Job Title: MT Conservation Voters Program Director
Location: Montana
Posting Date: 11/13/06

Montana Conservation Voters/MCV Education Fund   

Program Director Job Description
November, 2006

Montana Conservation Voters, the political arm of Montana’s conservation and environmental community, and its sister organization, Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund, have an opening for a Program Director.  Based in Billings, the Program Director is responsible for outreach with leaders and staff of the state’s conservation and environmental community, coordination of the MCV’s political and legislative agenda, coordination of the activities of the MCV Political Action Committee, and community organizing with MCV’s Yellowstone chapter and members in eastern Montana. The position is accountable to the Executive Director.

Responsibilities include:

1. Voter education and civic engagement coordination: Coordinate local and state legislative candidate recruitment and development, and voter contact activities to help elect conservationists to city, county and legislative offices.  This includes outreach with MCV members and allied organizations, strategic use of data base and on-line technologies, and publication of voter education materials with the Communications Director.  In even-numbered years, this work occurs from January through November, and from July – November in odd numbered years.

2. State Legislative Coordination:

a. Coordinate MCV/MCVEF legislative campaign work with allied conservation groups, including setting agreed-upon legislative priorities and developing a strategic campaign to achieve these priorities;

b. Assist in establishing MCV and MCVEF’s legislative priorities and develop a campaign to achieve these priorities, working with other staff and consultants;

c. Coordinate outreach and education with groups’ members and legislators before, during and after the legislature;

d. Lobby legislators on groups’ priorities, and on any MCV/MCVEF priorities;

e. Attend regular lobbyists and field staff meetings;

f. Work with Communications Director to develop relevant public education and communications materials for use before, during and after legislative sessions, including MCV’s State Legislative Scorecard and other accountability tools;

g. Coordinate grassroots lobby training for MCV’s members and allies;

h. Develop and implement a post-legislative session accountability program;

i. Convene groups after legislative adjournment to set community organizing, accountability and research priorities, and identify priority election-year issues.

3. Community organizing with MCV’s Yellowstone County Chapter involving

a.        leadership development work with chapter members and officers;

b.       membership recruitment, outreach and renewal calls and visits;

c.       organize chapter meetings and activities;

d. coordinate meetings with area legislators and other public officials using voting records, public statements, grassroots lobbying and other accountability tools;

e. candidate recruitment and support, endorsement and campaign activities for legislative and local candidates in Yellowstone and surrounding counties.

4. Fundraising: Participate in periodic memberships and fundraising campaigns;

5. Serve as lead staff person for the MCV Political Action Committee, coordinating meetings, materials, and the candidate endorsement process;

6. Serve as MCV and MCVEF’s chief contact on relevant, assigned local, state and federal conservation priorities throughout the year;

7. Attend MCV and MCVEF staff, Board and committee meetings as needed.

Qualifications:

1. A commitment to the mission and purpose of Montana Conservation Voters and MCV Education Fund;
2. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university;
3. Strong verbal and written communications skills;
4. Experience coordinating a political campaign, ballot measure campaign or legislative campaign;
5. Skills in strategic campaign planning, campaign management and implementation;
6. An understanding of Montana environmental issues and environmental politics;
7. Program evaluation skills;
8. Lobbying experience, including direct communication with elected officials, grassroots lobbying and field organizing experience;
9. Coalition building experience, including organizing groups on a legislative or ballot measure campaign;
10. Community organizing experience;
11. Fundraising experience;
12. Willingness to travel up to 1,000 miles per month.

Compensation:  MCV/MCVEF offers a competitive salary, based on qualifications and experience, an excellent benefit package including health and dental insurance, retirement, generous vacation, holidays and staff development opportunities. 

To apply: Send a resume’, cover letter, three references and two writing samples to Theresa M. Keaveny, Executive Director, Montana Conservation Voters, Box 63, Billings, MT 59103 phone 406.254.1593 FAX 406.254.1609, tkeaveny@mtvoters.org

Application deadline: December 15, 2006 

For more information, please contact:
tkeaveny@mtvoters.org