Description

TITLE: Senior Economic Development Manager

DIVISION: External Relations

REPORTS TO:  Director of Community Outreach

SUPERVISE: None

LOCATION: Lewistown, MT

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

GROUP: Core

HOURS: Full-Time averaging 40 hours per week

BENEFITS:  

Paid Vacation

Paid National Holidays

 Paid Sick Days

 Paid Volunteer Hours

 401K with up to 3% employer match

 Medical Insurance with optional 

 Flexible Savings or Health Savings Account &

 Dependent Care Account

 Short-term Disability Insurance

 Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, Critical Illness, & Accident Insurance 

 Work Role Provisions (Pool Vehicle)

 Reserve Lodging Perks

 Corporate Discounts

 Flexible Scheduling

JOB PURPOSE
This position will build and maintain strong relationships with local businesses and community partners, identifying opportunities that help local entrepreneurs benefit from American Prairie’s growing visitation and operations. By linking businesses that provide lodging, food and dining, cultural experiences, outfitting, and related services to visitor demand, this role will support increased public awareness and meaningful community impact.
The position will collaborate closely with regional tourism and economic development organizations to identify and develop joint marketing and promotional opportunities, including the creation of visitor itineraries that highlight the broader region. Working alongside the Marketing team, this role will also produce periodic community impact reports and develop storytelling content that showcases the positive local outcomes of American Prairie’s work.
JOB DUTIES

Community Economic Development and Community Relations (70%)

• Contribute significantly to strategy development, working with the Director of Community Outreach, and take primary responsibility for implementing initiatives that support economic diversification, sustainable tourism, and recreation-based business opportunities in the region. Engage local businesses, identify partnership opportunities, provide tools and resources, and support entrepreneurs whose work connects to the prairie’s landscape and wildlife.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with regional economic development partners including Montana Tourism Districts, Snowy Mountain Development, Lewistown Downtown Association, and local Chambers of Commerce (Glasgow, Lewistown, Malta, Jordan, Chinook). Conduct proactive outreach to understand business needs, offer training and educational opportunities, and foster collaboration around tourism-driven economic growth.
• Manage allocated community development funds and establish a transparent process for distributing mini-grants or training support to local business partners. (Examples include funding for website development, business planning support, or registration/travel for industry training.)
• Serve as a primary relationship manager for key community stakeholders, including business owners, elected officials, community groups, and entrepreneurs on matters related to economic development and regional business growth.
• Connect local businesses to opportunities that leverage the region’s natural resources, wildlife, and cultural heritage for responsible economic benefit.
• Explore, evaluate, and help develop regional events or experiences that highlight prairie culture, attract visitors, and stimulate local economic activity.
• Act as a liaison between community members, businesses, NGOs, and American Prairie staff to support ongoing communication and alignment.

Marketing and Communication (30%)

• Develop, maintain, and continuously update an inventory of local businesses, tourism operators, and community groups to strengthen collaboration and visitor engagement.
• Lead the creation of regional itineraries, resource lists, and visitor experience guides; partner closely with the Marketing and Communications department to promote these assets across digital and print channels.
• Analyze community and economic development data and generate reports to track progress towards goals. Develop and disseminate an annual Community Impact Report.
• Communicate opportunities that encourage visitation to American Prairie and connect visitors to local business, experiences, and amenities. 

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS
Required 

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business, Economic Development, Public Administration, or related field.
• 5-8+ years of progressively responsible experience in community economic development, tourism development, public affairs, community outreach, small-business support, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience building and managing partnerships with business owners, community organizations, elected officials, and/or economic development entities.
• Proven ability to develop and implement programs or initiatives, including managing timelines, coordinating stakeholders, and measuring outcomes.
• Strong understanding of rural economic development, small-business ecosystems, or tourism-driven economies.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively across diverse communities and stakeholder groups.
• Experience preparing reports, presentations, and/or impact summaries that translate data into insights for internal and external audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, drive implementation, and manage complex projects without direct supervision or direct reports.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize competing needs and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong strategic thinking with a hands-on, implementation-focused approach.
• Collaborative, relationship-oriented, and skilled at navigating varied community perspectives.
• Comfort working in dynamic, evolving environments with a high degree of autonomy.
• Commitment to supporting vibrant local economies and fostering positive community relationships.
• Proficiency with standard office and collaboration tools (e.g. Google Workspace, CRM, Wrike).
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
• Ability to travel 30-40% of the month within the region.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be comfortable traveling by vehicle in remote areas in a variety of weather conditions year-round. 

Preferred

• Experience working in rural Montana or similar rural communities, or familiarity with issues impacting rural economic development.
• Background in tourism, destination development, or recreation-based business development.
• Experience administering grant or funding programs, including tracking, reviewing applications, and reporting outcomes.
• Knowledge of marketing, communications, or visitor-facing programs, especially in a tourism or community-based context.
• Understanding of conservation, natural-resource-based economies, or place-based storytelling.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities and tribal businesses.