Policy Advisor, Healthy Rivers

Salary Range:$55,000.00 To 89,500.00 Annually 

Position Summary

Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is hiring a Policy Advisor to join our Healthy Rivers team. The Policy Advisor, Healthy Rivers, with guidance and direction from senior team members, will assist in developing and advocating for equitable policies in regulatory, legislative, and other policy forums to protect rivers and accelerate water conservation in the Interior West. The Policy Advisory will work closely with other Healthy Rivers team members through research and writing, advocacy with decisionmakers, and collaboration with other organizations to achieve programmatic objectives. This position will report to WRA’s Regional Policy Manager, Healthy Rivers, and coordinate closely with WRA’s Marketing and Communications and Government Affairs Teams.

About Western Resource Advocates

WRA fights climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West. We respect the different needs of diverse people and partner with them to develop a shared vision for progress—one that advances communities while protecting biodiversity.

Our team of policy experts, scientists, economists, and attorneys has a 30-year history of working where decisions are made, sweating the details, creating evidence-based solutions, and holding decision makers accountable. This on the ground work with policymakers and other advocates advances clean energy, protects air, land, water, and wildlife—and sustains the lives and livelihoods of the West.

Location

This position may work remotely in one of the states in which the Healthy Rivers Program is active (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah), in one of the following WRA offices—Boulder and Denver, CO; Phoenix, AZ; Salt Lake City, UT; and Santa Fe, NM—or a hybrid of the two. Travel to meetings, conferences, proceedings, and other work-related events is required within the relevant state. This is in addition to travel required for retreats, and other internal organizational meetings within WRA’s region. This is approximately 10-15% of the time depending on the location of work. 

Responsibilities And Activities

• Develop and advocate for equitable policies in regulatory, legislative, and other policy forums that protect rivers and/or accelerate water conservation in the Interior West with guidance and direction from senior team members.
• Develop relationships with state, regional, and federal water and Colorado River policy makers and other river stakeholders.
• Develop relationships with other NGOs working on water and Colorado River policy in the region.
• Advocate with state, regional, and federal officials on innovative water management practices.
• Effectively communicate the objectives of WRA’s regional river work and objectives to decision-makers, partners, and funders.
• Conduct research and analysis; compile into clear and concise reports.
• Prepare comments, expert witness testimony, and/or discovery in formal or informal processes in which the Healthy Rivers Program is involved with guidance and direction from senior team members.
• Assist in developing WRA positions for complex settlement agreements and drafting those agreements.
• Monitor relevant local, state, and federal policy developments.
• Along with WRA’s other staff, work with water providers, the business community, the environmental community, and other stakeholders to advance healthy rivers solutions.
• Collaborate with WRA’s policy, Government Affairs, and Communications staff to craft outreach strategies and messaging that accurately and persuasively convey WRA’s positions to stakeholders and decision makers.
• Assist with grant reports and proposals.
• Keep abreast of emerging water and river topics to inform policy development, with an eye for equitable and inclusive policies and mechanisms.
• In coordination with other program staff, read and analyze the potential impact of proposed legislation, local ordinances or programs, and administrative or regulatory policies.

Required Qualifications

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of this position, will be considered.   For example, the requisite experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities would include:

• At least 2 years of relevant experience.
• Experience and familiarity with water policy, water management, hydrology, or related work.
• Background in public policy, water management, economics, engineering, or related disciplines. Knowledge of or willingness to understand complex regulatory processes and policy pathways.
• Some experience with strategic planning and direct advocacy to drive policy change.
• Exceptional ability to write and communicate clearly, and explain complex concepts to a variety of audiences, including non-experts.
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with a variety of stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with attention to detail and follow‐through.
• Commitment to WRA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, engineering, environmental policy, or other relevant field.

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Some travel is required. 

Salary And Benefits

The salary range is $55,000-$89,500 annually; salary depends on relevant experience and new staff rarely start at the top of the range. WRA’s excellent benefits package includes a 401(k) retirement plan with up to 5% matching and health, dental, vision, and life & disability insurance with 100% of premiums paid by WRA. Annually, staff receive seventeen days paid vacation leave to start, twelve paid sick days, one paid volunteer day, twelve paid holidays, and WRA is closed for Winter Break between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for additional paid time off. Employees are eligible for up to twelve weeks of parental leave, and after five years, staff are eligible for up to twelve weeks of paid sabbatical leave. Position is full-time exempt.

Deadline To Apply: Open Until Filled with priority review beginning on Monday, April 22, 2024.

Diversity and inclusion are a critical component of our business strategy, mission and vision. We welcome candidates from an array of backgrounds and experiences to join our team. Learn more about our commitment here: https://wraoldsite.wpengine.com/#commitment-to-diversity.

Western Resource Advocates is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or veteran status.

Apply To Be WRA’s Policy Advisor, Healthy Rivers!

Please direct any questions about this position or application process to hiring@westernresources.org.