Program Officer, Mansfield Center

Application instructions are located at the bottom of the page. Please apply directly through the University of Montana's career portal UM Jobs at https://umjobs.silkroad.com/ for positions at the University of Montana – Missoula, University of Montana Western (Dillon), and Helena College. Do not apply through Indeed.com or use easy apply through Indeed.com * .

The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center invites applications for a Program Officer to to bring initiative, energy, organization, and attention to detail to Mansfield democracy programs. The Program Officer will work under the direction of the Director of the Ethics in Public Affairs Program to identify critical challenges and do the hard work to implement solutions. While grounded in public higher education’s role in preparing the next generation to be informed and engaged in a democracy, this position is essential to general civic learning and democratic engagement efforts. A commitment to integrity and building trusted relationships is essential.

Grounded in rural Montana, the Mansfield Center fosters globally minded leaders of integrity.

We honor Senator Mansfield’s legacy of patriotic statesmanship to bridge divides from a variety of perspectives, unified by our love of country and commitment to democracy. Guided by Senator Mansfield’s example, our work emphasizes civil exchanges of ideas from a diverse range of viewpoints, the importance of democratic institutions, and the role that ethical values play in public life. The Program Officer is essential to animating this work.

This is a highly self-directed position with significant exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to sensitive issues regarding the promotion of American democracy, civic engagement, and civil discourse. The candidate must exercise authority to formulate, affect, and support management policies and operating practices that support Mansfield and UM relationships across the community, state, country, and globally.

Specific responsibilities include:

Strategy and Program Development

• Collaborate with Center leadership to assess critical needs in democracy education and develop a coordinated strategy to identify Center priorities for democracy programs
• Assess and identify primary target audiences for democracy programming in the K-12 system, institutions of higher education, and general citizenry
• Track democracy developments in the U.S. in general, and Montana in particular
• Work closely with a diverse range of democracy actors across the state and nation
• Collaborate with Center leadership to identify funding opportunities for democracy programming and support proposal development
• Engage education professionals in developing strategies to identify relevant curriculum materials for target audiences

Content Development

• Identify program materials required to fulfill strategy outcomes and develop a plan for developing requisite material, including outcomes, timeline, and target audiences
• Identify appropriate partners for content development, such as educators in grades 6-12, university professors, curriculum creators, etc.
• Identify curriculum development partners, such as videographers and communications strategists, to develop materials for target audiences
• Manage content teams in order to meet identified outcomes

Program Implementation

• Develop, organize, and coordinate democracy programs, in keeping with the overall intent of the Center’s mission and strategic plans and UM’s Priorities for Action
• Coordinate and attend outreach events and presentations at high schools, institutions of higher education, and throughout communities
• Serve as a point of contact for potential partners and program participants, acting as a liaison with the community, students, and other stakeholders engaging in democracy programming
• Plan and implement program-wide events such as retreats, panels, donor stewardship events, etc.
• Provide event support through creation of necessary website pages, Zoom meetings, and other logistics
• Exercise discretion to utilize and introduce essential technology, website management systems, and databases as necessary to support democracy programming
• Work collaboratively with the Mansfield Center team on Center programming to ensure a comprehensive and holistic approach to the Center’s mission
• Build and manage partnerships with relevant institutions, maximizing collaborative opportunities
• Provide support to program participants as needed, including emergencies, disabilities accommodations, or urgent issues outside of regular business hours
• Ensure program and participant information is added to relevant databases and alumni information is regularly updated
• Monitor program budgets, expend funds, track expenses, and conduct required reporting
• Manage monitoring and evaluation, integrating feedback into programming, tracking metrics and outcomes for impact reports and grant reporting
• Write program reports with a focus on demonstrating impact and progress on program objectives

