Position Announcement: Coalition Campaign Coordinator

Dec 19, 2023

By Heather O'Loughlin

The Montana Advocates for Children is seeking a Coalition Campaign Coordinator to lead the coalition’s advocacy work to expand access to affordable child care in Montana. This position will be an employee of the Montana Budget & Policy Center and will work closely with other coalition organizations. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with experience working with a diverse set of voices to help lead coalition efforts to ensure all Montana families and children have access to a robust, coordinated early care and education system.

The Montana Advocates for Children (MAC) is a statewide advocacy coalition made up of child care providers, professionals, and advocates working to advance state policies to support all avenues of early childhood to ensure a thriving society for Montana’s generation to come. MAC is composed of member and partner organizations including the Montana Association for the Education of Young Children (MTAEYC), Montana Child Care Resource and Referral Network (Raise Montana), Montana Head Start Association (MTHSA), Montana Budget and Policy Center, Montana Women Vote (MWV), Montana Family ChildCare Network (MFCN), Zero to Five Montana, Montana Afterschool Alliance (MTAA), and Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies – A Montana Coalition.

The Montana Budget and Policy Center (MBPC) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, dedicated to advancing responsible tax, budget, and economic policies through credible research and analysis to promote opportunity and fairness for all Montanans. MBPC also leads the Montana KIDS COUNT project, providing data and analysis on the well-being of Montana children. Since its founding in 2008, MBPC has been a trusted resource for information on critical fiscal debates shaping Montanans’ future.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Coalition Management

• Plan and schedule coalition and coalition committee meetings.
• Foster strong internal communication and accountability among coalition members.
• Support the coalition in developing policy priorities and executing strategies to advance those priorities including policy development, communications, grassroots mobilization, grasstops engagement, and direct advocacy.
• Provide leadership for MAC, working effectively with established coalition partners and organizational leaders to execute MAC’s plans and goals.

Policy Advocacy

• Strengthen MAC organizations’ advocacy capacity around shared goals, which may include:
  • Regular individual outreach to stakeholders (i.e. parents and providers).
  • Drafting content, such as public comments, talking points, or letters to the editor for partners and stakeholders.
• Working with MAC and the MBPC research team, identify, research, and develop public policy solutions to improve access and affordability of child care for families.
• With support from coalition partners, track relevant interim legislative committees and administrative efforts to provide regular updates and potential action items for coalition members.

Outreach and Communications

• Serve as the main point of contact for the coalition and maintain communications through email list, external website, and social media.
• Work collaboratively with the coalition to produce accessible communications and civic engagement materials, including drafting and reviewing coalition comments and talking points.
• Coordinate the activation of MAC networks as needed and email calls-to-action to outreach lists.
• Coordinate with partners to find appropriate spokespeople in response to press needs.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of and/or experience in child care or early childhood education policy;
• Effective writing, communication, and research skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to cultivate internal and external relationships including an ability to relate to diverse groups and individuals;
• Time management, organizational skills, and ability to meet deadlines;
• Ability to work remotely, independently, and as part of a team;
• Experience working in the Mountain West, particularly in rural and tribal communities;
• At least two years of relevant higher education experience or at least two years of relevant work experience. A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field may substitute;
• A demonstrated commitment to social, economic, and racial justice; and
• A willingness to engage in anti-racism efforts, both internally and externally.

Position Details:

The ideal candidate will work full-time and be based in Helena. Highly qualified candidates based in other locations in Montana will be considered.  Applicants must have the ability to travel to communities across Montana and to be in Helena during the 2025 legislative session.

The salary range for the position is $60,000 - $70,000, commensurate with experience. MBPC offers excellent benefits, including health insurance, dental insurance, flex funds, retirement, and generous paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, sabbatical, and paid family and medical leave.

To Apply: 

To apply, submit a cover letter and resume by email to: Heather O’Loughlin, Executive Director, at holoughlin@montanabudget.org. We recommend describing your professional background, including legislative or advocacy experience, campaign work, and government relations work, including any successes or lessons learned from defeats, as well as any experience working on MAC’s vision of all Montana families and children having access to a robust and coordinated early care and education system.

The position is open until filled. Initial application review will include all applications received by January 8, 2024.

If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the description, we still encourage you to apply. We strongly encourage applicants with lived experience and from underrepresented identities, including but not limited to people of all ethnic/racial backgrounds, people of all gender identities/gender expressions, people with disabilities, individuals living on low-incomes, and LGBTQ+ persons.