Forward Montana (FMT) is seeking a temporary full-time Deputy Program Director to strategize, manage, support and lead a statewide program in Indian Country to success across our leadership development, voter registration, voter mobilization, and issue campaigns. The ideal candidate is someone who can balance organizational vision, political urgency, and organizational capacity. You’ll excel in this role if you have all-star time management skills, are a strong strategic thought partner, and find excitement in having impact on multiple collaborative projects.

Who We Are

Forward Montana (FMT) and Forward Montana Foundation (FMF) are dedicated to supporting young Montanans in shaping their democracy to improve their lives and the lives of fellow Montanans through direct voter engagement, mobilization and strategic campaigns. We put young people on the front lines of civic engagement statewide, basing our efforts in youth-dense communities.

What You’ll Do

The Deputy Program Director reports to the Program Director and is responsible for the following:

• Assist development & lead implementation of 2026 Indian Country program goals, strategies, plans and budget that align with the organization’s mission, vision, and goals with support from the Program Director and Executive Director.

• Evaluate the success and effectiveness of programs, making adjustments as necessary.

• Directly manage and support the development of Indian Country organizers and managers with an eye towards staff professional development and program success.

• Build strong relationships with state and national partners working in Indian Country for the 2026 electoral cycle and represent Forward Montana in relevant coalitions, in coordination with the Executive Director.

Must-Haves | Here’s what we’re looking for in a candidate:

• Experience in and enthusiasm for political strategy and its connection to civic & electoral power building:

• You set a high bar and meet it, because you think three (or 30) steps ahead to anticipate hurdles and can come up with pragmatic solutions on the fly

• You are comfortable with developing and implementing political field plans from start to finish

• You have experience creating phone banks and cutting turf in VAN and pulling up lists

• You’re committed to amplifying young voices to advocate for a more progressive, just Montana

• You can evaluate new opportunities while thinking about Forward Montana’s strategic mission

• You have some familiarity with c3 and c4 organizations

• You have experience developing and managing strong volunteer programs

• Experience in building strong collaborative relationships:

• You’re excited to build relationships with national and local coalition partners 

• You understand that partnerships are everything and are constantly seeking out new opportunities for Forward Montana to engage with new audiences and communities

• You are energized by an expanding and evolving team and have a demonstrated passion for team development

• Demonstrated ability to manage and empower a diverse team of peers at varying levels of experience to achieve necessary metrics, quantitative, and qualitative outcomes:

• You have a track record of supporting teams to accomplish ambitious goals and getting results even when there are obstacles

• You’re excited about processes and systems within a team – you can run an effective meeting, give 100% to your individual check-ins with the people you manage, and can run an event planning process on a tight timeline

• You have experience hiring and/or managing a diverse team of folks and have experience developing systems to ensure they feel heard

• You understand how to hold folks accountable to setting and reaching ambitious goals with creativity and flexibility

• 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 the program team and our broader organization

• You recognize how your own identities show up in the work and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback while continuously learning about race, ability, and other lines of difference

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.

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 exempt position is full-time (40 hours/week) and is based in Montana. There are opportunities for relocation reimbursements. Applicants must be located in or willing to move to Billings, Bozeman, Helena, or Missoula.

• You must be comfortable working unconventional hours occasionally – including nights and weekends.

• You must have the ability to travel 1-3x/month (a valid driver’s license is required).

• This position includes both in-person and virtual components due to the size of the state and where staff is located.

• You must be comfortable being managed and building relationships with our statewide team remotely.

This temporary position is compendated at an annualized salary of $69,000, prorated for the duration of employment. This contract concludes December 31, 2026. Forward Montana also offers the following benefits:

• 100% Employer covered health insurance, basic life insurance, and employee assistance program

• Opt-in Employee paid dental, vision, accident, and term life insurance

• Monthly technology and wellness reimbursements

• Professional development funds

• Generous paid time off policy through which staff accrue 4 weeks of annual leave per year, paid holidays

How to Apply

Please submit a resume and one-page cover letter stating your interest in the position, why you think you’d be the right fit for Deputy Program Director for Indian Country at Forward Montana, and what skillsets you’d be excited to grow & develop in this position. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, preference will be given to applications who submit materials by Friday, May 29th so that we can start interviews by Monday, June 1st. The preferred start date for this position is Monday, June 15th.