Economic Recovery Corps Fellowship: Wyoming

Job posting will close on July 11th, 2025

Overview:

The Economic Recovery Corps Fellowship provides experienced, impact-driven professionals an opportunity to address critical challenges in under-resourced communities throughout the country to advance new ways of doing economic development that promotes transformative change and leads to a more just, equitable, and sustainable economy for all. This position offers a chance to step into a dynamic role as the fellowship enters an exciting new phase. The selected candidate will build on the progress of the past 14 months, contributing to ongoing projects while forging new opportunities to drive systemic change.

You might be a good fit if…

• You are looking to do something impactful, substantive, and transformative while growing as a professional.
• You get excited about the idea of joining and building a nation-wide network of innovators to change the system and create new ways of doing economic development where no one gets left behind.
• You seek opportunities that allow you to develop new knowledge and practices that can shape the next generation of economic development practitioners and community-builders.
• You seek to work with and engage stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to build effective coalitions.
• You’re known for being somewhat of a disruptor or change agent within your network — as well as a connector – bringing the right people together to get things done.

Project Context:

The Wind River Reservation is 2.2 million acres of the most pristine wilderness in the world. While everyone knows about Yellowstone, they may not be aware that Wind River is just as large and beautiful, but the roads, rivers, and trails are uncrowded. Some of the best fly fishing and hunting in the world are right here, along with climbing, hiking, mountain biking, rafting, and camping. Recently, representatives from across the reservation, including the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes, met for the Intertribal Tourism Summit. The result was a general consensus of the opportunity to develop ecotourism businesses that allow access to these untouched natural resources while carefully protecting tribal interests and managing the volume of tourists.

Our project is to develop and execute on a plan that prioritizes the stages of development, identifies the capital investment needs, determines the ownership structures, and projects the ultimate economic and financial benefits to the reservation and Tribes.

Project Location:

The Wind River Indian Reservation covers 2.2 million acres, which is larger than eight U.S. states, including Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. While the fellow is not expected to travel across the entire reservation on a regular basis, they will be exposed to the unique features of the reservation so that they can build an appreciation for and understanding of the ecotourism opportunities. Most travel will be between WRDF’s offices in Fort Washakie and the nearby towns of Riverton and Lander.

Project Scope:

Be a collaborative partner with a diverse leadership team to develop the long-term economic

strategies, maintain momentum, and deliver results. Ensure that the project is adapting effective

economic development principles, planning techniques, and outcomes measurement.

Project Management

• With the WRDF team, guide the implementation of the strategic plan, including $10.5 million of investments in the outdoor recreation infrastructure.
• Work collaboratively across seven projects to ensure success.
• Develop a meeting timeline and coordinate schedules to stay on task.
• Ensure continuous and effective communication to bring transparency to the work.

Outcomes Measurement

• Identify the appropriate economic measures/outcomes that are specific to the project.
• Develop a system for tracking and reporting on the project’s results to support grant
• applications and reporting.
• Coordinate with similar organizations from across the state (e.g., University of Wyoming) to leverage data expertise, reports, and analyses.
• Support storytelling with meaningful and accurate data and information.

Project Qualifications:

The ideal fellow will be experienced in economic development principles and practices that lead to action, sustainable outcomes, and clear metrics of success. They should be analytical, results oriented, and effective at managing a long-term project. Specific experience with ecotourism, the hospitality industry, and/or small business development would be very helpful. They should be able to identify potential points of conflict and seek guidance when necessary. The candidate must be able to quickly adapt to a rural lifestyle in central Wyoming and life on a Reservation – where winters can be very cold.

With the appropriate guidance, they should be adept at carefully navigating and developing a deep appreciation for the distinct cultures of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho people. The fellow will be part of a strong team that includes project director, project coordinator, grants manager, expanded financial team, and others to ensure success. The ideal fellow will be able to work collaboratively with and across a small team, have a strong work ethic, and engage on our projects.

Fellowship Qualifications:

Ideal ERC fellows will have a bachelor’s or associate degree, a minimum of five years of professional experience in a manager-level role, an entrepreneurial mindset, be able to learn on the fly, think and communicate across multiple disciplines, and be natural ecosystem-builders / connectors. While these qualifications give us a good sense of an applicant’s preparation, we will also consider other types of work, volunteer, or education experiences that are equivalent to these minimum requirements.

You must have existing U.S. work authorization for the entirety of the program without any need for visa sponsorship.

The following characteristics and skillsets are easy descriptors of who you are:

• Collaborative, Service-oriented, Ethical, Curious, Persuasive, Creative problem-solver, Resilient, Tech-savvy, Strategic, Adaptable, Empathetic,  Culturally competent, Compassionate, Facilitator, Networker / Relationship Builder, Disruptor / Change Agent

Underscoring all these characteristics is a genuine desire to contribute to the greater good.

Fellowship Features

• High-Impact Field Experience
• 16 month project
• $7,500 per month + approved business expenses
• Upon Completion $10,000 post-fellowship readjustment stipend
• Mentorship opportunities with experienced community and economic development leaders
• Action research capstone project in partnership with your host organization

Leadership and Professional Development

• Access to professional development opportunities, including a stipend of up to $27,500 for travel expenses, annual in-person training retreats, and access to up to two conferences per year hosted by IEDC or one of the ERC partners
• An opportunity to pursue certification to become a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and/or Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP), for those who are interested in classes and sitting for the exam(s).

Expanded Network

• Monthly Community of Practice engagements with a sub-cohort of peers led by one of the six ERC partners.

• Quarterly virtual peer learning and network exchanges with the entire Fellow cohort.
• Access to ERC Partners’ nationwide network of industry leaders, more than 23,000 partner organizations, and ongoing support, collaboration, and professional opportunities through IEDC’s 4,500+ member network.
• ERC fellows are independent contractor professionals and will be required to sign an independent contractor agreement with the International Economic Development Council before beginning the fellowship. ERC fellows must meet all requirements for independent contractor status under federal and state laws applicable to their work location in order to be eligible for this fellowship.
• Disbursement of the annual and post-fellowship stipends are contingent upon fulfillment of contractual requirements and completion of the ERC program.

This description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all of the requirements and features of this fellowship opportunity, which may change without notice.