Co-Executive Director

Background

Citizens for a Better Flathead’s mission is to foster citizen participation and champion sustainable solutions needed to keep the Flathead ecologically and economically healthy.

Do you want a job where you have a direct opportunity to help residents shape how the spectacular Flathead Valley grows? Are you ready to help lead a small but dynamic organization and leadership team with a 34-year legacy of successful grassroots advocacy? Are you looking for a position where you can invest and grow your talents while making a positive difference in the place and community you call home—let’s talk.

Since 1992 Citizens for a Better Flathead has been at the forefront of addressing the challenges that rapid growth brings to this extraordinary valley in Northwest Montana, which is now home to around 115,559 residents, a nearly 10% increase over the past decade. Flathead County, where our work is focused, lies between Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi.

Approximately 94% of the land in Flathead County is National or State Forest Land, wilderness, agricultural, and corporate timber land, thus largely confining development to the remaining 6% of the area.

Citizens for a Better Flathead works to alert and inform the public of opportunities to be actively involved in critical decisions shaping how the Flathead grows. Our work focuses on influencing policies that shape land use planning, the protection of water quality, climate-friendly transportation planning, and waste reduction and recycling. CBF advocates for solutions that respect the well-being of the whole community, the environment, and future generations.

We provide critical analysis and research to inform the public and decision-makers. We work with neighborhoods and residents for sound planning, and network broadly to achieve our goals.

The Co-Executive Director will work collaboratively with our current Executive Director who, as a founding member of CBF, will move into the position of Co-Executive Director. The Co-Executive Directors (Co-EDs) serve as equal partners in providing strategic leadership, operational management, and vision for the organization. This model is designed as a collaborative, supportive, and accountable partnership to facilitate shared leadership for the fast-paced and often complex policy work we do.

The Co-EDs report to the Board of Directors, and are supported by this board and a set of volunteer committees who assist in the work of the organization.

The Co-EDs will work together to initially identify individual strengths, leadership preferences, and experience. Within three months of employment they will provide the board a plan for their key areas of collaboration, as well as divisions of labor, and accountability. This will include a plan for staff meetings and board check-ins. The overall goal is to create a collaborative shared work model given that we are a small nonprofit with limited staff at this time.

Together the Co-ED’s will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for CBF’s programs, staff, fiscal management, and revenue generation. Together they will lead, build, and champion unique opportunities to collaborate on creative planning solutions for this area with residents and community leaders. Passion for justice, persistence in the drive for sustainable solutions, and an ability to learn as you go, are essential in this leadership role.

The Co-Executive Director is a full time, professional staff person. As the primary face of the organization, the Co-Executive Directors must be able to effectively articulate and inspire engagement in CBF’s mission and the challenges that rapid growth is bringing to this region. These positions are supported by our Administrative Director. The Administrative Director is currently a three days per week position.

The CBF Board is currently working to put in place more active work-groups/committees to support the overall work of the Co-EDs and Administrative Director.

Growing this organization, its committees, and its staff is an important goal of our strategic plan.

Knowledge and…