, policies and mandates.

Staff Development & Management

 ·Maintain a climate which attracts keeps, develops and motivates a diverse staff of top quality people.

·Conduct hiring, management of MWA staff.

·Oversee and provide general direction on personnel and administrative management.

·Oversee and provide general direction on personnel work plans.

·Identify and ensure training of, and assistance to, staff in areas relevant to their positions.

·Monitor staff performance through individual and/or group meetings and evaluate performance through regular reviews, including two performance reviews in the first year of employment for probationary staff, and an annual performance review for other staff.

 State Council Support

·Provide consistent, timely and relevant organization information to the State

Council through regular communication with the State Council President, including progress reports on work towards MWA's goals.

· Attend all meetings of the State Council, serve as the focal point for staff reporting and communication at the Council meetings, and ensure appropriate staff representation at State Council Committee meetings.

·Provide support of strategic planning efforts as guided by the State Council.

·Ensure provision of administrative support for effective State Council function.

Financial Reporting & Management

 ·Prepare MWA's annual operating budget, and any changes thereto throughout the year, all for approval by the State Council.

·Monitor funds and investments to ensure that adequate funds are available to permit the organization to carry out its work.

· Prepare reports as needed on status and effectiveness of organization activities, including actual results against budget.

·Ensure financial reporting system provides timely and accurate information.

·Safeguard MWA assets from misuse and misappropriation.

Compensation

The ED will be compensated with a base salary commensurate with experience and expertise and will participate in the MWA benefits plan.

Download this job description as a PDF 

 For additional information, please contact Adam Forest or Deanna Lloyd at:

The Forest Group

6181 Clark Mountain Road Lotus, CA 95651

(530) 344-0100 ph  (530) 344-0104 fax

Turn on JavaScript! / Turn on JavaScript!

All inquires will be held in the strictest confidence/The Forest Group works only with Equal Opportunity Employers

 

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Title:  Development Director

Supervisor:  Executive Director
Location:  Helena

 SUMMARY OF POSITION:

 The Development Director is the team leader for the development staff providing leadership and coordination for development activities and developing a five-year comprehensive development plan with strategic goals that tie to MWA's strategic priorities.  The position also acts as the Major Gifts Officer responsible for the identification, cultivation, stewardship and solicitation of contributions from major donors and major donor prospects. The Development Director develops and implements, on a continuing basis consistent with the fundraising goals of MWA, fundraising strategies to secure major gifts from existing MWA members and donors and others interested in MWA, develops an annual case for support, manages appeals and patron updates, oversees donor appreciation and fundraising events, and develops an annual work plan. The position staffs MWA's Development Committee.

 MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 1. Act as Team Leader for the Development Staff

·With direction from Executive Director provide leadership to motivate and inspire development staff to use creativity, talents and skills to create a five-year development plan with strategic short and long-term development goals that tie to MWA's strategic priorities.  Create an environment where team members can identify improvements in development work.

·Determine resources required to meet goals.  Prepare revenue and expense projections.

·Staff Executive Director in fundraising activities.

·Develop yearly action plan with detailed calendar of activities that defines how position will achieve its strategic priorities.

·Coordinate development team members' activities with direction from Executive Director ensuring coordination of foundation, membership and donor activities to meet development plan objectives.

·Facilitate problem solving and collaboration and ensure cooperation among team members.

·Keep Executive Director informed of status of team in relation to the development plan, accomplishments and issues and provide guidance to team based on management direction.

·Develop measurement and evaluation systems to judge progress toward achieving goals and effectiveness of activities.

·Meet and/or exceed budget expectations.

·Develop and implement standard operating procedures for development activities.

 2. Major Donor Fundraising

 ·Advance individual relationships that result in philanthropic contributions.

·Identify, evaluate and manage a portfolio of prospects (primarily individuals and family foundations) with the capacity to make gifts of $2,500 or more annually.

·Develop cultivation and solicitation strategies to upgrade current donors.

·Identify and solicit new donor prospects by assessing philanthropic intent, interest in supporting MWA and giving capacity.

·Visit donors to cultivate and steward giving ensuring consistent and appropriate contact and effective stewardship.

·Work strategically and creatively to broaden and expand the base of prospective major donors giving to MWA.

·Engage donors and prospects at events and other venues as part of the cultivation process.

