Affiliate, Executive Director

Brown and Caldwell; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 138,000 - 207,000; Part time

Job summary

Brown and Caldwell is seeking an Affiliate, Executive Director to provide executive leadership for a California-based nonprofit client. The role is part-time (8–12 hours per week) with potential for full-time opportunities based on skills, experience, and business needs.

The candidate will lead strategic direction, engage with the Board, and coordinate with government agencies and stakeholders to advance water policy and organizational objectives across California.

Qualifications

• Typically, a minimum of 15 years of professional experience in related role.
• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in a technical, business, or related field is preferred.
• Water industry experience and executive leadership experience are preferred.
• Ability to attend Board and committee meetings and represent the client organization at meetings, hearings, and conferences across California.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction to support the client organization's mission and long-term objectives.
• Partner with the Board to develop, implement, and advance strategic priorities, goals, and organizational initiatives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on California water issues, policy developments and governance matters.
• Prepare issue briefs, strategic recommendations, and policy principles for Board and stakeholders.
• Represent the organization with member agencies, regulatory bodies, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate collaboration and consensus-building among diverse groups to advance shared objectives.
• Lead Board and committee meetings, fostering engagement and sound decision-making.
• Support financial and operational sustainability and identify partnership or funding opportunities.
• Represent the client at Board meetings, hearings, conferences, and industry events in California.
• Mentor a team and ensure alignment with mission, vision, values, and strategy.
• Adapt to evolving needs and take on additional assignments as required.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Government/stakeholder relationships

Policy understanding

Board relations

Communication

Facilitation

Financial acumen

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in technical/business field

Job description

Job Summary

We have a unique part-time opportunity to provide executive leadership for a California-based client, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable and reliable urban water supplies. This position is currently structured as part-time; however, full-time opportunities may be available based on the candidate's skills, experience and business needs.

Job Description

The Affiliate, Executive Director provides executive management services leveraging strong government/stakeholder relationships, excellent communication and facilitation skills, and a water policy background to implement the organization's mission and strategy. This role collaborates with internal teams and external partners to contribute thought leadership on key issues. The Affiliate, Executive Director applies knowledge of California water issues, including existing and legislative and regulatory matters, and actively contributes to thought leadership within and on behalf of the organization. This role requires 8 - 12 hours per week.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction to support the client organization's mission and long-term objectives.
• Partner with the Board to develop, implement, and advance strategic priorities, goals, and organizational initiatives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and objective resource on California water issues, emerging trends, and policy developments.
• Prepare and communicate issue briefs, strategic recommendations, policy principles, and other executive-level materials to Board members and stakeholders.
• Represent the organization with member agencies, industry associations, regulatory agencies, research organizations, NGOs, and other key stakeholders.
• Facilitate collaboration and consensus-building among diverse stakeholder groups to advance shared objectives.
• Lead Board and committee meetings, fostering engagement, productive discussion, and effective decision-making.
• Support the financial and operational sustainability of the organization through sound stewardship of resources and the identification of potential partnership, sponsorship, or funding opportunities.
• Represent the client organization at Board meetings, hearings, conferences, and industry events throughout California.
• Manage and mentor a team, maintaining high-quality standards, strong communication skills, and alignment with the organization's mission, vision, values, and strategy.
• Flexibility to adapt and execute various additional assignments based on evolving needs.

Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrated executive leadership and strategic planning capabilities.
• Broad knowledge of California water resources, policy, and urban water management issues.
• Strong government/stakeholder relationships.
• Ability to influence, engage, and build consensus among executive leaders, boards, member agencies, and external stakeholders.
• Experience presenting to boards, councils, executive committees, and industry leadership groups.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to navigate complex and sometimes competing interests.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and executive communication skills, including preparation of strategic reports, issue briefs, and policy recommendations.
• Ability to synthesize complex technical, policy, and business information into clear recommendations and actionable insights.
• Strong understanding of organizational governance, strategic execution, and board relations.
• Financial acumen with experience supporting budgeting, resource planning, and organizational sustainability.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as an influential and credible representative of an organization with external stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and adapt to changing organizational needs.
• Advanced communication skills with ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Sound professional judgment and discretion.

Experience

• Typically, a minimum of 15 years of professional experience in related role is required

Preferred

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in a technical, business, or relevant related field is preferred
• Water industry experience, executive leadership experience, and an established network within California water.
• Ability to attend Board and committee meetings and represent the client organization at meetings, hearings, and conferences held throughout the State.

Salary Range: The anticipated starting pay range for this position is based on the employee's primary work location and may be more or less depending upon skills, experience, and education. These ranges may be modified in the future.

Hourly Rate: $100 - $150

Benefits and Other Compensation: We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee health, performance, and success which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off and parental leave, paid holidays, 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match, performance-based bonus eligibility, employee referral bonuses, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance and long-term care insurance.

About Brown and Caldwell

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Brown and Caldwell is a full-service environmental engineering and construction services firm with 50 offices and over 2,100 professionals across North America and the Pacific. For more than 75 years, we have created leading-edge environmental solutions for municipalities, private industry, and government agencies. We strive to be the company of choice-to our clients, who benefit from our passion for delivering exceptional quality, and to our employees, present and future, who share our commitment to client service, collaboration, and innovation. Join us, and you will find a home where you can do your best work, reach new levels of expertise, and enjoy exceptional development opportunities. For more information, visit www.brownandcaldwell.com

This position is subject to a pre-employment background check and a pre-employment drug test.

Notice to Third Party Agencies:

Brown and Caldwell does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and approved engagement request with Brown and Caldwell, Brown and Caldwell reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.

Brown and Caldwell is proud to be an EEO/AAP Employer. Brown and Caldwell encourages protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, and applicants from all backgrounds to apply. Brown and Caldwell ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.

For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.