FMT is seeking a full-time Field Manager to lead grassroot campaigns to make direct change locally, develop and manage our regional field efforts, and recruit & retain volunteers and fellows across a number of leadership development opportunities.
If you have a passion for making change and working on a breadth of civic and political projects that make a difference in Bozeman, then this job is for you! You will be successful in this role if you are committed to hitting goals in a fast-paced environment and have the ability to stay flexible with an eye towards new opportunities.
Who We Are
Forward Montana (FMT) and Forward Montana Foundation (FMF) are dedicated to engaging and mobilizing young Montanans to help shape their democracy to improve their lives and the lives of fellow Montanans. We put young people on the front lines of civic engagement statewide, basing our efforts out of Bozeman, Bozeman, Billings, and the greater Flathead area.
What You’ll Do
The Field Manager, who is based in Bozeman and reports to the Senior Organizing Manager, is responsible for the following:
- Develop & maintain strategic relationships with volunteers, fellows, local organizations, stakeholders, and coalition partners.
- Recruit, train, and coordinate volunteers to support all aspects of Forward Montana’s programming in the Bozeman area.
- Develop year-round opportunities for the greater Bozeman community to engage with FMT, heightening our presence and growing our members in the region.
- Build & implement voter registration and voter mobilization programs to engage young voters (18-35 YO’s) in the greater Bozeman area. This includes organizing candidate forums and other events, hosting engaging virtual phone banks & volunteer opportunities, and talking to voters in your community
- With support of the Senior Organizing Manager and advocacy team, implement a local issue-based campaign that aligns with the vision and needs of young people in Bozeman. This includes giving public testimony, facilitating training opportunities, mobilizing the community around key moments in the campaign, or writing newsletters or opinion pieces.
- Supervise temporary staff in the community organizing fellowship, and other temporary organizers as needed.
Must-Haves
Here’s what success looks like:
- Relationship-building & volunteer recruitment:
- You have experience developing and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships with a diverse group of individuals.
- You’re committed to leadership development across all of Forward Montana’s programs and understand the importance of growing our member base.
- You have experience recruiting, training, and coordinating volunteers.
- Drive to achieve results across field & mobilization programs:
- You have a track record of accomplishing ambitious goals and getting results even when there are obstacles (think: thunderstorms during an outdoor event or running out of voter registration forms during a big event).
- You set a high bar and meet it, because you think three (or 30) steps ahead to anticipate hurdles and come up with pragmatic solutions.
- You know how to ask for help and act as an advocate for your community’s best interest.
- Creativity & Innovation:
- You are creative & innovative when developing programs for Bozeman.
- You’re flexible, adaptable, and willing to try new things.
- You’re down to wear a costume, not afraid to talk to strangers, can conduct field work for up to 8 hours at a time, hand out stickers that say ‘Give a Shit’, and are committed to finding ways to make new connections.
- Actively Anti-Racist:
- You are committed to actively contributing to a more equitable and inclusive FMT by facilitating conversations around diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice with fellows, members, and within staff.
- You’re committed to amplifying community voices to advocate for a more progressive, just Bozeman.
- You recognize how your own identities show up in the work and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye towards continuous learning about race, ability, and other lines of difference.
Experience in field work (voter registration, Get Out The Vote (GOTV), or other voter mobilization efforts) are preferred, but are not requirements. We understand that the right candidate may have experience in different areas. If you don’t meet all the requirements above but have an interest in learning, we encourage you to apply.
If you were the Bozeman Field Manager right now, you would be:
- Cultivating new relationships and volunteers to participate in your upcoming field efforts through 1:1’s at a local coffee shop
- Working on an issue relevant to your community — testifying at a city council meeting, creating content for a digital organizing campaign, wearing a weird costume outside of a Senator’s office, or supporting an fellow in writing a LTE or Opinion piece for the newspaper
- Developing the agenda for a Progressive Happy Hour & delegating roles out to your regional team & fellows, ensuring your community has a place to gather and talk about what’s coming up for FMT and how they can plug in
- Strategizing with the entire program team about how to tackle an upcoming voter registration goal
What Else You Should Know
Forward Montana is an equal opportunity employer and we value having staff who come from communities that are most impacted by our issues and work. We especially encourage people of color, LGBTQ2S+ people, women, and people with disabilities to apply.
- Logistics
- This position is full-time and is based in Bozeman
- You must be comfortable working unconventional hours occasionally — including nights and weekends
- You must have the ability to travel once or twice a month, especially in the summer months (a valid driver’s license is required)
- You’re comfortable conducting field work for up to 6-8 hours at a time in all weather conditions
- This position includes both in-person and virtual components based on public health guidance around COVID-19
- You must be comfortable being managed and building relationships with our statewide team remotely
- There is a shared office space with other FMT staff available in Bozeman
The salary for this position ranges from $38,000 – $41,000. Forward Montana also offers the following benefits:
- 100% Employer paid Health Insurance, Life Insurance, and Employee Assistance Program
- Opt-in Employee paid Dental and Vision Insurance
- Retirement plan with a 3% company match
- Cell phone reimbursement
- Professional development funds
- Generous paid time off, including paid family and medical leave
To Apply
Please send a resume and one-pager cover letter stating your interest in the position, why building youth-power & getting out the vote in Bozeman is important, and what skillsets you’d be excited to grow & develop in this position.
If a cover letter isn’t your style, try something creative! We’re less concerned with the perfect cover letter and more interested in getting to know you, your passions, and what’d you bring to the position — slideshows, videos, graphics / visuals, portfolio’s, or just a more casual tone cover letter are all welcome.
Please send application materials to hiring@forwardmontana.org. The priority deadline is Monday, August 8th at 12 pm. Preferred candidates will be able to start by September 6th, but we are open to a post-election start date if you are currently working on a campaign.