Forward Montana Foundation (FMF) is seeking a full-time Issue Advocacy Organizer to support our issue-based campaigns centered around climate justice, housing, and LGBTQ2S+ equality. This organizer will build community around the issues that matter to young Montanans, foster networks of support, and develop engaging educational programming about housing, climate justice, and LGBTQ2S+ equality in our state to ensure young people’s sustained engagement in Montana’s political landscape. If you have a passion for making creative change and building power with your peers, this is the job for you!
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 Issue Advocacy Organizer, who is based in Montana and reports to the Senior Advocacy Manager, is responsible for the following:
- Building & fostering relationships with community members and peers in housing, climate, and LGBTQ+ organizing spaces
- Developing educational events and materials to help young Montanans understand and engage with our issue work
- Development & distribution of an annually-published Zine focused on trans joy (and/or other issue areas at the organizer’s discretion)
- Hosting monthly events, including but not limited to skillshare workshops, meet-and-greets, and issue-specific panel discussions
- Being a regular presence at relevant community events to grow and engage our base and build buy-in for our issue work
- Recruitment, retention, and development of new and existing volunteers to help expand the impact and scope of our work
Must-Haves
Here’s what success looks like
- Relationship and community building:
- You understand that all of the issues we work on are deeply connected and impact people in different and intersecting ways.
- You have experience developing and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships with a diverse group of individuals.
- You are committed to centering and amplifying the voices of the people most impacted by the issues we center, including but not limited to LGBTQ2S+, trans, and Two-Spirit Montanans.
- You can communicate and create buy-in effectively with a variety of stakeholders, including peers, FMT interns, and community members either in-person or via Zoom.
- You’re committed to leadership development across all of Forward Montana’s programs and understand the importance of growing our member and volunteer base.
- Creativity & Innovation:
- You are creative & innovative when developing programs.
- 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 Montana.
- 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 community organizing, event planning, and/or issue-based work are preferred, but not required. 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 Issue Advocacy Organizer right now, you would be:
- Cultivating new relationships and volunteers to participate in your upcoming efforts through 1:1’s at a local coffee shop
- Planning an LGBTQ+ skill-sharing event for folks to hone their facilitation skills, build community, and break down barriers
- Brainstorming avenues for community support centered around climate, housing, and/or LGBTQ+ equality
- Developing educational resources to synthesize and communicate the importance of the complex policies and processes surrounding the issues that matter to our base
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 Montana
- 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 and Missoula
This is a full-time, non-exempt position at $18/hour. This position is eligible for overtime. 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 you think building community and engagement around climate, housing, and LGBTQ+ equality in Montana 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, portfolios, or just a more casual tone cover letter are all welcome.
Please send application materials to hiring@forwardmontana.org. The priority deadline is September 30th. The preferred start date for this position is November 14th.