Executive Director

WHO WE ARE

The Wyoming Civic Engagement Network (WyCEN) is a 501(c)(3) network of non-profit organizations dedicated to closing the gap between who can vote, and who does. WyCEN equips Wyoming’s grassroots organizations to build a base of educated, informed supporters who vote on the issues they care about most deeply.

The Wyoming Voter Network is a 501(c)(4) network of organizations committed to full participation in Wyoming’s elections, ensuring Wyoming voters have the knowledge they need to make informed decisions at the ballot box, and supporting candidates who will uphold Wyoming’s values in office.

We believe that real change takes time, collaboration, and focused investment. Through a collaborative, partnership-driven strategic process, WyCEN and WVN identify the challenges facing Wyoming’s grassroots organizations and focus on building out the long-term infrastructure our state needs to thrive.

WHY THIS MOMENT

Over the past three years, these two organizations have been launched, developed deep trust with partner organizations across the state, and solidified their missions and strategic long-term plans. During that same time, the political landscape of Wyoming has changed dramatically, and the laws governing how we vote have been upended.

The next Executive Director will take these networks to the next level. Supervising an incredible three-person field team, and in partnership with the Executive Director of the Wyoming Donor Alliance, the new Director will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on Wyoming’s civic landscape at a pivotal time in our state’s history. These two networks are ready to make change - but that change needs leadership, vision, courage, and a strategic mind that can coordinate across teams and organizations.

THE ROLE

The Executive Director will lead both WyCEN and WVN as a “joint” Executive Director position between a 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4). This position will supervise three field staff, oversee two networks of 26 organizational partners (both of which are expanding annually), fundraise in partnership with the Wyoming Donor Alliance (WDA), and help execute and further develop the long-term strategic plans for both organizations.

As director for both organizations, this role will require a keen ability to manage time, administrative work, and maintain strict boundaries and confidentiality as required by the letter and spirit of the law.

The director will have the opportunity to oversee and build internal collaboration, consistency in programming with field staff, and ensure work being done through both networks aligns with long-term objectives.

This role is designed and ideal for someone who thrives in a position of organizational leadership, is comfortable with administrative systems, is innovative and takes a curiosity- and solutions-oriented approach to work, and loves Wyoming and sees the potential for our state.

We encourage passionate leaders to apply even if you do not feel you fit all the qualifications of the position; if you feel you fit most of the qualifications and are excited about the opportunity, we invite you to send in your application.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership, Staff, and Program Oversight (60%)

• Oversee the execution of both organizations’ strategic plans, as well as further develop and align the overall strategy to ensure organizational objectives are being met.
• Supervise, mentor, and support three field staff; WyCEN’s Field Strategist, a joint WyCEN/WVN Data Organizer, and WVN’s Field Manager. Ensure staff work with partners is done in a timely manner and in alignment with organizational strategies.
• Expand each network by fostering new partnerships with aligned Wyoming organizations. Oversee the on-boarding of new partners with field staff.
• Ensure strategic alignment with all network partners, and build relationships with executive-level leaders at partner organizations to deepen trust and collaboration at higher levels.

Fundraising, Budgeting, and Donor Reporting (25%):

• Further develop systems to identify, educate and steward a values aligned pool of committed state and national donors, largely grant-based, with both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) giving capacity.
• Maintain deep relationships with grantors through individual meetings, regular communications, and other stewardship activities.
• Work alongside the Executive Director of WDA to:
  • Further develop, implement, and oversee budgets for each organization. Budgets are already in place for 2025, and in draft form for 2026.
  • Along with the Executive Director of WDA, develop and execute fundraising plans that expand the capacity of both networks and our partner organizations through major donor fundraising and grant applications.
  • Along with the Executive Director of WDA, streamline and enhance donor reporting systems for both grant funds and major donors.
  • Write grant proposals, reports, and maintain grant database for fundraising.

