Posted Feb. 28, 2023

The Affordability Campaign Director (Director) is responsible for managing a campaign to ensure drinking water and wastewater affordability for all in Michigan. The Director will facilitate collaboration among partner groups and strategically lead campaign implementation.

Job Responsibilities:

• Refine, manage, and implement campaign plan.
• Track and develop stories of affordability policy implementation outcomes.
• Write and work with guest writers to develop media outreach that supports water affordability in the Great Lakes region.
• Oversee campaign communications efforts in collaboration with Freshwater Future, We the People of Detroit and National Wildlife Federation communication staff.
• Serve as lead campaign spokesperson to partners, media, and general public.
• Work with and manage lobbyist(s).
• Strategize ways to leverage members’ and partners’ influence.
• Establish and maintain relationships with various individuals and groups; utilize those relationships to strategically advance campaign.
• Coordinate advocacy, testimony, and experience for high-impact outcomes.
• Provide training, coordination and engagement opportunities to grassroots partners.
• Connect local community efforts to statewide affordability efforts.
• Maintain engagement databases and move participants to new levels of engagement for the campaign.
• Lead campaign planning and fundraising when appropriate.

The Affordability Campaign Director is a leadership-level position and will have a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree with a water/environmental resource, policy, nonprofit or advocacy background plus a minimum of 5 years of experience working on issue campaigns. The position requires excellent verbal and written communication skills; computer skills including databases, spreadsheets, and word processing as well as social media outreach and growth; organizational skills, ability to work independently and a commitment to protecting water as a human right. Freshwater Future is an equal-opportunity employer. Job location is negotiable within the Great Lakes region. Campaign Director will be employed by Freshwater Future and will report to the Executive Director, but strategic and implementation oversight will come from the primary partners’ principals.

Campaign Overview

Water affordability is a growing problem in the United States. Researchers have estimated that within the coming few years, approximately 33% of the U.S. population will have water bills that are not affordable. When determining whether water is affordable, water rates are compared to household income. The United Nations, for example, has determined that bills that exceed 3% of household income are unaffordable, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that bills exceeding 2.5% of household income for water service plus 2% for waste and stormwater are unaffordable. Yet we all know that water is necessary for life and must therefore be considered a human right. As water contamination, aging infrastructure, replacing dangerous lead pipes and other factors continue to increase the cost of water for families, Freshwater Future and our partners are pushing to ensure that affordable water is available to everyone and that innovative ways are pursued to reduce overall costs of providing and treating water for a sustainable future.

Compensation

Salary Range: $85,000-$105,000, depending on experience.  Full benefits including health, dental, vision, retirement, disability insurance, and paid time off. This is a one-year position with the possibility of renewal.

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to stephanie@freshwaterfuture.org

Job search will remain open until filled. 

Deadline to Apply: March 7th, 2023