Local recruitment: Coordinator, Policy & Government Affairs

Position: Coordinator, Policy & Government Affairs

Location: Remote; Los Angeles (Hybrid) preferred

Employment Type: Hourly, Full-Time, Nonexempt

Compensation Band: $26.50/hour – $31.25/hour DOE

Level: Coordinator I

Reports To: Director of Policy & Coalitions

Manages: None

Supported By: Program Officer, Administrative Coordinator, Policy Fellow

Education Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Start Date: ASAP

We Are DigDeep

The DigDeep Right to Water Project is a WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) organization serving the 2.2+ million Americans who still don’t have a tap or a toilet at home. 

DigDeep believes access to clean water is a human right. We run several nationally recognized programs that empower communities to build their own water and sanitation systems. We won the 2018 US Water Prize for our Navajo Water Project, which has brought clean, running water to hundreds of Native families across New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. DigDeep launched the Appalachia Water Project in July of 2020, which brings clean, running water into the homes of Appalachia families, starting in southern West Virginia. The project has already brought safe water to hundreds of homes through  a public-private partnership with the McDowell County Public Service District which is helping families connect to new water lines. Our water projects expanded in 2022 when we launched our Colonias Water Project. This project works to bring clean, running water to the residents living in communities along the Texas-Mexico border. The Texas colonias are largely unincorporated, low-income communities that fall just outside city limits and often lack basic infrastructure. Our work began in Cochran colonia near El Paso. DigDeep partnered with residents, housing nonprofits, and county officials to innovate a new model for public-private-partnership that brings these basic services to families for the first time. Now we’re getting the water flowing in 5 more communities.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Director of Policy & Coalitions, the Policy & Government Affairs Coordinator will support DigDeep’s work on policy initiatives, including Congressional and federal agency priorities, as well as the growing sector development and coalitions department. The work is both strategic and tactical, visionary, and detail-oriented and requires flexibility, forward-thinking, creativity, humility, patience, a discerning-eye, and efficiency. A love of writing, researching, and synthesizing information, as well as relationship-building, analyzing and researching policy and government affairs is a must!

Key Responsibilities

This is what you’ll do once you join the team:

• Support and coordinate DigDeep’s work on Congressional, regulatory, state, Tribal, and other policy priorities.
• Monitor, track, research, and report on legislative issues and actions for state and federal government affairs initiatives through review of BGov, testimony, hearings, floor debates, and bills on the state and federal levels. 
• Assist in managing relationships with key officials, policy organizations, think tanks, foundations, and civil society organizations on DigDeep’s behalf. 
• Be familiar with conducting outreach to policymakers in state legislatures or Congress and/or state or federal agencies.
• Draft fact sheets, briefing memos, and other materials as requested.
• Draft agendas and capture notes for key meetings.
• Provide support for external policy-related briefings.
• Lead on scheduling for policy & government affairs priorities, external meetings, internal meetings, and support for departmental travel. 

• Attend webinars, conferences, government information sessions, and other events on water access, wastewater issues, and other policy priorities. 
• Work closely with internal DigDeep teams, including executive, research, programs, communications, and operations, on various projects and support roles. 
• Provide assistance to the Director of Policy & Coalitions’ work to initiate partnerships with communities, partner organizations, government officials, and individuals to help meet strategic goals; relay communications to and from the Directors as needed; contribute to an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among staff, community members, and partner organizations.

As the organization continues to evolve, duties or tasks may change without impacting the overall Job Description. 

