Public Policy and Engagement Consultant

Role Overview

• Leverage and apply your experience with some, or all, of the following:
• Integrated water resources planning and management
• Community outreach and engagement
• Water infrastructure
• Government affairs
• Public relations
• Water policy
• Support California in achieving the human right to water.
• Join and participate with inter-disciplinary teams on water resources projects throughout California and the western U.S.
• Support planning and assessments for water supply, drought, sanitation, flood control, and environmental restoration projects.
• Support implementation of projects and programs identified by community members that overcome challenges and reinforce strengths, facilitating work of interdisciplinary teams and coordinating with regulatory agencies and project partners to overcome hurdles.
• Assist small and at-risk drinking water systems with effective governance and management in service to their communities, and in identifying and implementing long-term solutions to drinking water challenges.
• Prepare educational resources with specific learning objectives, instructional materials, and content focused on water and environmental topics, and tailored to various audiences and communities based on their needs, learning styles, and most used language.
• Assist in preparation of presentations for client exhibits, in-person and online community engagement events, public presentations, and plan documents for online and hard copy publication.
• Assist community members, clients, project managers, project engineers and staff, regulatory agencies, and subcontractors on project deliverables.
• Perform project coordination including preparation of draft facilitation plans, progress reports, and general information gathering.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• At least six years of experience supporting communities with engagement, education, and decision-making related to water, natural resources, utilities, or similar.
• Bachelor's degree in environmental management, political science, public relations or communications, water resources planning, city and regional planning/urban planning, environmental science, or related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with a demonstrated ability to adapt to different audiences.
• Strong interpersonal and entrepreneurial abilities and a proven track record for working independently as well as part of a diverse team of staff, clients, and interested parties.
• Experience in the following subject matter areas preferred, but not required:
• California water resources (including river systems/water-related infrastructure and applicable laws/policies/regulations) and federal planning processes.
• Environmental communication (spoken and written) with diverse audiences
• Surface water, groundwater, and recycled water supply projects.
• Drought planning and response.
• Flood management and conveyance.
• Natural resource management and environmental restoration.
• California Native American Tribes, environmental justice, and disadvantaged communities.
• Experience in the following areas is preferred, but not required:
• Technical writing and editing of complex integrated water resource programs and projects.
• Research and analysis skills with qualitative and quantitative data relevant to community planning and design.
• Must have a good driving record and valid driver’s license.

Benefits

• Typical office environment working with computers and sitting at a desk for long periods of time.
• Field work may include exposure to the elements including inclement weather.