Employment

Recruitment Update (12/17/25):

On Wednesday, Dec. 17, the City of Helena Commission voted in favor of appointing Alana Lake to the position of Helena City Manager, contingent upon the successful negotiations and execution of an employment agreement.

The City and the consulting firm, Communication and Management Services based in Helena, conducted a national search through organizations such as the International City/County Management Association, as well as municipal organizations throughout the West, including the Montana League of Cities and Towns. This resulted in an application pool of approximately 85 applicants from Montana and states across the country. Following a first round interview of nine semifinalist candidates, the City of Helena Commission conducted open interviews with three finalist candidates on Dec. 8-9. In addition to the open, public interviews with the Commission, each candidate participated in tours with City staff and community stakeholders, met with City department directors and attended a public town hall meeting where they provided a brief presentation and answered questions.

On Dec. 10, the City Commission held a meeting for candidate deliberations, in which the Commission ranked finalist candidates, identifying its top selection, and requesting further screening. Communications Management LLC. then conducted background and reference checks on the Commission's top choice, which were shared with the Commission during the special meeting held Wednesday, Dec. 17.

The Commission-designated staff and counsel will now proceed with negotiations of the agreement terms on behalf of the Commission. A final agreement will be brought forward for consideration at a future meeting date.

Resources

The following are materials collected throughout the recruitment process by the elected body, in addition to in-person public comment received, and in concert with the candidates’ responses to interview questions and their performance at the town hall meetings.  Information which does not conform to applicable federal, and state equal employment and non-discrimination laws was not considered.

These documents are available for public disclosure as it has been determined that any individual privacy rights are outweighed by the public’s right to know.

• Community Survey Documents
  • Input Summary(PDF, 310KB)
  • Survey Results(PDF, 520KB)
  • Input Analysis(PDF, 374KB)

• Written Public Comment
• Town Hall Survey Results(PDF, 364KB)
  
• Letter from the City of Helena Staff Directors(PDF, 49KB)

The City’s hired recruitment consultants, Communication and Management Services, LLC (CMS), conducted a listening session from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30 in the Commission Chambers, Room 330, at the City-County Building, 316 N. Park Ave. The compiled data was shared with the City Commission at a Special Commission meeting on November 10, 2025.  

For those who could not attend the listening session, CMS launched an online survey that closed on Nov. 4 at 11:55 p.m.

Situated in the picturesque backdrop of the Rocky Mountains and with a population of roughly 33,000, the City of Helena, capital of Montana, offers diverse opportunities for anyone to feel at home. Step outside and experience world class fly fishing and water activities in nearby reservoirs or the Missouri River. Take family and friends to access the City’s 1800 acres of natural, undeveloped park land where you can hike or bike to your heart’s content. Get out and explore the town that Rand McNally’s has called, “the #1 small town in the USA for Geocaching.” The Helena area also offers skiing, ghost town tours, backpacking, golfing, and many more great ways to enjoy the outdoors!

When you need a break from the outdoors, come downtown to enjoy homemade ice cream, chocolate and candy, unique stores and restaurants, local breweries, the carousel and ExplorationWorks!, or see a live production at the Helena Civic Center, Grandstreet Theatre, or Myrna Loy Center. The Helena Symphony, internationally acclaimed Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, and many local sporting events are also great ways to spend your time in our City. Our local government is committed to helping support the great quality of life expected by our citizens. Join us if you want to make a difference in the place you will be proud to call home!

Individuals interested in becoming a firefighter with the City of Helena MUST provide as part of the application process a passed physical agility test (CPAT) completed within the previous 12 months. Testing in Montana is provided through the Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium (MFTC) with testing dates and additional information being found at https://www.mtfiretesting.org/. When a position is available, individuals can apply through the City of Helena website.

Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium (MFTC)

Follow Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium on Facebook.

The Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium (MFTC) conducts firefighter testing for employment with any of the departments belonging to the Consortium. Departments that are members of the MFTC are Big Sky FD, Billings FD, Bozeman FD, Butte-Silver Bow FD, Central Valley (Belgrade area) FD, Frenchtown FD, Kalispell FD, Great Falls FD, Havre FD, Helena FD, Lockwood FD, Miles City FD, Missoula FD, and Missoula Rural FD.

MFTC requires candidates to successfully complete the CPAT Testing within one year prior to application. CPAT events are scheduled in Billings, MT, annually. If you have never taken a CPAT Test, you are highly encouraged to participate in a free CPAT Orientation.

The Consortium will test annually to keep the candidate pool current. Departments will review results as needed, as determined by the agency. Be sure to check each department profile to make sure you meet any department-specific deadline!  Departments will reach out to candidates on an as-needed basis. Be sure to be responsive to any agency requests!

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Montana Code 7-33-4107. Qualifications of firefighters.

Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium (MFTC)

Individuals interested in becoming a police officer with the City of Helena should review the information on HPD's employment page linked below.
http://www.helenamt.gov/government/departments/police-department/employment

The City of Helena offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Medical Insurance and Prescription Coverage
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance and Hearing Aid Benefits
• Life Insurance
• State of Montana Retirement and Deferred Compensation
• Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Health Screenings with Paid Incentives
• Supplemental Benefits through Mutual of Omaha
• Paid Holidays, Sick Leave, Vacation Leave, and Parental Leave
• Longevity Pay

For additional information about benefits, please contact the HR Specialist at 406-447-8404.

1. Access the City of Helena Job Portal

Click Here to Access Job Portal

2. Create Your Account: Once you’re on the portal, select “Applicant Access” to set up your account.

3. Explore Job Opportunities: After logging in, you’ll find a list of current job openings with the City of Helena available for you to review and apply for.