Seeking Contractor to Assist with Advocacy Activities and Outreach

Request for Proposals

Grow Montana Seeks Contractor to Assist with Advocacy & Outreach

Status: Part-time Contractor, 3 months with possibility for extension

Location: Remote within Montana.

Compensation: $10,000 – includes all costs associated with travel.

Period of Performance: Contract term is May 1, 2024 – July 31, 2024. Estimated to be 200 hours of work over 13 weeks. Hours per week will fluctuate based on project demand.

Supervisory role: No

Reports to: Grow Montana Policy Committee & Coordinator

Requirements: MT independent contractor status exemption

Recommended: Professional Liability Insurance

Duties and Scope of Work:

Are you passionate about building sustainable, equitable food and farm systems? Do you love working in a collaborative context? Grow Montana Food Policy Coalition (GMT) is seeking a contractor to help us build partnerships and lead campaigns to help reshape our food system into one that supports sustainable Montana-owned food production, processing, and distribution, and that improve all our citizens’ access to healthy Montana foods.

This role will build on your skills and experience in policy research and development, direct advocacy, and grassroots engagement to address local and regional food systems, value chains, healthy food access & equity, and more. The Contractor will focus on a variety of issues and interact with Coalition members through issue-specific committees; in this role, you will build critical relationships, act strategically to advance reforms to public policies, and be well versed in relevant issues.

Project Deliverables:

  • Attend Grow Montana Policy Committee Meetings (minimum 3 meetings)
  • Assist with development and review of Legislative Candidate Survey
  • Assist with development and review of Grow Montana Policy Book
  • Work with Grow Montana to create a questionnaire for legislators, stakeholders, and partner outreach.
  • Create a shared list of potential GMT supporters (regulatory agencies, relevant private and nonprofit entities, state legislators
  • Complete outreach to 2024 Legislative Candidates, utilizing the developed questionnaire & legislative candidate survey to aid in conversations.
  • Conduct Initial outreach of potential supporters.
  • Provide follow up report to GMT of status of interest & relationships.
  • Report of any potential legislation being developed that GMT should be aware of in the upcoming 2025 Legislative Session

Key Responsibilities:

Advocacy:  20%

  • Make the best case for our policies directly to decision-makers. Build relationships with players in regulatory agencies, relevant private and nonprofit entities, and state legislators in Montana.
  • Help coordinate grassroots advocacy training and events for GMT stakeholders.

Campaign Strategy:  30%

  • Assess opportunities for building political support for GMT priorities and campaigns through grassroots organizing, media coverage, endorsements, and message development.
  • Assist with development and review of the GMT Policy Book leading up to the biennial legislative session.
  • Provide insight, education, and advising on strategy to advance our priority areas.
  • Coordinate campaigns for policy related goals such as fielding requests for stories and empowering community members.
  • Provide weekly analyses of bills and legislative action to GMT’s membership and grassroots network.

Coalition Building:  30%

  • Meet with other groups who are concerned about our priority issues and work with them to maximize our impact.
  • Assist with the development of a long-term plan for developing and sustaining GMT’s presence, awareness, and credibility among the State through relationship building and maintenance.

Legislative Monitoring:  20%

  • Track interim committees and ensure GMT is represented with the appropriate positions on issues determined relevant by the GMT Coalition
  • Monitor and analyze proposed state legislation, emerging issues, trends, and provide recommendations for appropriate action and identifying key focus area.

Preferred Qualifications

  • An understanding of and passion for sustainable agriculture and food systems.
  • A working knowledge of the state level policy-making process.
  • Demonstrated understanding of how racial equity intersects with agriculture and food systems and the ability and enthusiasm to apply this understanding to specific policy development and decision making.
  • Exceptional initiative and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work independently and collaboratively, listen well, build trust, and model healthy conflict resolution.
  • Willingness & ability for intrastate travel (proof of automobile insurance will be requested)

Preferred Experience:

  • Legislative and administrative advocacy experience at the state or federal level
  • Background with grassroots advocacy campaigns (e.g. field organizing, lobby days, etc.) or large, multi-organization grassroots coalitions, including facilitation and consensus building.
  • Experience on a farm or value chain business (food hub, processor, farmers market, etc.)

To apply, please respond by email with the following information by April 15, 2024:

  • Your full name.
  • A phone number where you can be reached.
  • Why are you interested in this position?
  • What are the key strengths you would bring to this role?
  • What relevant skills and experience will you bring to this role?

Email your responses and current resume to coalition@growmt.org