Position Announcement
POSITION TITLE: Sr. Associate, Water Equity and Climate Resilience (Preference – Southern US-Based Candidates)
LOCATION: Remote
STATUS: Full-time/Exempt
APPLY BY: Open Until Filled
Organization Overview
This position, available immediately, is an exciting opportunity to join the staff at PolicyLink. PolicyLink is a national research and action institute advancing racial and economic equity by Lifting Up What Works®. We are dedicated to improving the lives of the 100 million people in America who live in or near poverty, particularly those facing the barriers of structural racism. We are currently working remotely. Please visit our website at: www.policylink.org.
Position Summary
PolicyLink is seeking a Southern US-based Senior Associate to join our Water and Climate Team. This position will support our growing portfolio of work to advance water equity and climate resilience through transformative strategies and innovative policy development. This includes ensuring that all people, including low-income people and people of color, have safe and affordable water; benefit from climate resilient water management; have opportunities for training, employment, and contracting in the water and green infrastructure sectors; and are empowered to shape water and climate policies that impact their lives.
We are seeking a skilled organizer and coalition builder, effective project manager, clear communicator (written and oral), and committed policy advocate who brings experience and passion around issues of racial justice, climate resilience, and water infrastructure to join our Water Equity and Climate Resilience efforts.
The Senior Associate will be responsible for working in consultation with the Director of Water Equity and Climate Resilience to (1) manage PolicyLink three-year Southern States State Revolving Fund (SRF) Analysis and Advocacy project; and (2) support the growth of the Water Equity and Climate Resilience (WECR) Caucus, with a significant focus on expanding WECR Caucus membership in the South. More specifically, the Southern-based Senior Associate will be responsible for:
- Managing PolicyLink three-year Southern States SRF Analysis and Advocacy project: This project consists of two main activities: (1) Analyses of Drinking Water (DWSRF) and Clean Water (CWSRF) State Revolving Fund policies and administration in seven Southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas) in Year 1 (2023) that will be used to inform (2) state policy advocacy driven by cohorts of community- based organizations in three to four select Southern states in Years 2-3 (2024-5). The Southern-based Senior Associate will:
- Oversee the project, in partnership with PolicyLink Director of Water Equity and Climate Resilience, to ensure high-quality deliverables are met in a timely manner;
- Day-to-day relationship management with our project consultants (Environmental Policy Innovation Center and River Network), local partners, and project funders;
- Collaborate with the SRF Policy Analyst Cohort and other partners during Year 1 of the project to identify relevant community-based organizations (CBOs) in three to four select Southern states, and lead a process for selecting CBO participants for Years 2 and 3 of the project;
- Support the expansion of CBO participants’ networks and relationship building with relevant partners, such as utilities, state SRF administrators, and others to effectively influence improvements to SRF programs and outcomes;
- Provide support in fundraising (grant writing) and reporting to funders; and
- Document and share insights and lessons learned from this project, such as case studies, reports, presentations, and more.
Supporting the growth of the Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus, a national network of frontline leaders and allies advancing solutions at the intersection of water, climate, and justice.
Although the WECR Caucus is anchored by PolicyLink, it is governed by a Steering Committee composed of core members, regional co-chairs, and allies. The mission of the WECR Caucus is to honor water, promote generational water security, and build frontline climate resilience through federal and state policy advocacy that advances equity for communities at risk of losing access to water due to climate impacts or systems failure. Since its establishment in 2018, the Caucus has grown to include over 100 core members, allies, and supporters across the US, with significant representation in cities in the South, West, and Great Lakes regions.
As it relates to the WECR Caucus, the primary responsibility of the Southern-based Senior Associate will be to strengthen the WECR Caucus’s base in the South by:
- Working closely with WECR Caucus partners (i.e., the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans) to support the establishment and growth of the WECR Caucus Southern Region Workgroup;
- Cultivating relationships with community-based organizations working at the intersection of water, climate, and justice in the South through 1:1 outreach;
- Connecting existing water and climate justice leaders in the South to lift up local solutions that can be implemented in other regions and inform federal action;
- Anchoring efforts to co-develop a set of water and climate justice priorities for Black, Indigenous, and communities of color in the South that can be achieved through state, regional, and federal policy advocacy; and
- Strengthening the capacity of water and climate justice leaders in the South to collectively achieve more equitable water/climate outcomes through capacity building (e.g., offering trainings, sharing knowledge and connections, and fundraising).
As time allows, the Southern-based Senior Associate will also:
- Support general WECR Caucus activities, including participation in and collaboration on national calls, convenings, and other workgroups as capacity and time allows; and
- Provide thought partnership, guidance, and expertise to the Water and Climate Team on other place-based work at PolicyLink as relevant to the WECR Caucus members and/or Southern partners.
PolicyLink is focused on this Water Equity result:
Ensure that the population of nearly 100 million who live at 200 percent of poverty or below who face water vulnerabilities can have their voice, experiences, and challenges meaningfully represented in water protection efforts; benefit from climate resilient water management; and gain access to clean, affordable water.
Core Responsibilities
- Project management, including oversight of deliverables execution, providing direction to (and supporting) project consultants and partners, budget management, and cultivating partner relationships.
- Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of equity-related theory and practice (e.g., legislation, regulations, policies, procedures, and political trends) related to water equity and climate resilience.
- Facilitating internal and external processes to address structural racism; moving from talk to action to results with knowledge and sensitivity.
- Co-develop grant proposals and grant reporting.
- The position will involve frequent travel within the Southern States SRF Analysis and Advocacy Project states, especially in Years 2 and 3 (we estimate one to two day trips per month).
Desired Qualifications
- Advanced degree in urban planning/policy, public policy, economics, environmental policy, or related social science and at least five years of research or policy-related experience, ideally in a fast-paced work environment characterized by multiple ongoing projects.
- Experience in urban planning and development, infrastructure finance, environmental justice, or place-based initiatives, including substantive experience in an area of water practice and/or climate action.
- A commitment to advancing racial justice and economic and social equity.
- Experience with direct civic engagement and organizing, working with grassroots partners, and supporting coalition building, and a well-developed practice of analyzing the equity impacts of policies, activities, and decisions on race, class, and other group identities.
- Self-starter with good time management skills and ability to effectively work on multiple projects and meet aggressive deadlines.
- Strong writing and editing skills, including the ability to produce clear, rigorous, accessible, policy-relevant documents; familiarity with research methods and design including interviews, surveys, case studies, and content analysis.
- Familiarity with public policy and the legislative process.
We know there is not one ideal candidate who has all these traits. If you have a mix of interests, skills, and experience related to the above — and a passion for this work — please don’t let a gap in your strengths stop you from applying for this role or reaching out. Thanks for your interest in working with our Water Equity and Climate Resilience team at PolicyLink.
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $85,000 – $105,000 dependent upon experience. PolicyLink offers competitive salaries based on the experience and skills of employees. Additionally, PolicyLink provides an excellent and comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401k match, ancillary benefits, access to Flexible Spending Accounts, and generous leave benefits.
To Apply:
We accept online applications only.
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Please note: No phone calls please. Only those selected to participate in our hiring process will be contacted.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT
PolicyLink strongly values equity and believes in a just and fair society where all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. We work towards a more inclusive world and as such we are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. PolicyLink is committed to maintaining a diverse and multicultural working environment.
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