·Engage and manage council members in major donor fundraising.

·Have a comprehensive understanding of the priorities of MWA and make a persuasive oral and written case for support for key programs and projects, effectively matching the interests of prospects to specific programs.

·Gather, record and properly store information about prospects and donors utilizing DPO and the moves management system.

·Meet annual major gift revenue goals.

 3.  Communications

 ·Develop and coordinate messaging being delivered across appeals, patron updates, case statement, mass mailings, newsletter and website.

·Develop donor communications including customized correspondence and other marketing materials.

·Develop annual case for support defining the impact philanthropy will have on MWA's mission.

·Develop annual calendar of appeal mailings, write appeals and coordinate mailing.

·Develop annual calendar of patron updates, write patron updates and coordinate mailing.

·Provide timely thank yous to major donors.

·Identify communications opportunities that can be used to enhance development.

·Develop fundraising messages.

·Determine development information for website.

 4.  Events

·Coordinate and supervise donor appreciation events.

·Coordinate and supervise fundraising events.

·Identify major donor participants and cultivate them to attend events.

 5.  Staff Council Development Committee

 ·Act as Liaison between Council Development Committee and Executive Director.

·Participate in all committee meetings providing information when requested.

·Assist in development of policies.

·Develop culture of philanthropy throughout the organization working with Development Committee, Council and staff.

·Define cultivation activities Council can engage in.

·Provide ongoing training and assistance to Council members and key volunteers.

 6.  Create Legacy Giving Program

 ·Develop a legacy giving program

·Create legacy gift communications strategy.

 QUALIFICATIONS:

 ·Minimum of 3-5 years experience in fundraising for a nonprofit organization with a proven track record in major gifts.

·Experience with donor cultivation and organizing fund raising campaigns.

·Experience in relationship building.

·Ability to develop and monitor plans.

·Ability to organize and prioritize multiple assignments and be able to handle complex tasks in a fast paced environment.

·Time management skills and ability to work under deadlines.

·Ability to work with Council to identify development activities.

·Strong communication skills both written and verbal, and word processing skills.

·Experience working with DPO or other donor database software.

·Familiarity with and commitment to wilderness protection.

·Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues.

 BASIC CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

 All employees of Montana Wilderness Association are ambassadors of the organization and are expected to support and fulfill the mission of the organization.  All employees, regardless of job title, must demonstrate the following minimum requirements for continued employment.  In addition, it is the employee's responsibility to read, understand and comply with the policies and procedures outlined in MWA's personnel policy.

 1) Professional Conduct:  Comply with established employment policies and practices.  Maintain confidentiality of organization and employee information.  Accept direction and provide direction in a cooperative and positive manner.

 2) Personal conduct:  Engage in personal conduct that is honest, respectful, courteous, and dignified as well as legal, ethical, dependable and reliable.

 3) Competency:  Develop and maintain skills, knowledge and abilities required for adequate performance of assigned job duties.

 REQUIREMENTS:

 -Ability and willingness to travel on a regular basis as well as willingness to work nights and weekends when needed.          

            -Ability to lift 30 to 50 pounds and carry a minimum of 100 yards.

            -Valid Montana Drivers license.

Submit applications to Jan Sensibaugh at Turn on JavaScript!. by May 1, 2010. 

 

Title: Office Manager

Supervisor:  Deputy Director

Location:  Helena

 

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

 

Perform clerical tasks such as word processing, filing, mail preparation and distribution, and maintenance of office supplies.  Act as liaison with bookkeeper, code invoices and perform cash handling activities. Provide technology support to staff.  Assist the Executive Director and Deputy Director with administrative, business and financial details as requested.  Provide clerical and administrative support for MWA staff independently and with minimal supervision.  Serve as administrative liaison with the Council.  This position is a full-time, non-exempt position.

 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

1.  Office Reception and Mail

- Answer incoming telephone calls promptly and courteously.  Direct calls and messages to appropriate MWA staff or other party.

- Answer inquiries immediately.

- Open mail and distribute to appropriate MWA staff. 

- Process and post all outgoing mail and deliver to post office prior to 5:00 p.m. daily.

- Send out Wilderness Walks books as requested; maintain potential prospects form.

