Director of Strategic Engagement

The Director of Strategic Engagement is responsible for delivering and executing strategic initiatives that build and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders, including the National Park Service, donors, community leaders, and other partners. This role ensures effective coordination of messaging and initiatives that enhance Yellowstone Forever's impact and visibility while fostering sustainable support for its mission.

Serving as a member of the Yellowstone Forever Leadership Team, the Director will support existing programs, partnerships, and engagement efforts while also identifying and implementing new opportunities for strategic collaboration. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in external relations and a strong understanding of the unique interests of diverse stakeholders, particularly the National Park Service, leveraging these relationships to advance Yellowstone Forever's mission and long-term success.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Build, foster, and sustain meaningful, trusted, and collaborative relationships with NPS, key constituents, stakeholders, and partners that support YF's mission, vision, values and strategic plan.

• Collaborate across all departments to ensure that strategic engagement initiatives, partnerships, and messaging are cohesive, effectively implemented, and aligned with Yellowstone Forever's mission, vision, and priorities.

• Partner and work collaboratively with internal teams to design impactful and strategic in-person and virtual engagement opportunities that foster connection and loyalty among donor segments, volunteer leadership, gateway communities, and constituents to advance priorities, support sustainable growth, and increase impact.

• Spearhead Yellowstone Forever's community engagement strategy, ensuring meaningful connections with gateway communities, Tribal partners, local organizations, and other key stakeholders to strengthen relationships, enhance collaboration, and expand support for the organization's mission.

• Support, envision, and help design opportunities for collaboration with NPS, to support YF and YNP strategic priorities.

• Meet with partners and constituents across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem as well as nationally to build community, share best practices, and generate ideas for enhancing support for the park.

• Support board relationships and engagement opportunities.

• work with internal teams to ensure messaging across the organization is culturally relevant, emotionally resonant messaging, outreach, and appeals tailored to each audience segment, ensuring alignment with YF's mission, vision, purpose, and brand.

• Meet with current and prospective donors and strategic partners as needed.

• Use market research, segmentation, and behavioral analytics to refine engagement strategies and identify emerging opportunities to enhance impact and support for Yellowstone and Yellowstone Forever.

• Design and implement innovative, audience-specific strategies to foster, support and maximize the YF-NPS partnership.

• Track, monitor and analyze key performance metrics for strategic engagement programs, and campaigns, providing actionable recommendations to enhance results.

• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of relevant experience in the national park community, building relationships with senior executives, managers and/or donors to organizations.

• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing strategic plans for all aspects of engagement.

• Track record of setting priorities and leading a program, department, or organization through change.

• Extensive experience navigating federal processes including resource, brand and licensing requirements, and partnership agreements, specifically knowledge of Director's Order 21, Reference Manual 21, Director's Order 32, and Reference Manual 32.

• Proven ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders including advisory groups, coalitions, forums, trade associations, foundations, corporate sponsors, and practitioner groups.

• Understanding and experience working with finance in budgeting, planning for contingencies, and identifying revenue streams.

• Proven ability to plan and coordinate events both live and digitally.

• Strong interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to build and sustain meaningful relationships with a wide variety of communities and partners.

• Deep understanding of audience motivations, values, and preferences, with the ability to conceptualize and execute creative, forward-thinking engagement strategies that meet their unique needs that align with organizational goals.

• Strong analytical skills to leverage insights, segmentation, and metrics to inform and optimize efforts and initiatives.

• Proficiency in crafting impactful narratives that connect emotionally with audiences and inspire action.

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and foster a collaborative, high-performing team environment.

• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and addressing complex challenges with innovative solutions.

Compensation:

This is a full-time, salary-exempt position, which will be a hybrid/location flexible. Travel between the offices and throughout the park may be required. Salary is based upon experience. Benefits of this position include knowing that your efforts directly benefit Yellowstone National Park and having the opportunity to work in one of the world's premiere wilderness areas.

Yellowstone Forever is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, political beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.