Local recruitment: Sr. Water Projects Coordinator

Organization: Community Water Center

Salary Range: $85,000 – $95,000 per year

Salary range listed is a good-faith estimate of the pay range CWC reasonably expects to pay for this position upon hire.

FLSA Status: Full Time, Exempt

Location: Visalia, CA

Location: Based in Visalia, CA. All candidates for this position must be able to report in-person at least two days per week for office or community engagement work. Staff are expected to report in-person more than two days a week if needed based on job responsibilities or requested by supervisor. This position will require travel to communities throughout the Central Coast and San Joaquin Valley as needed.

Organization Description: The Community Water Center (CWC) is building a movement for community-driven water solutions. CWC has offices in Visalia, Watsonville and Sacramento, CA. The Center employs four primary strategies in order to accomplish our goals:

• Educate, organize, and build the capacity of low-income communities and communities of color to address local drinking water challenges.
• Support low-income communities and communities of color in the development of drinking water solutions through technical assistance projects.
• Advocate for systemic change to address the root causes of unsafe drinking water in California.
• Serve as a resource for information and center of expertise on community water challenges.

CWC’s team is passionate, dynamic, and believes in the cause of water justice and making real change that is driven directly by impacted communities themselves. Our organizing and advocacy work, community collaborations, and organizational culture all reflect a concern for equity, mutual respect, appreciation for diversity, and environmental and social justice. We are looking for candidates who share our values, bring a passion for achieving our mission, and contribute to making change in our society.

Ideal Candidate

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced individual to lead and manage drinking water infrastructure projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in civil or environmental engineering, with a focus on public works and project management and a strong commitment to social and environmental justice.

Position Description

The Senior Water Projects Coordinator is a full-time exempt position that will be primarily responsible for developing water projects in underserved communities where residents do not have reliable access to safe and affordable drinking water. This position will shape rural water projects while bridging technical solutions, advocacy, and community organizing. This role requires an individual who can navigate the California central valley water and political landscape and can effectively coordinate with community residents, government agencies, contracted consultants, and affiliate organizations. This position will report to the Community Solutions Manager in the Visalia office. All employees at CWC are “at will.”

Major Responsibilities

• Organize and analyze the best available data and information from discussions with local residents and collaborators to identify and make the case for at-risk communities to target drinking water project development.
• Coordinate and maintain effective and timely communication with various partners, including water purveyors, government agencies, consultants, contractors, community organizers, and community members.
• Facilitate discussions with project partners, consultants, and governmental agencies to coordinate land acquisition, easements, grant reporting, permits, certificates, and other project approvals as needed for project advancement.
• Lead contracting and contract management for consultants and contractors.
• Proactively strategize and coordinate to move projects forward and identify and resolve project-related issues and barriers.
• Develop technical analysis, maps, informational materials, and other resources that are accessible to a non-technical audience on topics including drinking water quality and potential health risks, tradeoffs of potential drinking water solutions, project status updates, and engineering reports.
• Support CWC’s organizing and advocacy efforts by coordinating with staff and community partners to garner project support and overcome political or bureaucratic barriers.
• Support CWC’s policy advocacy efforts by identifying areas where policy changes are necessary to address project barriers.
• Providing technical support such as review of local groundwater management plans or other plans relevant to protecting community drinking water supplies.

General Duties

• Foster an environment that promotes trust, respect and cooperation amongst staff, management, community members, and affiliate organizations.
• Actively participate in staff, management, planning, and program meetings; reporting processes; and staff retreats.
• Actively participate in CWC activities such as advocacy events and fundraising events.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director, Supervisor, and other Directors.

Note: Nothing in this description restricts CWC’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in project management within the public works water infrastructure sector (relevant Master’s degree can count towards experience)
• Experience reviewing technical analyses and information preferably related to drinking water, wastewater, the environment, health, and social justice; and synthesizing technical information for non-technical audiences.
• Experience managing and analyzing data, including geospatial data.
• Strong interpersonal skills (tact/diplomacy, persuasion, cooperation, ability to identify issues and move forward with shared solutions, ability to motivate others) and ability to effectively interact with colleagues, governmental agencies, consultants, and the public.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Fluency in English and Spanish
• Valid CA drivers license and the ability to drive on highways.
• Ability to travel within California and work some evenings and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications

• Engineer in Training (EIT) Certificate or Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Experience managing grant-funded infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of drinking water quality and treatment, piped drinking water systems, drinking water wells, wastewater collection and treatment, and groundwater quality and management.
• Experience working in the San Joaquin Valley or familiarity with key environmental justice issues facing these regions.
• Experience working with low-income communities and/or communities of color.

Physical and Travel Requirements

• This position requires the ability to travel and participate in outreach activities as needed.
• The role may involve periods of sitting, standing, walking, and carrying/pushing/pulling/lifting materials of up to 50 lbs.

Starting Date: Open until filled

Application: To apply, email resume and cover letter to careers@communitywatercenter.org

Benefits: We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package which includes: medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; retirement contributions; generous vacation, family and sick leave and holiday policies; hybrid (remote and in-person) work location policy; work from home reimbursements; flex-time; professional development opportunities and more. (Benefits guidelines and eligibility vary based on tenure and employment status, among other factors.)

Community Water Center is a 501(c)(3) organization. As such employees may be able to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Community Water Center is committed to providing equal opportunity to qualified job applicants and employees and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability (including pregnancy), mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship, military service status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

To learn more about the Community Water Center, visit our website at www.communitywatercenter.org