Director of Water Policy

Texas Water Foundation; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement contribution

Paid time off

Job summary

Texas Water Foundation in Austin seeks a Director of Water Policy to lead policy strategy, engage state lawmakers, agencies, and partner organizations, and shape the public discourse on Texas water security.

The role collaborates with senior leaders to advance nonpartisan policy initiatives, coordinate communications, and support grant activities while maintaining a strong, team-oriented culture in a hybrid work setting.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years’ experience working with the Texas Legislature.
• Proven ability to provide neutral commentary and public speaking skills.
• A coalition builder who can work as part of a team to align interests and goals.
• Strong communication skills to distill complex policy issues for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day functions of the Texas Water Caucus and represent TWF at the Legislature.
• Oversee Policy Program budget and Senior Policy Analyst.
• Track policy trends, legislation, and coalition efforts; develop a monitoring system.
• Support public-facing educational materials and policy communications.
• Collaborate on an integrated water security communication strategy.
• Assist with grant applications, reporting, and fundraising activities.

Skills

Legislative experience

Coalition builder

Neutral policy communicator

Team collaboration

Google Suite

Education

Academic degree in water/public policy

Tools

Squarespace

Job description

ABOUT TEXAS WATER FOUNDATION

Texas Water Foundation (TWF) is a statewide, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to lead Texas into a secure water future. Established in 1998, its original objective was to raise public awareness among all Texans regarding the vital role water plays in our daily lives. Today, Texas Water Foundation’s work is focused on water policy, workforce and leadership initiatives, and a statewide water campaign. Read the strategic plan here.

JOB INFORMATION

• Job Title: Director of Water Policy
• Location: Austin, Texas
• Reports To: Chief Executive Officer
• FLSA Status: [Exempt]

The Opportunity: The Director of Water Policy works with the CEO to set annual strategy for TWF’s water policy work, including proactive engagement with the Texas Legislature, state and federal agencies, partner nonprofits and trade associations, TWF publications, resources, and policy communications. In this role, a Director of Water Policy has the opportunity to improve the quality of water policy discussion in Texas, build trust across a diverse network of policymakers, work to ensure Texas prioritizes water security, and support an increase in the number of legislators committed to water in Texas.

Ideal Candidate: An experienced water policy professional and coalition builder committed to TWF’s vision, and who can work as part of a team to bring together individuals, business leaders, nonprofits, elected officials, and state agencies to align interests and work toward shared policy goals. A skilled communicator who can maintain a nonadvocacy voice and distill complex scientific and policy issues as understandable messages to a wide variety of audiences.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage day-to-day functions of the Texas Water Caucus, representing TWF at the Texas Legislature, through public speaking engagements, and as a media contact.
• Manage Policy Program budget, Senior Policy Analyst, and relevant contractors.
• Together with the Senior Policy Analyst, stay up to date on water policy trends, research, and narratives and develop a tracking system for that work. This includes attending events, tracking legislation, agency rule-making, media, and coalition efforts.
• Work with TWF’s Director of Communications to support the development of public-facing educational materials and resources and TWF’s policy-driven communication strategies.
• Work with the Director of Communications, Texas Runs on Water Campaign Director, and partner organizations to implement an integrated water security communication strategy.
• Work with the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Development to support grant applications, reporting, and key fundraising activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5-7 years’ experience working with the Texas Legislature
• Academic degree in water or public policy preferred
• Proven ability to provide neutral commentary and public speaking skills
• A coalition builder who can work as part of a team to bring together individuals, business leaders, nonprofits, elected officials, and state agencies to align interests and work toward shared policy goals
• Ability to organize and manage diverse teams, multiple events, and impactful gatherings
• A skilled communicator who can distill complex scientific and policy issues as understandable messages to a wide variety of audiences
• Commitment to mission and vision of Texas Water Foundation
• Strong commitment to a collaborative, team-oriented organizational culture
• Commitment to professional execution of programs and integrity
• Entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to provide back-of-house support to key decision makers
• Familiarity with Google Suite and basic web content management systems like Squarespace a plus

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Compensation & Benefits

The starting salary for this position is $150,000 annually. Texas Water Foundation is proud to offer opportunities for growth as well as a generous benefits package including health insurance, retirement contribution, and paid time off including maternity/paternity leave. TWF is currently working in a hybrid office environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran or military status or any other legally protected status.