Job Description
Rural Development Specialist – Environmental
Advertised as “Small Utility Consultant” on the website.
Classification: Grade 10
Department: Community and Environmental Services
Status: Exempt
Supervisor: Regional Field Manager
Organization
Founded in 1978, RCAC seeks to collaboratively build the capacity of organizations that serve low-income people living in the rural West (13 states including Alaska and Hawaii). RCAC works in partnership with small rural and Indigenous communities and other local agencies to provide tools and resources necessary to improve their quality of life. RCAC offers a wide range of services to communities with fewer than 50,000 people including technical assistance and training for environmental infrastructure; affordable housing development; economic and leadership development; and financing to support community development. Since its inception, RCAC’s dedicated staff and active board have helped affect positive change in rural and Indigenous communities across the West.
Community and Environment Department
RCAC’s comprehensive community and environmental services support rural communities to create a vision, set goals and implement an action plan for community development projects. We work with rural water, wastewater, and solid waste systems to make them sustainable. We work with the volunteer boards of directors and staff of the small systems to make sure they comply with state and federal regulations and understand the finances and operations of the systems. Outcomes of RCAC’s work include system regulatory compliance; access of resources for capital improvement projects; and capacity building of boards and staff on technical, financial and managerial best practices.
Position Description
The Rural Development Specialist (RDS) provides technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) assistance to small, disadvantaged community water and wastewater systems so that they can operate sustainably and deliver quality services to the communities served. The RDS works closely with rural residents and local leaders to assist them in the development and management of water, wastewater, or solid waste systems. The RDS also prepares and delivers classroom and individual trainings as needed to build the capacity of local partners.
Specific job goals, objectives and tasks are established for each employee as part of the annual evaluation process. Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Assess the needs of our local partners and recommend solutions to the needs identified
• Build technical, managerial, and/or financial capacity
• Access financial resources to address local needs
• Implement solutions
• Promote and facilitate partnerships to maximize limited resources
• Develop, prepare, and deliver group and one-on-one trainings, in person and online
• Provide excellent customer service
• Prepare activity and outcome reports as required
• Perform other duties as assigned
Skills and Qualifications
• Ability to manage technical aspects of field work related to water and/or wastewater
• Facilitation, mediation, and meeting management skills
• Familiarity with rural and tribal community dynamics
• Ability to troubleshoot, innovate, and problem-solve
• Proficiency with personal computers including Microsoft Office
• Familiarity with online training platforms preferred (Zoom, GoToTraining)
• Ability to complete administrative and reporting requirements related to work responsibilities in a timely manner
• Ability to listen effectively and communicate, verbally and in writing
• Ability to work with minimum supervision and handle multiple priorities simultaneously
• Ability to work independently as well as in team environments
Physical Job Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable persons with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work performed in an office requires ability to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment, including telephone. Use may be moderate (average 2 hours per day) to heavy (4 or more hours per day)
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to stand and/or sit for prolonged periods of time; walk; talk; hear; use hand to finger; handle; feel or operate objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
The employee may occasionally lift and or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
This position also requires moderate (up to two days per month) to heavy (up to 10 days per month) automobile and airline travel, including overnight travel.
Preferred Education and Experience:
A combination of experience and education is required to qualify for the position. A typical qualifying combination would be:
Experience:
Three years of applicable experience in water, wastewater, environmental project management, or other closely related field (if a higher level of related education is possessed than is required, this education may be substituted for the experience requirement up to a maximum of one year). Experience in training, facilitating and mediating community programs/projects is highly desirable.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree (additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education).
Special Requirements:
Possession of a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance that meets the minimum requirements ($100,000/$300,000) of RCAC corporate liability policy may be required when traveling for business purposes.
RCAC is an equal opportunity employer and considers all employees and job applicants without regard to race, religion, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status, or any other status protected by law. RCAC strives to reflect the diverse constituencies that the organization serves.