Competencies

• Initiative: Begins deeper questioning of processes in order to improve them. Able to focus in the face of pressure, deliver against timelines and not be intimidated by tasks/time limitations. Identifies person, resource, or technology that can provide support and procures their input. Identifies problems/challenges and collaborates with management towards a solution.
• Communication: Professional presence, strong written and verbal communications skills, with the ability to express oneself clearly and effectively in conversations and interactions with others (both internal and external). Ability to effectively determine and use appropriate written and visual communications, graphics, statistics, presentations, and language in such a way as to have maximum impact on the intended audience. Handles conflict empathetically. Converses and writes in ways that support both transactional and administrative activities. Seeks and shares relevant information, opinions, and judgments. Explains the context of interrelated situations, asks probing questions, and solicits multiple resources of advice prior to taking action when appropriate. Practices active listening, repeats message back to speaker in a way that it is clear that the message is understood.
• Collaborative Working/Teamwork: Actively solicits ideas and opinions from others to efficiently and effectively accomplish specific objectives targeted at defined organization outcomes. Often expresses an interest in others’ experiences, ideas, and roles. Always remains respectful in communications and approach where disagreement exists. Proactively sources feedback and integrates it into approach. Takes an interest in cross-functional teams and fosters relationships outside of individual scope.
• Change Management: Task focused. Voice opportunities for functional area growth and innovation. Receives/follows direction, but is trusted to see work through. Deliver value to a specific functional area. Ability to simultaneously work on multiple projects. Increasing complexity of projects and necessary depth of knowledge. Able to complete more ambiguous project/work through a greater understanding of organization’s goals.
• Analytical Thinking: Begins to analyze information for related trends, patterns, and gaps. Makes logical deductions from information. Identifies and proposes workable options and solutions for any problems and inconsistencies. Gather information needed to address problems and inconsistencies. Prioritize between multiple issues and tasks. Investigates to define problems more accurately. With guidance, determines importance and priorities for action.
• Innovation: Actively seeks opportunities to try out new experiences. Beginning to generate innovative responses to current problems. Displays open mindedness and is willing to try new approaches. Adapts readily to changes and needs. Is able to shift attention and priorities in own work in response to needs of their work. Offers suggestions to improve the ways things are done.

Qualifications

• Associates Degree or equivalent work experience, Bachelor’s degree preferred
• At least 2 years of applicable professional experience in policy, government affairs, and/or government work required; experience in the WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) sector preferred
• Preference for experience in both government affairs and policy analysis
• Excellent written and communications skills are required, including, the ability to synthesize complex information into focused public policy research, white papers, congressional fact sheets, action alerts, press releases, and other advocacy materials.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, Google Workspace required
• Experience with Slack, Airtable, Asana, Expensify, Zoom preferred
• Proven ability to develop key relationships and identify and leverage collaborative opportunities with a range of stakeholders and diverse communities.
• Knowledge of the state and federal legislative processes with an ability to apply that knowledge to developing and carrying out coherent strategies.

• Able to respond effectively and sensitively to inquiries or complaints.
• Able to focus in the face of pressure, deliver against timelines and not be intimidated by tasks/time limitations.

• Able to gain the respect and trust of others through honesty, integrity and authenticity.
• Broad knowledge base of topics including, but not limited to, water poverty in the United States and internationally, and the WaSH sector.
• Willingness to travel, including but not limited to: Navajo Nation (AZ/NM/UT); West Virginia; Texas; DigDeep HQ; Washington, DC; and additional locations as needed
• Understanding and appreciation of humanitarian principles.

Compensation and Benefits

At DigDeep, we believe that great work requires a great job. We pride ourselves on creating industry-leading employment opportunities for our team across the United States. We’re a supportive environment that values creativity, diversity and quick-thinking. Here’s how we’ll support you in your work:

• Competitive wage to commensurate with level of experience
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• 23 weeks paid Parental Leave
• Annual Professional Development Stipend
• Annual Wellbeing Reimbursement
• Medical, dental, vision insurance, 100% employer paid 
• One Medical membership 
• Life insurance, 100% employer paid
• Work laptop
• Monthly cell phone allowance
• Domestic travel 
• 401k retirement plan, with employer match

Interested?

When applying, please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume. References should be available upon request. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. No office visits. No calls please. Thank you.

DigDeep has adopted a COVID-19 vaccination policy to safeguard the health of our employees and community at large. Candidates applying to work at DigDeep should be ready to demonstrate proof of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination and booster as a condition of their employment.

In an effort to promote pay equity and transparency, DigDeep does not negotiate compensation outside of posted compensation ranges. 

Please note that DigDeep cannot provide immigration sponsorship for this position.

DigDeep is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe social change happens when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with a common purpose. DigDeep is built on the principles of equity, transparency and the power of human experience. Your work will improve the daily lives of real people. We believe everybody should have the clean, running water they need to thrive. Join us, and we’ll close the US water gap in our lifetimes.

DigDeep is a certified Great Place to Work®