Community Relations Manager

American Prairie Reserve; Lewistown (MT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Paid Sick Days

Paid Volunteer Hours

401K with up to 3% employer match

Medical Insurance with HSA/FSA options

Short-term Disability Insurance

Vision, Dental, Life, Critical Illness

Work Vehicle

Lodging Perks

Corporate Discounts

Job summary

American Prairie Reserve seeks a Community Relations Manager to expand statewide engagement, focusing on Phillips, Blaine, and Valley Counties north of the Missouri River. The role reports to the Director of Community Outreach and will be based in Malta, Chinook, Glasgow, or nearby communities.

The role involves building relationships, coordinating outreach events, and collaborating with partners while traveling up to 60% of the time.

Qualifications

• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills across diverse settings.
• Strong written and verbal communication with multiple stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with community members, leaders, and NGOs north of the Missouri River.
• Coordinate and attend community events and town halls to advance outreach goals.
• Serve as liaison to county officials and conservation districts north of the river.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration with associations, groups, and state agencies.
• Manage local community giving and sponsorship activities and report outcomes.

Skills

Public speaking

Communication

Event coordination

Relationship building

Project management

Public engagement

Community outreach

Strategic thinking

Adaptability

Tools

Salesforce

Cloud-based tools

Databases

Job description

TITLE: Community Relations Manager

DIVISION:External Relations
REPORTS TO:Director of Community Outreach
SUPERVISES:None
LOCATION:Malta, Chinook, or Glasgow or other communities in Phillips, Blaine, or Valley Counties
FLSA STATUS:Exempt
GROUP:Core
HOURS:Full-time at 40 hours per week
BENEFITS:
Paid Vacation
Paid National Holidays
Paid Sick Days
Paid Volunteer Hours
401K with up to 3% employer match
Medical Insurance with optional Flexible Savings or
Health Savings Account & Dependent Care Account
Short-term Disability Insurance
Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, Critical Illness, & Accident Insurance
Work Role Provisions (Vehicle)
Reserve Lodging Perks
Corporate Discounts

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Employees are expected to be responsible for and assist with additional tasks and duties as needed. Job description details including title, duties, division, reports to, supervises, work location, FLSA status, group, hours, and benefits are subject to change at the discretion and needs of the organization and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

JOB PURPOSE

This role expands American Prairies outreach capacity across Phillips, Blaine, and Valley Counties north of the Missouri River, with a particular focus on communities where outreach resources have historically been limited. Reporting to the Director of Community Outreach, the Community Relations Manager plays a key role in implementing and refining a growing statewide engagement strategy that increases awareness of American Prairies mission, advances conservation and wildlife restoration goals, and welcomes the public to experience and participate in our work.

As a highly public-facing representative of American Prairie, the Community Relations Manager builds and strengthens relationships with community members, partners, and stakeholders; supports the development of educational and engagement programming; and represents the organization in a wide range of settings. This role works collaboratively with colleagues across departments and serves as a trusted point of connection for individuals and groups interested in learning about and engaging with American Prairies vision.

This role is ideally based in Malta, Chinook, or Glasgow, but we welcome applicants from other communities across Phillips, Blaine, or Valley counties.

JOB DUTIES

Community Relationship Management (25%)

• Build and maintain strong relationships with individuals, community leaders, and NGOs north of the Missouri River through regular engagement and attendance at community gatherings and events.
• Maintain a consistent presence in Malta and surrounding areas 23 days per week to serve as a local resource for community members seeking information or support.

Government, Board, and Working Group Liaison (25%)

• Steward relationships with Advisory board members north of the river, and support their ideas, initiatives, and connections.
• Serve as liaison to County Commissioners and Conservation Districts north of the Missouri River, providing regular updates and supporting ongoing communication.
• Serve as the staff liaison for regional working groups, particularly north of the Missouri River.

Outreach Events and Public Engagement (20%)

• Organize, coordinate and facilitate outreach events such as town halls, informational gatherings, or other meetings.
• Present at events and secure other staff, collaborators, or advocates as participants and presenters.
• Implement outreach tactics designed to grow awareness and build local advocates for American Prairies mission.

Partnership Development and Collaboration (20%)

• Identify and pursue opportunities to engage and collaborate with associations, affinity groups, and state agencies on conservation issues or initiatives aligned with American Prairies goals and objectives.

Community Giving and Sponsorship Coordination (10%)

• Manage the local implementation of community giving strategies, including coordinating sponsorships and donations.
• Maintain relationships with community partners receiving support and recommend giving opportunities to the Director of Community Outreach.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Enthusiasm for and positive representation of American Prairies mission, goals and culture.
• 3-5+ years of related professional experience ideally within community outreach, public engagement, or educational programming.
• Demonstrated project management skills, with the ability to manage complex initiatives across multiple stakeholders.
• Strong public speaking, communication, and presentation skills, including coordinating events, programs and initiatives to support broader organizational strategies.
• Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment in public-facing roles.
• Strong communication, presentation, and active listening skills across settings including one-on-one, small groups, and formal presentations.
• Outgoing, approachable, and motivated to build relationships and connect with diverse stakeholders and communities.
• Skilled in working productively with individuals and groups holding diverse or divergent interests, fostering collaboration and consensus.
• Resilience in navigating public perception and relations, including the ability to manage conflict or difficult interactions with de-escalation and mediation skills.
• Proficient with current technology devices and software including cloud-based software for organizing, storing, and creating documents and spreadsheets or working in databases.
• Valid drivers license and acceptable driving record.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 60% of the time.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends or other non-traditional work hours as needed.

Preferred

• Applied experience or training in mediation, conflict resolution, or facilitation.
• Familiarity with and interest in Montana culture, politics, and economics especially in rural communities.
• Familiarity with database membership systems such as SalesForce.
• Familiarity with culture, politics, and economics in Indigenous communities and experience working collaboratively with tribal nations or representatives