Executive Director - MACD

Location: Helena, Montana

Position Type & Schedule: Permanent, Salaried position (40hr/week)

Compensation: Salary $75,000-$85,000 plus outstanding benefits

Application Deadline: Applications received by August 26th will receive priority consideration. Preliminary review will take place at this time. This position will remain open until filled.

Anticipated Start Date: September or October 2025

The Executive Director will lead MACD into the next phase of its work to support, empower, and represent Montana’s conservation districts. The Executive Director is responsible for MACD, its talented staff, and the resources entrusted to the organization. The Executive Director works closely with the MACD Board of Directors to refine the organization's strategic direction and develop specific action plans to achieve agreed upon strategic goals and objectives. The Executive Director works regularly across the state, establishing key partnerships and representing MACD at district and partner meetings. Alongside board leadership, the Executive Director is the face of the organization and a leading voice for Montana’s conservation districts.

Core Responsibilities

Leadership

The Executive Director is a leader who assesses and responds to the needs of districts, staff, and the board; keeps focus on the long-term objectives of the organization; balances strategic and tactical responsibilities; and represents MACD with multiple constituencies in Montana and nationally. The Executive Director ensures organizational excellence through assessment, transparency, collaboration, learning, creativity, communication, accountability and exceptional service to districts.

Conservation District Membership

The work of the Executive Director is informed by the needs of conservation districts in Montana. The Executive Director understands the responsibilities of managing an association and updates their understanding of the needs of conservation districts to ensure outstanding, consistent service.

Board Relations

The Executive Director works closely with the board to fulfill its governance responsibilities. They advise and educate board members, communicate clearly and regularly with board members, and develop a close partnering relationship with board leadership, members, and committees.

Conservation District Voice

The Executive Director actively works with conservation districts, policymakers, government, tribes, philanthropy, business, media, and the public at large to advance public awareness and understanding of and support for conservation districts in Montana.

Policy & Advocacy

The Executive Director leads implementation of MACD’s legislative and advocacy agenda by engaging districts; building coalitions; gathering input; testifying before legislative committees; and strengthening relationships with legislators, agency leadership, and the Governor’s office to support conservation districts. The Executive Director also works with congressional offices, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), and federal agencies (NRCS, USFS, BLM, NPS, BoR, USDA, US Army Corps, etc) to influence federal legislation and agency activities. This work is guided by the MACD Board and policy resolutions passed at the state level by member conservation districts.

Program Development

The Executive Director ensures that all programs are of high quality, are consistent with MACD’s mission and strategic direction, and achieve their intended outcomes. They regularly assess the effectiveness of programs and look for new opportunities to increase the capacity of conservation districts in Montana.

Revenue Generation

The Executive Director maintains a consistent revenue stream to fund the Association’s activities and programs through membership dues, grants, and contributed sources.

Operational & Financial Management

The Executive Director values strong internal operations, fiscal responsibility, accountability and transparency, and ensures efficient, accurate, and consistent financial operations and practices. This includes overseeing an operating budget of nearly $1 million and the MACD-owned office in Helena and the Bridger Plant Materials Center (BPMC) in Bridger.

Staff Development

The Executive Director oversees a professional staff of 8-10 employees in various locations across Montana and several key contractors. The Executive Director has overall responsibility for building and leading a dynamic and cohesive team and developing staff members to their highest potential and continually assesses and builds leadership depth in all areas of the organization. The Executive Director understands the organization is looked to as a model for effective staff teams across the conservation district community.

Organizational Culture

The Executive Director understands, prioritizes and supports an organization culture characterized by practices that exemplify and align with stated organizational values.

Experience

Preferred experience in:

• Executive level leadership
• Working with public policy and legislative advocacy
• Supporting and developing a diverse governing board
• Financial management and oversight and an understanding and commitment to fiscal responsibility and integrity
• Generating revenue from multiple sources including grants and other philanthropic sources
• Developing, leading, and mentoring a talented, self-motivated and dynamic staff

Qualifications and Abilities

Qualified applicants for this position should have:

• Bachelor’s degree in natural resources, nonprofit management, or other relevant fields (Master’s degree preferred)
• Knowledge and understanding of conservation, agriculture, natural resource policy, and Montana’s unique cultures and geography
• Excellent financial understanding and commitment to fiscal responsibility and integrity
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with the ability to represent MACD and conservation districts in a wide variety of forums
• Proven ability to cultivate productive relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Commitment to work in the MACD office in Helena and travel around the state, region, and nation as needed.

Additionally, MACD is looking for candidates with these proven personal attributes:

• Committed to a collaborative approach at all levels
• Excellent problem solver with an ability to build consensus on all levels and among diverse stakeholders
• Adaptive leadership abilities

The requirements listed in this job announcement are guidelines, if you meet 70% or more of these qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Other job experience and skills will be considered, and some on-the-job or professional training can be provided.

To Apply

To Apply: (1) Send a cover letter indicating your interest, (2) resume, and (3) three references with contact information, to: hiring@macdnet.org

Deadline for priority consideration: Applications received by August 26th will receive priority consideration. Preliminary review will take place at this time. This position will remain open until filled.

Compensation and Benefits

The employee benefit package includes: both annual leave and sick leave, 10 paid holidays, a health plan (with option for health stipend), short- and long-term disability insurance, a generous retirement plan (8% with no match requirement), a cell phone stipend, and a flexible work environment.

Wage/Salary: Salary (40hr/wk) $75,000-$85,000 depending on experience.

Questions?: If you have any questions please email hiring@macdnet.org

MACD is an equal opportunity employer