Alerts & Actions
Executive Director Position
Job Title: Executive Director
Reports To: Board of Directors
Compensation: $75,000 to $80,000, plus generous benefits and paid leave. Funding for relocation expenses available.
Classification: Full-time exempt
Location: Helena, MT preferred, but other locations in Montana will be considered
The Montana Human Rights Network (MHRN) was founded in 1990 by grassroots groups from all over the state which formed in response to militia and white nationalist and supremacist activity, and to counter hate activity. Our mission is to organize Montana residents to realize their power to create pluralism, justice, and equity in their communities. We challenge bigotry and discrimination, support marginalized people, and advocate for legislation that honors everyone’s basic rights.
MHRN realizes this mission by:
Organizing human rights events and educational opportunities
Exposing, diffusing and responding to racism, white nationalism and the extreme right
Developing and maintaining robust programs to support LGBTQ+ equality
Developing and pursuing public policy initiatives and holding public officials accountable
Working to increase community support and legal protection for groups of people targeted by hate activity
Being allies who build and support all human rights
We seek a leader who:
Embodies the values of our mission
Will reflect those values in practice through growing and developing leadership at all levels of the organization
Works to progress the quality, success, and development of our programs.
Is an engaging collaborator with demonstrated cultural awareness and agility with the ability to build trust, credibility, and navigate a complex landscape
The MHRN currently has a long-time, experienced, talented, and dynamic staff of six, with staff working out of the main office in Helena and organizers in Butte, Missoula, and Kalispell. MHRN is overseen by ten board members from across the state.
The MHRN is growing. We are seeking a dynamic leader who will thrive in a culture of shared governance to fill the role of Executive Director whose primary responsibilities are to lead and sustainably move our mission forward. The Executive Director will be responsible for the execution and delegation of the duties outlined below.
Duties & Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy: Facilitates involvement and oversight of MHRN by the Board of Directors, and leads the strategic planning for the organization in partnership with the Board of Directors with input from staff.
Fiscal Management: Ensures the fiscal responsibility of MHRN by providing ongoing oversight of fiscal operations; including the development and distribution of financial reports to the Board of Directors and stakeholders to ensure established objectives.
Development: Develops MHRN annual fundraising and development plan, and stewards relationships with foundations, donors, and other key stakeholders.
Program: Coordinates MHRN state-level advocacy and legislative agenda, including lobbying and outreach activities. Provides vision and leadership to guide the programmatic work of the organization.
Operations: Ensures MHRN is operating in compliance with federal and state laws, regulations, and guidelines with specific and applied knowledge related to diversity, inclusion, and nondiscrimination.
Staff Management: Empowers leadership at all levels of the organization by engaging best practices related to the recruitment, retention, support, and growth of a culturally diverse staff.
Membership & Engagement: Builds relationships with broader community of allies and potential partners, including representing MHRN in coalitions or other collaborative tables. Engages leaders and emerging leaders in key communities to increase grassroots support and membership while ensuring that affiliates of MHRN are active and have appropriate staffing support.
Communications & Media: Establishes MHRN strategic messaging and represents the organization to decision makers, donors, supporters, and the general public.
Essential Qualifications & Skills
Candidates for this position should have the following qualities as a result of experience and/or education:
Substantial professional and/or personal experience in human rights advocacy, nonprofit management, grassroots organizing, or related field
Demonstrated commitment to anti-racist praxis, economic justice, LGBTQ+ equality, human rights, and pushing back against extremism
Demonstrated success as a cross-cultural collaborator and relationship builder, with strong interpersonal skills and ability to build coalitions and trusting relationships with a broad range of diverse individuals, organizations, and groups to achieve results
Experience with employee engagement, retention, supporting their leadership and professional development, empowerment, and management, and demonstrated success in developing and implementing strategies to build and support a diverse staff
Commitment to modeling racial equity, diversity, cultural sensitivity, and inclusiveness in the workplace, with volunteers, with allies, and in program work
Proven record of success in financial management, fundraising, grant writing, and cultivating relationships with donors
Ability to foster open communication, collaboration, learning, and respect in the workplace
Demonstrated success in working collaboratively to develop and implement recruitment and retention strategies focused on building a diverse workforce
Knowledge of laws and policies connected to 501c(3)s, 501c(4)s, and PACs (Political Action Committees) and how to navigate the complexities of non-profit compliance
Desired Qualifications & Skills
We welcome candidates who demonstrate the following additional qualities:
Demonstrated success in identifying and implementing best practices of equity and inclusion and an excellent command of issues related to justice in human rights
Strong leadership, work ethic, visioning, strategic thinking, and listening abilities
Experience with communication strategy, planning, analysis, and organization branding and positioning
Strong track record in managing change with an understanding of the contexts, cultures and politics within institutions that impact the implementation of effective change
Experience with volunteer recruitment, management, and engagement
Experience with strategic operational and programmatic planning, implementation, and management
How to Apply
The Montana Human Rights Network recognizes the power of those most affected by the continued impact of systemic oppression to transform those systems. In our commitment to empowering residents to create pluralism, justice, and equity in their communities and our commitment to challenging bigotry and discrimination, we strongly encourage people of identities including and not limited to: Black, Indigenous and People of Color, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ+ community members, immigrants, and members of non-Christian faiths to apply.
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references to mhrnhiring@gmail.com.
We are eager to fill this position, so please apply promptly. Candidate review will occur as we receive applications; interviews will begin March 22.
The Montana Human Rights Network does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or family status. If you have any need for accommodation or assistance with the application process, please tell us how we can help by emailing mhrnhiring@gmail.com.
The Montana Human Rights Network
PO Box 1509, Helena, MT 59624
(406) 442-5506
network@mhrn.org