About the job
Join ASDWA and help shape national drinking water policy!
The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) is a member-driven national association representing state drinking water programs, and we work every day at the intersection of public health, policy, and member service. If you’re passionate about turning complex regulations into real-world outcomes, collaborating with state leaders and federal partners, and influencing national policy development, we want to hear from you.
ASDWA’s Water Policy Manager serves as one of the organization’s primary thought leaders and strategic advisors on national drinking water policy. This is a non-supervisory, senior role designed for individuals who bring a deep understanding of how federal and state drinking water programs operate, as part of a small, high-impact team at ASDWA where your work is visible and your contributions matter.
Summary:
While specific duties may shift based on experience, skills, and areas of interest, the Water Policy Manager is fundamentally a policy strategist, relationship builder, and trusted voice for state drinking water programs. This individual helps shape ASDWA’s positions, interprets and analyzes complex federal actions, and actively contributes to the national dialogue on safe drinking water.
The person in this role works directly with the Executive Director, collaborating across the ASDWA team, and in close partnership with ASDWA’s members, subject matter experts, and partner organizations. The Water Policy Manager moves comfortably between detailed regulatory analysis and big-picture policy visioning, while remaining focused on advancing ASDWA’s mission and securing public health protection for communities across the country.
A strong candidate will be curious, collaborative, and able to turn nuanced technical and regulatory information into accessible insights that support state decision-making and influence national policy.
Generally, a Water Policy Manager will have the following responsibilities:
Leading and Shaping Policy:
- Analyzing federal actions under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and communicating their implications to states.
- Developing recommendations that reflect and elevate state perspectives within national policy discussions.
- Identifying opportunities for ASDWA to lead or influence emerging issues, including PFAS, cybersecurity, workforce challenges, and more.
Serving as ASDWA’s Liaison and Representative:
- Acting as a key point of contact between EPA, sector partners, and ASDWA’s members.
- Coordinating feedback loops, identifying areas of alignment or concern, and ensuring state voices are clearly heard.
- Representing ASDWA in multi‑stakeholder settings, working groups, and policy coalitions.
Producing High-Quality Policy Content:
- Independently drafting white papers, fact sheets, memos, briefings, and analytical resources that help states navigate complex issues.
- Providing written and verbal summaries of critical projects, including legislative and regulatory developments, for internal and external audiences.
- Supporting communications that reflect ASDWA’s values and advance the organization’s mission.
Supporting ASDWA Programming and Leadership:
- Helping design and deliver ASDWA’s conferences, workshops, and special sessions.
- Advising on agenda development and identifying high-impact speakers and topics.
- Collaborating across the team to execute ASDWA’s strategic priorities.
Staying Ahead of Emerging Trends:
- Actively seeking out and addressing new challenges or opportunities affecting state drinking water programs.
- Bringing forward ideas or policy directions that position ASDWA as a proactive leader in the sector.
Education:
- Minimum of bachelor’s degree from an accredited school. Preferred: major in environmental studies (environmental policy or environmental science or environmental law), engineering, public health, public policy, physical science, natural science, biological science, or equivalent.
- Advanced degrees are desirable.
Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in either environmental policy/science/engineering, at a Washington, D.C.-centric association or consultant, the Hill, a water/wastewater system or consultant or manufacturer for water/wastewater systems.
- Federal or state drinking water regulatory agency experience is highly desirable.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Strong working knowledge of the drinking water sector.
- Strong research and analytical skills, including the ability to collect, analyze and use data to inform conclusions about policy and program effectiveness, synthesize complex issues into clear and concise language and develop key policy considerations and recommendations.
- Strong interpersonal skills; exhibiting a positive attitude and a professional demeanor.
- Strong written and oral communication skills; a focused listener.
- Ability to be diplomatic, resourceful, and persuasive.
- Ability to anticipate challenges and effectively resolve conflict by identifying opportunities.
- Ability to work with creativity and flexibility in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to create new processes and demonstrate sound judgment.
- Demonstrated problem solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple deadline requirements, workflow volume changes, and membership requests/inquiries.
- Supports the Association core values of ethics and professionalism.
Salary:
- Salary commensurate with experience – targeted salary range of $85,000 – $115,000.
- Comprehensive benefits for full time employees include 10 paid holidays and 12 paid sick days per year, 10 days of vacation per year, full medical, dental and vision benefits as well as life insurance, flexible (pre-tax) benefits, and 8% contribution to retirement.
Benefits Snapshot:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Family leave
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Travel reimbursement
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Environment:
ASDWA offers flexible work arrangements for Water Policy Professionals and other senior‑level roles. While candidates will be considered for full‑time employment, individuals interested in fractional arrangements – such as part‑time or project‑based work – are welcome to discuss alternatives during the application process.
For full‑time positions based in the Washington, DC area, ASDWA follows a hybrid work schedule, with three days in the office and two days remote each week.
Travel:
- Some travel is required to meet with stakeholders and for various Association and partner meetings, approximately 25%.
- Remote team members should expect to travel to DC at least once a quarter.
*** INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING ***
Send resume, cover letter, and a writing sample (a past technical/policy analysis, no longer than 800 words) to waterpolicyanalyst@asdwa.org by Midnight, EDT, Friday, January 30, 2026.
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The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) is the professional Association serving state drinking water programs. Formed in 1984 to address a growing need for state drinking water program administrators to have national representation, ASDWA has become a respected voice with Congress, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other professional organizations. ASDWA’s members are the drinking water program administrators in the 50 states, the five territories, the Navajo Nation, and the District of Columbia. ASDWA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Please view our website to learn more about ASDWA: www.asdwa.org
ASDWA is an equal employment opportunity organization. No person shall be discriminated against in recruitment or employment because of age, color, race, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, or other characteristic protected by law. ASDWA is firmly committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ASDWA will make reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified persons with known disabilities unless to do so would result in undue hardship to the Association or other employees.
