Director, Clean Water Supply

At American Rivers, “rivers connect us” is more than just our tagline. Rivers connect all people, refreshing our bodies, renewing our spirits, bringing life-giving water, economic opportunity and recreation to our communities.  And rivers do so with no regard to race, ethnicity, social and economic status, where we worship, or who we love.  We owe it to the rivers we love and the people we serve to act in this same spirit; to foster diversity, equity and inclusion and justice in all that we do. To that end, we will build a robust, powerful and diverse movement for the conservation of rivers and water resources that is truly representative of the communities across the country. We will honor the values and needs of those communities most impacted by environmental inequities and injustices. And we will strive for an organizational culture in which people of all identities — particularly those who traditionally have not been included — feel valued and have the power to influence change.

JOB SUMMARY

American Rivers’ Clean Water Supply program works to ensure all people have access to clean water and a healthy river. We work to reduce the impacts the built environment has on rivers and water quality, through the increased use of natural infrastructure and integrated water management. This position will be responsible for overseeing our Clean Water Supply work in the Mid-Atlantic region, with an emphasis in Pennsylvania. The position will also be responsible for helping develop American Rivers’ national approach to Integrated Urban Water Management, working with other CWS staff to develop a consistent national approach to engaging municipalities and other water stakeholders in developing holistic approaches to water management.

The Clean Water Supply program has four areas of focus for urban water management: equitable, resilient and integrated financial resources; clean and affordable water and healthy rivers for marginalized communities; policies that support and promote sustainability for clean water and resilient water systems; and practices such as green stormwater infrastructure to ensure water in urban environments mimics natural hydrology. This Director-level position will work toward all goals in two priority river basins: the Delaware River and the rivers of the Chesapeake Bay, notably the Susquehanna River. The Director position will also have special duties helping to develop national-level initiatives in support of improving urban water management and natural infrastructure policies.

Program lead duties include supervising a small team, ensuring program work remains focused and delivers on American Rivers’ mission and the goals of the Clean Water Supply program, maintaining partner and funder relationships, developing fundraising proposals where appropriate and helping build and retain adequate funding to achieve measurable outcomes for the mid-Atlantic program work.

The Director works collaboratively with conservation and administrative staff through the organization, and closely with Clean Water Supply peers directing work in offices throughout the nation. The work of the Clean Water Supply Program is supervised by the Senior Director of Clean Water Supply in Washington, DC.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be American Rivers’ Clean Water Supply program representative in the mid-Atlantic region (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia).
• Serve in leadership capacities in water sector-based, state and regional stakeholder and collaborative groups to advance the work of the Clean Water Supply program.
• Foster and maintain strategic relationships, in the execution of projects and program planning, with NGO representatives, government agency personnel, political and civic leaders and stakeholders.
• In collaboration with other Clean Water Supply program directors, lead development of national program initiatives in support of integrated, equitable urban water management practices and policies, including stormwater and wastewater management practices and regulations, stream buffer practices and flood and floodplain management.
• Manage staff within the Clean Water Supply program working on behalf of the mid-Atlantic basins and coordinate with staff throughout the organization to accomplish the goals of the program in the mid-Atlantic.
• Assist in visioning and executing the program’s short-term goals and longer-term strategic plans.
• Oversee mid-Atlantic Clean Water Supply project work including outreach, partnership development, trainings or workshops to improve urban water management practices and policies.
• Work with American Rivers’ development and administrative staff to secure and maintain foundation and government grants, foster member-donor relationships, and ensure budgets meet the needs of the mid-Atlantic Clean Water Supply program.
• Represent American Rivers by participating in and presenting at conferences and meetings including those with key decisionmakers, influencers, funders and donors.
• Author social and print media, on-line program material, fact sheets and guidance, and reports as needed. Work in coordination with American Rivers’ Communication team.
• Travel as necessary.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Innovative and strategic leadership.
• Passion for rivers, water equity and urban river corridors. A drive to help communities thrive with clean water and work to protect rivers.
• Experience or education in water management, conservation or a related topic.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Accomplished facilitator and organizer with capacity to lead others to excel.
• Experience with budgeting and fundraising.
• Experience with personnel management.
• Understanding of the impact of environmental injustices to underrepresented communities.
• Organized and able to meet deadlines. Self-starter with capacity to work independently.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Willingness to travel throughout locations through the mid-Atlantic and to occasional meetings and conferences elsewhere in the nation.
• Knowledge of, and experience working within, at least one of the following: 1) the Clean Water Act, 2) Pennsylvania’s Clean Stream Law, 3) federal, state or local urban stormwater program,  and/or 3) the mid-Atlantic’s driving conservation programs, such as the Chesapeake Bay Program, Delaware River Watershed Initiative, Delaware River Basin Conservation Act, or the work of the Delaware and the Susquehanna River Basin Commissions.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience; or a bachelor’s/master’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $60,000-$75,000 annually depending on qualifications and experience. Full-time employee benefits include health, dental and life insurance, a retirement plan, and generous leave time.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter at https://americanrivers.bamboohr.com/jobs  No phone calls please.

American Rivers is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply