RFP: Communications Coordinator

The Montana Wildlife Federation; Helena (MT); Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

Montana Wildlife Federation is seeking a part-time Communications Coordinator contractor to expand its communications capacity and support federal conservation priorities.

The role emphasizes translating complex policy developments into clear messages for hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts, plus producing short-form social videos and supporting volunteers and board members in advocacy and public engagement.

Qualifications

• Experience producing on-camera video for social platforms.
• Strong writing, editing and organisational skills.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and communicate clearly.

Responsibilities

• Develop messaging and rapid-response communications about conservation priorities.
• Draft and edit social posts, emails, and website updates.
• Coordinate with policy staff and volunteers; support advocacy activities.
• Produce short-form videos and digital content for multiple platforms.

Skills

Video production

Graphic design

Writing/editing

Project management

Digital platforms

Tools

Canva

Adobe InDesign

Photoshop

Lightroom

Premiere Pro

Job description

Key details

Organisation: Montana Wildlife Federation (MWF)
Position: Communications Coordinator
Employment Type: Independent contractor — part-time contract
Work Arrangement: Remote within Montana, with occasional travel to Helena and other locations across the state
Estimated Workload: 20 hours per week
Contract Duration: Initial six-month term, with the possibility of extension
Hourly Rate: $30–$35 per hour
Proposal Deadline: November 9, 2026
Anticipated Start Date: November 30, 2026
Contact Person: Cameron Evans, Communications Director
Application Email: [e-mail]
Email Subject Line: Communications Coordinator Proposal

About Montana Wildlife Federation

Founded in 1936, the Montana Wildlife Federation is a statewide conservation organisation dedicated to protecting Montana’s wildlife, habitats, public lands and waters, and public access. The organisation works to ensure that hunters, anglers, conservationists, and other outdoor enthusiasts have a voice in decisions affecting the state’s natural resources.

MWF advances its conservation mission through policy advocacy, public engagement, partnerships, and grassroots organising. As an independent affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, it collaborates with national, regional, and local partners to advance shared conservation priorities and protect Montana’s natural heritage.

About the Opportunity

Montana Wildlife Federation is seeking proposals from an independent contractor to provide part-time communications coordination services. The successful contractor will help expand the organisation’s communications capacity, particularly in relation to its federal conservation priorities.

Working closely with the Communications Director and policy staff, the Communications Coordinator will translate complex state and federal policy developments into clear, accurate, timely, and audience-focused communications. The role involves identifying the issues most relevant to the public and explaining their implications for fish and wildlife, habitats, public lands and waters, and outdoor recreation access.

A significant component of the assignment will involve producing short-form social media videos, including face-to-camera reels. The contractor must be comfortable appearing on camera when necessary and coaching volunteers to communicate messages naturally and confidently. They will also support MWF board members, staff, members, affiliate clubs, and volunteers by providing the communications materials and messaging needed to participate in advocacy and public engagement activities.

The organisation is looking for someone who combines strong writing and editing skills with practical digital production experience, sound judgement, and the ability to respond quickly to changing communications needs.

Key Responsibilities

1. Messaging and Rapid-Response Communications

The contractor will develop and coordinate communications that explain MWF’s conservation priorities and respond to emerging policy developments. Responsibilities include:

• Developing clear, audience-focused messages about federal conservation priorities, translating complex issues involving fish and wildlife, habitats, public lands, public waters, and public access into accessible language that resonates with hunters, anglers, conservationists, and other outdoor users.
• Drafting, editing, and proofreading social media posts, action alerts, emails, and website updates.
• Coordinating with policy staff to ensure that communications are factually accurate, timely, consistent, and aligned with the organisation’s adopted positions.
• Supporting the development of evergreen content that communicates MWF’s mission, programmes, partnerships, conservation achievements, and collaboration with the National Wildlife Federation.
• Responding to emerging communications needs and helping the organisation communicate important developments quickly and effectively.

