Water Program Associate

El Bichólogo; Des Moines, Northern (IA, KY); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation, sick leave

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Simple IRA

Parking provided

Flexible work arrangement

Job summary

The Water Program Associate at Iowa Environmental Council advances education, outreach, and advocacy on water resources, translating complex science into clear narratives for decision-makers and the public.

The role supports the Water Program Director with research, reports, and data evaluation, builds partnerships, presents at events, and creates fact sheets, digital content, and media resources to inform policy and protect public health in Iowa.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of professional experience in a relevant role.
• Bachelor’s degree or coursework in environmental science, sustainability, environmental policy, or a related field, with communications, public relations, marketing, and/or community outreach experience or coursework.
• Ability to prioritize and coordinate multiple projects in an evolving environment, working independently and collaboratively.
• Demonstrated experience writing high‑quality reports, fact sheets, or other public‑facing materials.
• Willingness and ability to travel within Iowa, engage independently with partners and organizations, and a valid driver’s license.
• Willingness to present in person and virtually and represent IEC at public events, including some evenings and weekends.
• Passion for IEC’s mission and commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Excellent communication and writing skills, and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Communications Director to create public-facing materials that effectively communicate scientific findings and policy implications to decision-makers, partners, media, and the public.
• Translate broad strategic goals of the water program into clear work plans and deliverables, working independently and proactively.
• Coordinate multiple projects while maintaining high standards of quality and timeliness.
• Deliver in-person and virtual presentations and webinars to community groups, partner organizations, policymakers, and conference attendees, representing the organization as a knowledgeable voice on water resources issues.
• Produce reports, policy priorities, fact sheets, op-eds, blog posts, and digital and social media content that makes technical information accessible to diverse audiences.
• Participate in coalitions and working groups; serve as a liaison on water-related initiatives, represent organizational priorities, report to internal teams, and contribute to collaborative strategy development.
• Conduct community outreach, including tabling, exhibiting, and participating in events to raise public awareness and build support for water initiatives.
• Research water resources, connections to public health, and emerging policy issues as assigned by the Water Program Director.
• Analyze and evaluate datasets, measurements, monitoring results, and regulatory information, and synthesize findings into accurate, clear, actionable insights.

Skills

Public outreach

Policy communication

Research

Verbal/written communication

Project coordination

Public speaking

Data analysis

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree or coursework in environmental science/policy (or related field)

Tools

ArcGIS

Email marketing software

Canva

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

Water Program Associate

Company: Iowa Environmental Council

Reports to: Water Program Director

Status: Permanent, full-time, salaried, exempt

Location: Des Moines, Iowa; hybrid or remote work may be available elsewhere in Iowa, with occasional travel to the main office.

Salary: $56,000–$60,000 per year

Position overview

The Water Program Associate advances strategic water resources education, outreach, and advocacy initiatives for the Iowa Environmental Council. This role bridges environmental science and communications by turning complex research and data into clear, compelling narratives that inform decision-makers, engage the public, and advance clean water in Iowa.

The Associate supports the Water Program Director with research, reports, and evaluation of scientific and regulatory data related to water resources and public health. The role translates technical findings into accurate, accessible, timely public-facing materials, including fact sheets, digital content, social media posts, presentations, and media resources. It also involves building partnerships, representing IEC at public events, and presenting to audiences of different sizes.

Duties

• Work with the Communications Director to create public-facing materials that effectively communicate scientific findings and policy implications to decision‑makers, partners, media, and the public.
• Translate broad strategic goals of the water program into clear work plans and deliverables, working independently and proactively.
• Coordinate multiple projects while maintaining high standards of quality and timeliness.
• Deliver in‑person and virtual presentations and webinars to community groups, partner organizations, policymakers, and conference attendees, representing the organization as a knowledgeable voice on water resources issues.
• Produce reports, policy priorities, fact sheets, op‑eds, blog posts, and digital and social media content that makes technical information accessible to diverse audiences.
• Participate in coalitions and working groups; serve as a liaison on water‑related initiatives, represent organizational priorities, report to internal teams, and contribute to collaborative strategy development.
• Conduct community outreach, including tabling, exhibiting, and participating in events to raise public awareness and build support for water initiatives.
• Research water resources, connections to public health, and emerging policy issues as assigned by the Water Program Director.
• Analyze and evaluate datasets, measurements, monitoring results, and regulatory information, and synthesize findings into accurate, clear, actionable insights.

Required qualifications

• At least 2 years of professional experience in a relevant role.
• Bachelor’s degree or coursework in environmental science, sustainability, environmental policy, or a related field, with communications, public relations, marketing, and/or community outreach experience or coursework.
• Ability to prioritize and coordinate multiple projects in an evolving environment, working independently and collaboratively.
• Demonstrated experience writing high‑quality reports, fact sheets, or other public‑facing materials.
• Willingness and ability to travel within Iowa, engage independently with partners and organizations, and a valid driver’s license.
• Willingness to present in person and virtually and represent IEC at public events, including some evenings and weekends.
• Passion for IEC’s mission and commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Excellent communication and writing skills, and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable qualifications

• Knowledge of Iowa’s environmental issues and political landscape; public health interest or experience is a plus.
• Experience partnering with stakeholders to build support for environmental policies and initiatives.
• Ability to translate technical, scientific, and policy information into accurate, compelling communications and outreach materials.
• Experience creating digital, print, and social media content.
• Familiarity with customer or supporter databases, email marketing software, and mapping software such as ArcGIS.
• Interest or experience in graphic design using tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Canva.

Benefits

• Paid vacation, sick leave, family leave, and volunteer time; paid holidays.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance; life and long‑term disability insurance.
• Simple IRA.
• Parking provided and travel reimbursed.
• Flexible work arrangement, including working from home and/or outside regular business hours with supervisor approval.

The Iowa Environmental Council is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic community and strongly encourages applications from all qualified applicants.