Montana Grazing Lands Coalition Coordinator

at  Western Landowners Alliance

About Western Landowners Alliance (WLA): Founded in 2012 by landowners and managers, the organization aims to increase the wellbeing of working lands in the American West and the living communities, including human and wildlife, that depend on them.
About Montana Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative: The Montana Grazing Lands Coalition (MT GLC) is a voluntary effort to enhance Montana’s 40 million acres of privately owned grazing land by increasing awareness and assisting with technical assistance at the grassroots level. Montana GLC promotes partnership, voluntary action, respect for private property rights, diversification and technical development and is dedicated to healthy, productive, and sustainable grazing lands. The organization’s mission is to “strengthen partnerships and encourage diversification to maintain or improve private grazing lands through grassroots efforts and interagency technical assistance.”
Position Overview: The Montana Grazing Lands Coalition Coordinator will lead efforts to develop a formal strategy that identifies and prioritizes durable pathways for the delivery of technical assistance and education on ecologically and economically beneficial strategies for the stewardship of grazing lands in Montana. This position will work directly with the MT GLC Board of Directors to provide outreach, support, and technical assistance to producers, formalize a collaborative process to quantify, monitor, and verify conservation benefits, and build key relationships with conservation partners to address common challenges and empower collaborative conservation on Montana grazinglands. This position is being supported by WLA on behalf of the Montana Grazing Lands Coalition.
Amount of Time & Status: 40 hours a week, exempt, Monday-Friday. This position is currently funded for two years. Extension of the position will be dependent upon securing ongoing coordination capacity support.
Location: This position is remote with preference of residency in Montana. Frequent travel within and out of the State will be required.
Reports to: The position is supported by WLA’s Working Lands Program Team, with direct oversight from the Montana GLC Board of Directors.
Compensation: Up to $70,000 annually. Salary is commensurate with experience. Western Landowners Alliance offers comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, parental and medical leave, 403b retirement savings account with a discretionary match, life insurance, short-term disability benefits, and an employee assistance program.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in rangeland management, natural resources management, agriculture, or other applicable field of study plus three years of relevant work experience (or equivalent work experience).
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with a diverse set of industry partners
• Knowledge of current rangeland ecosystem and grazing management principles, concepts, theories, and key stakeholders in Montana.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; detail oriented, strong independent work ethic, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic work environment
• Demonstrated supervisory experience including managing staff in a remote work environment
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 50% of the time both within and out of Montana
• Experience in marketing and/or advertising, including social media management and website development
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workplace Suite, Zoom, and other virtual workplace platforms
• Familiarity with major industry meetings, conventions, and conferences. Tabling and networking experience.Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong understanding of federal and state programs that promote conservation on grazing lands (including Farm Bill programs), is required, with understanding of extension and local grazing lands programs and resources is preferred
• Experience working for a government entity or nonprofit specializing in natural resource management and/or agriculture
• Experience with collaborative processes and strategic planning
• Adaptable and able to move work forward within complex political and multi-jurisdictional landscapes
• Ability to distill complex subject matter to any audience for comprehension
• Creative and positive approach to communication and problem solving
• Ability to work independently with little supervision
• Willingness and ability to maintain confidential information and work with diverse populations
  Working Environment/Physical Activities: Work environment is an office and field setting. Physical activities include sitting at a desk and working on a keyboard and computer several hours a day, conducting business over the telephone and via email, standing for long periods of time for field visits; traveling long distances by vehicle (including travel on unpaved roads). Must be able to work in variety of environments, including outdoor activities in a variety of weather conditions. This position may also require moving materials up to 25 pounds.
  Application Procedure: Please submit your resume and cover letter (required) via our website. Please, no phone calls. Western Landowners Alliance values diversity and inclusiveness and is committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for all team members regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or political affiliation. We encourage all qualified and interested candidates to apply.

Target Start Date: October 2024*

• start date is contingent upon execution of grant award execution which is anticipated by September 30, 2024

• Develop and implement a formal strategy that identifies and prioritizes durable pathways for the delivery of technical assistance and education on ecological and economically beneficial strategies for the stewardship of grazing lands in Montana
• Provide knowledge and experience in soil health and grazing management within Montana rangeland systems
• Serve as the principal liaison between Montana GLC and numerous resource agencies and conservation organizations with the goal of facilitating the implementation of conservation practices on grazing lands
• Work with NRCS and other outside partners to identify capacity needs within their respective geographies and help them identify resources and mechanisms available to meet needs
• Expand opportunities for the implementation and application of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) within the state to promote environmental sustainability and the responsible stewardship of grazing lands
• Formalize a collaborative process to quantify, monitor, and verify conservation benefits which can be disseminated through peer networks
• Lead planning, outreach, and delivery of opportunities designed to engage diverse practitioners, students, and other stakeholders in grazing land stewardship
• Collaborate with conservation partners to further expand opportunities for partnership and delivery of technical assistance resources for landowners.
• Routinely deliver presentations to professional audiences and landowner groups to promote partnerships and encourage diversification to improve private grazing lands through grassroots efforts and interagency technical assistance
• Directly manage and regularly update the Coalition’s website, social media platforms, and email list
• Supervise the work of technical assistance positions, to be hired by MT GLC
• Other duties as assigned