2. Volunteer and Affiliate Engagement

The Communications Coordinator will help turn communications priorities into practical organising activities by working with staff, affiliate clubs, board members, and volunteers.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing message guides, telephone scripts, social media copy, graphics, videos, letters to the editor, public-comment guidance, and talking points for meetings.
• Identifying volunteers whose experience, expertise, or geographic connections make them suitable spokespeople for particular conservation issues.
• Preparing volunteers to participate in media interviews, public testimony, meetings with policymakers, and on-camera social media reels.
• Supporting volunteer participation in legislative and congressional meetings, public hearings, government agency processes, and community events.
• Coordinating volunteer assignments, following up on activities, and tracking completed work to help maintain accountability and consistent participation.
• Equipping MWF’s members and affiliate clubs with practical communications materials they can use to engage their communities and support the organisation’s conservation objectives.

3. Video and Digital Content Production

Short-form video production is a major component of the contract. The selected contractor will help MWF communicate its conservation priorities through engaging, accessible, and platform-appropriate digital content.

Responsibilities include:

• Planning, filming, and editing face-to-camera reels and other short-form videos on location.
• Featuring volunteer spokespeople and appearing on camera personally when required.
• Coaching volunteers to deliver messages naturally, confidently, and effectively for video content.
• Preparing, formatting, and scheduling content for Instagram, Facebook, and other relevant digital platforms.
• Repurposing longer-form communications materials into shorter content for social media, email campaigns, and website publication.
• Creating graphics and sourcing appropriate photographs and other visual assets for different platforms.
• Ensuring that content is suitable for its intended audience, platform, and communications objective.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Applicants should demonstrate the following skills and experience:

Video production and presentation: Practical experience filming and editing short-form videos on location for Instagram, Facebook, and other digital platforms. Applicants must be comfortable delivering face-to-camera reels themselves and supporting volunteers who appear in video content.

Graphic design and editing software: Proficiency with content creation and editing tools such as Canva, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, or other Adobe Creative Cloud applications.

Writing and editing: Excellent writing, editing, proofreading, and organisational skills, including the ability to communicate complex issues clearly and accurately while working under tight deadlines.

Relevant professional experience: Experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Journalism and media communications.
• Social media management and digital content production.
• Advocacy and public engagement.
• Conservation or environmental organisations.
• Natural-resource agencies.
• Government, public policy, or legislative processes.

Project and deadline management: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously, respond quickly to edits and emerging requests, work independently without close supervision, and ensure that projects are completed on time.

Digital communications tools: Working proficiency with social media platforms, email marketing tools, website content-management systems, Google Workspace, and Zoom.

Knowledge of Montana’s outdoor traditions: Familiarity with Montana’s outdoor culture and experience spending time on public lands through activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, floating, or similar pursuits.

Preferred Qualifications

The following qualifications are desirable and may strengthen a proposal:

• Experience working with the Montana Legislature, political campaigns, or advocacy coalitions.
• Knowledge of Montana’s media landscape and communications networks.
• Familiarity with EveryAction, Meltwater, Hootsuite, Asana, or WordPress.
• Experience with photography and image licensing.
• Experience producing email campaigns and managing digital communications.
• Knowledge of digital accessibility practices and the production of accessible communications materials.

These are preferred qualifications rather than additional mandatory requirements in the supplied announcement.

Contract Terms and Working Arrangements

The selected applicant will work as an independent contractor rather than as an employee of Montana Wildlife Federation.

Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate (ICEC): The contractor must hold a Montana Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate or obtain one before the anticipated November 30, 2026 start date. Information is available through the Montana contractor website: http://mtcontractor.mt.gov/.

Taxes and benefits: The contractor is responsible for their own taxes and will not be eligible for MWF employee benefits.

Working hours: The anticipated workload is approximately 20 hours per week. Some assignments may require early‑morning or evening availability, as well as quick turnarounds when communications needs arise.

Travel: Occasional travel within Montana will be required, including trips to Helena and other locations across the state. Travel expenses must be approved in advance to qualify for reimbursement.

Equipment and connectivity: The contractor must supply their own computer, phone, internet connection, and camera where applicable.

Ownership of work: All work produced under the contract will be owned by Montana Wildlife Federation.

Contract duration: The initial engagement will last six months, with the possibility of an extension depending on the organisation’s needs and the arrangement with the selected contractor.

Contact and Further Information

Montana Wildlife Federation
Contact person: Cameron Evans, Communications Director
Email: [e-mail]
Application deadline: November 9, 2026
Anticipated start date: November 30, 2026
Contract rate: $30–$35 per hour
Estimated commitment: 20 hours per week for an initial six-month term