POSITION DESCRIPTION: Government Affairs Director

Entity/Entities: Montana Conservation Voters (MCV)
MCV Education FundTitle: Government Affairs DirectorStatus: Full-time, Salaried, ExemptReports To: Executive DirectorLocation: Remote within Helena, MT
(Safe commuting distance to Montana State Capitol in all seasons is required)
POSITION PURPOSE

The Government Affairs Director is a senior-level leader responsible for maintaining strong relationships with government officials to bolster bipartisan support for our organization’s policy priorities. This role leads MCV’s nonpartisan legislative lobbying and candidate-to-elected official lifecycle. Current emphasis lies in state-level policy goals, with the potential to develop more robust federal lobbying and accountability work. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this position serves as the organization’s primary lobbyist and point of contact for state-level candidates and elected officials. 

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Montana Conservation Voters (MCV) and the MCV Education Fund are mission-driven nonpartisan nonprofit organizations working together to protect Montana’s clean air and water, public lands, and democracy for current and future generations. MCV supports this goal by conducting issue advocacy and political accountability while fostering conservation champions across Montana. The MCV Education Fund focuses on public and voter education and issue advocacy. The Government Affairs Director plays a critical role in translating our organizational priorities into effective, long-term, bipartisan support in the halls of the Montana Capitol and beyond.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

LOBBYING & COALITION LEADERSHIP

• Design and lead the organization’s public policy agenda, with current emphasis on state-level policy goals
• Serve as lead lobbyist during the biennial Montana Legislative Session, representing MCV’s policy agenda in Helena
• Lead an established coalition of conservation lobbyists from different organizations and manage the publication of its weekly legislative voting guide
• Own development and tracking of accountability metrics, including management of MCV’s legislative scorecard to ensure elected officials are held responsible for their conservation voting records
• Cultivate diverse coalitions, including non-traditional allies, industry executives, and other communities, to support direct lobbying efforts
• Lead or support partners at advocacy events such as Lobby Days and rallies at the Capitol
• Collaborate with the Outreach & Advocacy Manager and Communications Manager to translate policy developments into meaningful, values-driven messaging and grassroots advocacy opportunities
• Ensure an equity lens is applied when evaluating and advocating for policy solutions to reflect the needs of all Montanans

CANDIDATE-TO-ELECTED OFFICIAL LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with potential candidates across all parties to foster a pipeline of conservation champions
• Direct MCV’s state-level endorsement process while maintaining steadfast commitment to our issues, transparency, and equity
• Lead MCV’s coordinated campaign work to elect pro-conservation candidates, maintaining strict adherence to internal compliance policies
• Organize candidate education programs to build candidates’ knowledge of core conservation and civic issues while helping them develop policy solutions and effectively demonstrate local impacts to their constituents
• Act as the primary point of contact for seated elected officials, providing briefings and leading experts to support policy priorities

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• With the Outreach & Advocacy Manager, design strategic educational and positive and negative accountability messages to disseminate publicly
• Collaborate with the Development Director to communicate policy wins effectively to donors and foundations
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to develop and implement annual Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and functional budgets for the organization
• Work with the Operations Director to ensure timely and accurate financial records and required reporting of advocacy activities
• Strengthen MCV’s leadership of the conservation movement in Montana through speaking engagements, relationship development, and board engagement

QUALIFICATIONS 

• EXPERTISE: Extensive experience in policy advocacy, lobbying, or legislative affairs in Montana or a similar Western state
• COMMUNICATION: Superior written and oral communication skills, persuasiveness, and the ability to engage and influence diverse stakeholders
• ORGANIZATION: Highly organized self-starter capable of managing complex deliverables and tight deadlines
• COMMITMENT: Passion for MCV’s mission and a commitment to integrating equity and inclusivity into policy work

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS 

• Salary Range: $60,000 to $80,000
• Title: MCV is committed to finding the right talent for this critical role. Final title (Government Affairs Manager or Government Affairs Director) and salary offer will be determined based on the candidate’s depth of legislative experience, leadership history, and professional qualifications demonstrated during the hiring process.
• Benefits: Full-time, exempt employees of MCV are eligible for health, dental, and optical insurance at 100% employee coverage and 50% coverage for qualified partners and dependents. A Simple IRA is available to qualified employees, and contributions are matched up to 3% of the employee’s gross salary. MCV’s car rental service is available for required statewide travel.