Communications and Outreach

• Frequently engage with external audiences to build new contacts, allies, and programming
• Use discretion and judgment to establish and maintain working relationships with critical partners of different backgrounds and ideologies
• Engage with multiple stakeholders in a manner that is flexible, positive, and professional
• Ensure democracy programs are accurately represented and amplified on the Mansfield website, social media, and other outreach platforms, working with the Communications Manager on strategy and content
• Collaborate with Communications Manager to highlight democracy programming to garner statewide and national attention on social media, newsletters, media engagement, etc.
• Manage program communications materials in collaboration with the Communications Manager, including flyers; event signage; and brochures
• Manage daily communications with program partners and participants
• Manage public inquiries and feedback

Position Details

• Position is full-time, 1.0 FTE, Letter of Appointment and includes a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.
• Salary range for this position is $52,000 - $60,000 per year commensurate with qualifications.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (political science, communications, history, education, etc.)
• Knowledge of crosscutting political developments and trends as they relate to democracy and civic engagement
• Strategic and innovative thinker
• Effective listener and strong communicator (written and verbal)
• High degree of organization and initiative
• Exceptional writing skills under tight deadlines
• Experience balancing multiple assignments and internal clients
• Sound project management and supervisory skills
• Proven ability to succeed in a cross-cultural environment, including performing on a team with individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and abilities.
• Must be able to be successful in both a traditional office setting and also in dynamic field situations, such as during program implementation
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or related software
• Ability to travel when required, occasionally under strenuous circumstances, including ability to
• drive across Montana and neighboring states to host or attend events
• accompany program groups to Washington, DC or other sites
• accompany and support inexperienced travelers

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of experience in democracy-related programs.
• Master's degree in a field related to the mission of the Mansfield Center: political science, public administration, communications, etc.
• Experience working with high-level stakeholders in government and democracy efforts.

About UM and the Mansfield Center

The University of Montana is a unit of the Montana University System with more than 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students and 500+ full-time faculty members. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 75,000, surrounded by mountain grandeur which was recently ranked in the “ top 20 best college towns with a population of less than 250,000 ” by the American Institute for Economic Research and ranked 9^th in Outside Magazine’s “ The 16 Greatest Places to Live in America ” in 2014. Many national publications recognize Missoula for its high quality of life . Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere.

Founded by an Act of Congress in 1983, the Mansfield Center fosters globally minded leaders of integrity in support of democracy and international engagement. We honor Senator Mansfield’s legacy of patriotic statesmanship to bridge divides from a variety of perspectives, unified by our commitment to democracy. Our work emphasizes civil exchanges of ideas from a diverse range of viewpoints, the importance of democratic institutions, and role that ethical values play in public life. Our staff is advised by a bipartisan Board of Advisors and supported by citizens nationwide representing government, business, non-profit, education, service and youth sectors.

The Mansfield Center is committed to creating an environment that encourages, enriches and respects the multidimensional aspects of diversity. Diversity includes, but is not limited to, differences based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation or background, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, economic class or status, points of view, or disabilities. The Mansfield Center is committed to recruiting and retaining a team capable of creating a safe, vibrant, diverse, engaging and intellectually stimulating environment.



To learn more about the University of Montana, Missoula, and the State of Montana, please visit the links below.

• University of Montana
  • University Highlights
• City of Missoula
  • Destination Missoula
  • Video: There's This Place
  • Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce
• State of Montana
  • Visit Montana

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to Offer of Employment.
In accordance with University policy, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations.
ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference.
Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law.
References *References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant.
Testing Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions.

E mployment Eligibility. All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).


How to Apply

Priority Application Date: Sunday, November 20, 2022 by 11:59 pm MST

Applications received by this date will be guaranteed consideration. Application review will begin on after the date above and continue until the position is filled.

Please submit the following application materials via "New Resume/CV" button below.

*Please note: only five (5) attachments are allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly.

• Letter of Interest – addressing the stated required skills for the position
• Detailed resume listing education and describing work experience
• Names and contact information for three (3) professional references

Application instructions are located at the bottom of the page. Please apply directly through the University of Montana's career portal UM Jobs at https://umjobs.silkroad.com/ for positions at the University of Montana – Missoula, University of Montana Western (Dillon), and Helena College. Do not apply through Indeed.com or use easy apply through Indeed.com * .

Job Location Missoula, Montana, United States
Position Type Full-Time/Regular