 

2.  Financial and Cash Handling

- Run accounting tape of all in-coming cash, checks and money orders and maintain this dated tape pending receipt of payments from membership coordinator. 

- Balance all accounting tapes to payments posted by and received from membership coordinator prior to making bank deposit. 

- Make bank deposits.

- Code invoices for bookkeeper.

- Act as liaison with bookkeeper.

- Assist with annual audit and completion/preparation of IRS forms and tax documentation.

- Check expense reports from staff members.

- Disseminate financial reports to Council.

- Balance Chapter quarterly reports.

- Assist deputy director in selected financial procedures according to direction.

3.  Equipment and Supply Inventory

            - Order, receive, store and maintain appropriate levels of office supplies and other materials to allow staff to complete assigned responsibilities and provide for member and staff needs.  

- Maintain supply inventory list.

- Manage equipment and building repairs.

- Determine equipment needs for all MWA offices.

- Maintain relationships with vendors.

- Negotiate equipment purchase and/or lease agreements. 

 

4.  Technology Support and Maintenance

- Maintain, update and upgrade office computer network.

 - Negotiate computer hardware and software purchases and/or lease agreements for all MWA offices.

- Provide Information Technology support to all MWA staff,

- Manage and ensure up-to-date maintenance of Information Technology equipment and software.

 

5.  Office Management

            - Service as liaison to the Field Offices on administrative needs.

- Maintain MWA photo database.  Enter photos and store in logical organized fashion.

- Manage and maintain media clippings and photo archives for easy access by all staff.

- Negotiate Helena and field office lease agreements and renewals.

- Organize and maintain office filing system.

- Provide support to membership coordinator as needed (mailings, document production, etc).

- Perform copy making, faxing, information gathering, materials organization and other tasks as required.

- Assist with Convention tasks especially registration.

- Assist with addressing invitations for events.

- Research, review and prepare draft proposals on request of the Deputy Director for office policies.

- Maintain office procedures manual.

- Coordinate office recycling.

- Perform housekeeping duties of assigned work area by routine and periodic cleaning and vacuuming. 

 

6.  Council Secretary

- Prepare council information packets for meetings and distribute materials to council members as needed.

- Record council meetings and prepare and distribute minutes of meetings.

- Maintain, update and distribute council manual including supplements and updates.

- Participate on council committees as assigned.

 

5.  Perform Administrative Tasks

            -Keep record of activities and fill out monthly time sheets.

            -Participate in staff meetings.

            -Develop annual work plan.

            -Perform other tasks as assigned by Executive Director or Deputy Director.

 

 QUALIFICATIONS:

 

-Ability to create positive interpersonal relations with fellow employees.

-Demonstrated positive customer service skills both internally and externally with effective communication, respect and integrity.

-Ability to maintain confidentiality of all information related to members, staff and organization data.

-Possess a high degree of accuracy for the performance of job-related tasks and functions.

-Ability to organize workload and determine priority of duties.

-Efficient operation of computer, calculator, copy machine, fax and other office equipment.

-Knowledge and confidence in operation of computer hardware and software systems, including word processing, spreadsheet, accounting programs.

-Knowledge of postal and bulk-mail regulations.

 

BASIC CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 

 

All employees of Montana Wilderness Association are ambassadors of the organization and are expected to support and fulfill the mission of the organization. All employees, regardless of job title, must demonstrate the following minimum requirements for continued employment. In addition, it is the employee's responsibility to read, understand and comply with the policies and procedures outlined in MWA’s personnel policy.

 

1) Professional Conduct: Comply with established employment polices and practices. Maintain confidentiality of organization and employee information. Accept direction and provide direction in a cooperative and positive manner.

 

2) Personal Conduct: Engage in personal conduct that is honest, respectful, courteous, and dignified as well as legal, ethical, dependable and reliable. 

 

3) Competency: Develop and maintain skills, knowledge and abilities required for adequate performance of assigned job duties.

 

REQUIREMENTS:

 

• Ability and willingness to occasionally travel as well as a willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends when needed.
• Ability to lift 30-50 pounds and carry a minimum of 100 yards.
• Valid Montana Driver’s License

 

  Submit Resume and Cover Letter to Jan Sensibaugh at Turn on JavaScript!

 

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Internships: We currently do not have any open internship positions availble at this time.