Government Affairs Specialist

City of Detroit; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Detroit – Detroit Water and Sewerage Department seeks a Government Affairs Coordinator to serve as the department’s primary liaison to state and federal officials, regulatory agencies, and legislative staff. The role advances infrastructure funding, monitors policy, drafts testimony, and coordinates with legal, engineering, and regulatory teams to protect public health and service reliability.

Experience in government relations and water utility policy is preferred, with strong written

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Environmental Policy, Communications, or related field.
• 3–7+ years of experience in government relations, legislative staff work, public affairs, or water utility regulatory affairs.
• Experience building relationships with state/federal officials and legislative staff; knowledge of water sector policy is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Track, analyze, and report on state and federal legislation affecting water/wastewater operations; draft position papers, testimony, and talking points.
• Build and maintain relationships with state legislators, congressional staff, and regulatory agencies; represent the utility at hearings and stakeholder meetings.
• Identify, pursue, and help administer state and federal funding programs (CWSRF, DWSRF, WIFIA, USDA programs) and coordinate with finance/engineering teams.
• Partner with trade associations on shared legislative priorities.
• Monitor EPA rulemaking and state agency actions; coordinate utility comments during rulemaking and public comment periods.
• Brief executive leadership on legislative developments, funding opportunities, and regulatory risks; coordinate with legal and regulatory staff on overlapping issues.

Skills

Legislative process

Water policy knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Political Science / Public Policy / Public Administration

Job description

This is not a Civil Service Position. DWSD employees are subject to provisions of Court Orders entered in United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, Case No. 77-71100 with regard to certain terms and conditions of employment. DWSD does not honor reversion rights for internal candidates.

Applicants for open positions at the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

The Government Affairs Coordinator serves as the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s (DWSD) primary liaison to state and federal elected officials, legislative staff, and regulatory agencies on water and wastewater policy. This role advances the utility's legislative agenda, secures state and federal infrastructure funding, and builds relationships with lawmakers and their staff to advocate for policies supporting the utility's operational, financial, and public health mission.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Legislative Advocacy: Track, analyze, and report on state and federal legislation affecting water/wastewater operations — Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act reauthorizations, PFAS regulation, lead service line replacement mandates, water affordability and shutoff policy, stormwater and combined sewer overflow (CSO) requirements, biosolids regulation, and water rights/allocation issues. Draft position papers, testimony, and talking points.
• Relationship Building: Build and maintain relationships with state legislators, congressional delegations, Federal and State legislative staff, and relevant committee members (e.g., state environment/natural resources committees, House/Senate committees overseeing EPA). Represent the utility at legislative sessions, hearings, and regulatory stakeholder meetings.
• Funding Pursuit: Identify, pursue, and help administer state and federal funding — Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), WIFIA loans, USDA Rural Development water/wastewater grants and loans, Bureau of Reclamation programs, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) appropriations. Coordinate with finance and engineering teams on applications, match requirements, and compliance/reporting obligations.
• Coalition & Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with various trade associations — AWWA (American Water Works Association), AMWA (Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies), NACWA (National Association of Clean Water Agencies), WEF (Water Environment Federation), and state rural water associations — on shared legislative priorities.
• Regulatory Coordination: Monitor EPA rulemaking (e.g., PFAS MCLs, Lead and Copper Rule Improvements) and state EGLE, MDEQ and other agency actions; coordinate utility comments during rulemaking and public comment periods.
• Internal Coordination: Brief executive leadership and the BOWC on legislative developments, funding opportunities, and regulatory/political risk. Coordinate with legal, engineering, and regulatory compliance staff on overlapping issues (rate cases, capital improvement plans, consent decrees).
• Communications Support: Draft correspondence to elected officials, prepare briefing materials, and coordinate facility tours (treatment plants, pump stations) for legislators and staff.
• Compliance: Ensure all lobbying activity complies with state/federal lobbying disclosure and ethics laws.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Working knowledge of the legislative process at both state and federal levels; familiarity with EPA/state primacy agency structure preferred.
• Familiarity with water sector policy and funding mechanisms (SRF programs, WIFIA, rate-setting, consent decrees) strongly preferred.
• Existing relationships with state/federal officials, legislative staff, or state environmental agency contacts strongly preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfort with public testimony and technical-to-lay translation (e.g., explaining PFAS treatment costs to a legislator).

ABILITY TO:

• Work effectively in a team-based, flexible workforce with minimal supervision
• Ability to travel to state capital and Washington, D.C. as needed.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (position requirements at entry)

• Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Environmental Policy, Communications, or related field (Master's a plus).
• 3–7+ years of experience in government relations, legislative staff work, public affairs, or water utility regulatory affairs.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties. This position may require sitting and standing for prolonged periods of time, light to moderate lifting, reaching, pulling, and carrying. Manual dexterity and audiovisual/linguistic acuity is required.

Environmental Working Requirements:

Work may be physically performed in, but not limited to, an office environment, in the field, in public settings or from employee’s home office, with exposure to computer screens and noise.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Valid Michigan Driver’s License

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to the class. Incumbents may be required to perform job‑related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Specific job duties may vary from position to position. Employees in this class