General Administration (15%):

• Manage the administrative requirements of the 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) split, including any required time tracking, shared services agreements, joint fundraising agreements, and other requirements to ensure appropriate legal separations between the two organizations.
• Hold regular meetings with the Boards of Directors and help expand the boards; finding new engaged board members will be a key role in 2025.
• Ensure legal and financial compliance for both state and federal regulations.
• Manage work with accounting firm and oversee general human resources; this position will approve payroll, oversee contracts and ensure payments are made in a timely manner, and maintain oversight of healthcare coverage.

THE TYPE OF LEADER WE HOPE TO WORK WITH

• A person who is ready to engage with state-specific political issues, to leverage their relationships with political leaders across the state, and who is committed to continuous learning and collaboration within Wyoming's political landscape.
• Someone who enjoys engaging in courageous conversations with those who hold power or wish to build power for the communities we invest in.
• An excellent communicator and writer with experience as a spokesperson who can tailor

messages to different audiences.

• Understanding of and commitment to racial justice and social change.
• An entrepreneurial leader who is willing to take calculated risks and lean into building deep and lasting relationships and partnerships with donors, other nonprofits and political leaders.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

• Experience with and knowledge of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations, management, and legal requirements.
• Ability to maintain relationships, partnerships, and credibility with people, organizations, and leaders across the political spectrum. Demonstrated experience with developing and maintaining relationships with diverse thought partners.
• 3-5 years of staff supervisory experience, with demonstrated capacity for providing direction, mentorship, accountability, and staff development.
• Experience with administrative systems, including Quickbooks, budgets, financial reporting, and human resources; much of this is done through our accounting firm, but the director must have a functional working knowledge of these systems to ensure compliance and timely reporting.
• Experience with sourcing grant funding, oversight, and reporting; experience with CRM systems is beneficial.
• Ability to hold, communicate, and execute a complex vision for success. We are looking for a candidate who can inspire, motivate, build trust, and hold staff and partners accountable to the shared vision for change.
• Understanding of Wyoming's political and nonprofit ecosystems, with a willingness to expand that knowledge.
• Ability to travel for meetings with stakeholders, including donors and partner organizations.

LOCATION, COMPENSATION, AND BENEFITS

The Executive Director must live in Wyoming; candidates outside the state are highly encouraged to apply, but will need to relocate to the state.

WyCEN and WVN share an office space in Laramie; field staff work in Laramie and Cheyenne. The Executive Director will need to spend a minimum of 25 percent of their time in-person with field staff, partners, and donors in the southeast corner of the state, and will need to be able to be in Cheyenne frequently during the Legislative Session. For candidates outside the Laramie/Cheyenne area who are interested in relocating, we will provide a relocation stipend.

This is a full-time, 35 hour/week salaried, exempt role with flexible hours and a creative work

environment. We expect people to have a life outside of work. This job does require more intensive work at certain times of the year, mainly around the Legislative Session and in the months leading up to elections every other year.

Salary: $80,000-90,000, depending on experience, with significant room for growth and re-evaluation with the Boards of Directors.

Benefits:

• Flexible work schedule, hybrid office/remote work.
• Fully-covered health insurance or reimbursement.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Open vacation policy, and a commitment to ensuring all staff including the director take time off for actual vacations; and all federal holidays.
• Generous parental leave, family and medical leave, and a political leave policy for staff who choose to run for public office.
• A commitment to providing retirement benefits to all staff within the next 1-2 years, dependent on fundraising, but this is a high priority for the organizations.

TO APPLY

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This is a high-priority hire for both networks, and we will begin interviewing candidates no later than May 10. This position will remain open until filled; that said, we intend to fill this position as soon as possible.

To apply, please email the following to: careers@wycen.org.

1. Resume or CV
2. Cover letter
3. Any additional documents (e.g. policy briefs, op-eds, creative projects, data analysis, etc) you feel would reflect your past work and that you are proud of. Please do not create new materials, but we would be interested in any additional insight into your work and who you are that you would like to provide.