River Programs Associate

Reports to: Drinking Water Program Director 

Location: Flexible/Remote 

Term and Salary: $53,000- $55,000 for a full time/1 FTE exempt position. 

Position Summary: River Network seeks an enthusiastic professional to support our work increasing access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water. Individuals with interest and experience in the following areas are encouraged to apply: drinking water/utility access and affordability, water infrastructure funding and management (drinking water, sewer and stormwater), water and climate change resilience, public policy and/or public health, environmental justice, and conservation issues. This role is fully remote, and the ideal candidate has comfort and experience with managing projects with remote team members. This position will include research and writing; the ability to synthesize complex information for a broad audience is a must. The position will also be public-facing and require regular communication and collaboration with our external partners, usually via email and video calls. This position’s primary objective is to support the Drinking Water team with resource and training development, writing, and communications activities related to our work on clean, safe, and affordable drinking water and equitable water infrastructure implementation. The person hired for this position will serve as a creative synthesizer and connector, helping to advance our programmatic work in the areas described in more detail below.  

Our ideal candidate understands and has experience with nonprofit organizations and has experience working with under-represented groups, particularly racially and ethnically diverse communities. The River Programs Associate will work directly with the Drinking Water Program Director and interface regularly with other members of the River Programs team. This person must be flexible and able to take initiative in accomplishing tasks as well as seeking support from River Network staff. We seek a candidate who is excited about building the capacity of organizations in our network to advance equitable access to clean, safe, and affordable water with an emphasis on sustainable and climate resilient solutions that address historical inequities nationwide. 

Candidates must be willing to occasionally travel for staff retreats, conferences, and River Network’s national conference, River Rally. 

About River Network: River Network grows and strengthens a transformational national network of water, justice, and river advocates to support healthy rivers, safe and affordable drinking water, and climate-resilient communities across the United States. We envision a powerful and inclusive movement that ensures abundant clean water for all people and nature to thrive. Visit www.rivernetwork.org to learn more about our current priorities. Our headquarters are in Boulder, Colorado and we have staff located in communities across the U.S. We are committed to embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (EDI) in all areas to achieve our mission – explore our core values and commitment to EDI and our principles for equitable and inclusive work. Through our programs, we seek to connect with all communities and increase the impact of their efforts towards healthy rivers, safe and affordable drinking water, and climate-resilient communities. Through our internal practices and external leadership, we seek an inclusive workplace culture that attracts diverse staff, board, members, and supporters.   

Essential Functions:  

• Focus area research, writing, and training development 

• Peer call and network relationship building 

• Making River Network tools and resources available and accessible to our network 

Safe, Affordable Drinking Water

• State water policy and local implementation of national water policy and laws 

• Support and participate in a national State Revolving Fund (SRF) State Advocates Forum, including technical support for national quarterly calls, updating and maintaining Forum website, and supporting Drinking Water Program Director in workgroup and cohort training series. 

• Update and maintain the State Policy Hub’s sections on: State Revolving Fund policies, Environmental Justice policies, and Water data transparency policies, and other additions as needed. 

• Contribute to writing and curating the monthly Drinking Water Digest newsletter. 

• Develop blogs, co-write comment letters, and design action alerts on relevant drinking water programs, regulations, and policies.  

• Convene one State Policy Showcase per year focused on state policies related to drinking water.  

• Water affordability resource development and coalition building 

• Support Drinking Water team in developing best practices and other resources for water systems engaging with communities and avoiding water shutoffs. Contribute to developing a narrative and checklist for avoiding water shutoffs, useable by both advocates and water utilities considering ways to address water affordability. Share with external partners through learning sessions, peer learning, and other venues as applicable. 

• Engage in regional and national coalitions working on drinking water affordability advocacy. 

• Expand training and resource development of the Drinking Water Team, including:
• In collaboration with other staff, develop community led research training opportunities for groups interested in implementing projects related to source water testing and testing at the tap for lead, PFAS, and other contaminants. 
• Create baseline education curriculum for “train the trainer” style workshops to deliver Drinking Water Guide content to local organizations interested in public education of drinking water issues and advocacy opportunities.

• Build relationships with prospective and existing members of the network in regions currently under-represented in our work (broadly in the west, EPA regions 8, 9, and 10). Identify key drinking water concerns and map out avenues for River Network to expand our support services (especially around water availability/access, state policy on water use, concerns over privatization, impacts of drought and wildfires on drinking water supplies and drinking water (and wastewater) infrastructure).  

Cross-Cutting River Programs

• Provide additional capacity for work across River Network’s focus areas of drinking water, climate resilient communities, and healthy, resilient rivers. 

Internal Organizational Support

• Support program-related communications efforts including making trainings available to network members via YouTube, incorporating program updates into the River Network website, drafting social media posts, and other items in collaboration with communications staff. 
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education in a related field; 2-3 years professional work experience preferred;  

• Strategic thinker and quick learner with interest and experience in working with colleagues and teams from diverse backgrounds;  

• Detail-oriented and organized, with experience managing multiple projects simultaneously, completing tasks in a timely manner, and effective communication around shifting needs and/or priorities.  

• Comfort and confidence in working remotely, both independently and as part of a team; defining and tracking project deadlines, soliciting and incorporating input from team members and partners while continuing to move projects forward, often multiple at one time.  

• Experience working with community-based organizations (CBOs) and leaders and organizations representing communities of color;  

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written); good sense of humor and interest in building connection and community with coworkers and partners;  

• Experience with or interest in learning communications tools such as WordPress, YouTube, Salesforce, and email marketing platforms;

• Experience working with databases and other information organization skills, experience conducting desktop research; and

• Commitment to River Network’s vision and mission, and to our core values of strength, mutual respect, integrity, balance, growth, and inclusion. 

What to Expect: We will review your application materials for experience, knowledge, and abilities required to successfully perform the job. Only those selected to advance in this process will be contacted for an interview. Candidates must possess current and valid U.S. Work Authorization, be eligible to work for any U.S. employer without sponsorship and live within the United States. As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.  

PLEASE APPLY BY DECEMBER 1, 2024

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with each qualification in the job description, please go ahead and apply anyway! You might be just the right candidate for this role.  

Consistent with our values and our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion as stated above, River Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.     

Salary: $53,000-55,000

Benefits: River Network offers medical, dental, and vision health insurance; 403b retirement savings plan; vacation and well-being leave; life insurance; technology stipend; and paid holidays. River Network works on a 32-hour/4-day work week, with our offices closed on Fridays.