Reports to: Chief Programs Officer
Posting Date: January 20, 2023
Application Deadline: February 3, 2023
Anticipated Start Date: March 20, 2023
Organization Description: The Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) is a national network of nonprofit partners that works to ensure that rural and Tribal communities across the US have access to safe drinking water, wastewater treatment, solid waste disposal, and economic prosperity through technical assistance, training, and financial assistance in the smallest communities across the country, many of which are low income. RCAP builds capacity at the local level, while raising the voice of rural and Tribal communities through advocacy, storytelling, research, and strategic partnerships. Annually RCAP serves more than 2,000 rural and Tribal communities with an average size of less than 2,500.
RCAP is an Equal Opportunity Employer: We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who can contribute to the diversity of our workforce across a range of dimensions. Individuals who come from rural areas; who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, or other People of Color; who are queer, trans, non-binary, or two-spirit; people with disabilities; people who are immigrants; people from poor and working-class backgrounds; and people who are/have been system-impacted are strongly encouraged to apply.
We expect all our employees to share a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and always seek ways to improve how well we live these values. If we can make the application process easier through accommodation in the recruitment process, please let us know. Once you have applied, we welcome your feedback on how you have experienced our values around diversity, equity, and inclusion in the recruitment process.
Position Description: RCAP is hiring a Senior Environmental Program Coordinator to stand up and manage our work as a new EPA National Environmental Finance Center (EFC). As an EFC, RCAP will be helping un/underserved small, rural and Tribal communities all across the country prepare for, access, implement and sustainably manage infrastructure dollars. Responsibilities will include tracking and managing program deliverables for the national office and RCAP’s regional and external partners, reporting, and liaising with RCAP funders, and coordinating and collaborating with the 28 other regional and national EFCs. The position would include day-to-day oversight of this and potentially other federally and/or philanthropically funded programs. The Coordinator provides subject matter expertise on the technical, managerial, and especially financial management and operations of small, rural and tribal water and wastewater systems which includes onsite/decentralized and private wells as well as strategic issues such as regionalization, affordability, and disaster preparedness and response. The Coordinator assists with determining and meeting technical support and training needs throughout the network for RCAP staff and community members including utility personnel together with the training and technical services team. They may be called upon to serve as liaison to professional and non-profit organizations as appropriate, and on funding agencies’ topic-specific working groups. We look for a passion for improving quality of life and public/environmental health in rural America.
Hours: Exempt Full-Time
Specific Duties/Responsibilities:
- Help to develop and manage RCAP’s new National EFC program which will focus on regional cooperation among utilities, helping Tribal systems to be shovel ready and afford and operate their infrastructure in the long-term, helping provide first time service to private well/septic owners experiencing environmental and public health challenges, serving hard to reach, nontraditional systems such as schools and Manufactured Housing Communities, building our network’s capacity in stormwater and water re-use, and identifying and addressing disparities in access to clean water and water financing.
- Manage/co-manage federal grant-funded water/waste grant programs including the development and submittal of required funder reports, the development of sub agreements, and regional and external partner oversight including deliverables and spending tracking. This may include the procurement and management of contractors.
- Coordinate, build, and maintain rapport with key funding agencies, our six regional RCAP partners and external partner organizations. This will include significant regular coordination and collaboration with EPA and the other 28 EFCs across the country.
- Assist with development of program deliverables and/or drive their completion such as webinars, guidebooks, train-the-trainer workshops, technical review of communications and outreach collateral, and develop and implement new policies/approaches as needed.
- Travel to participate in/present at conferences, workshops, programmatic events, RCAP program management meetings and other activities representing small, rural and Tribal communities and ensuring they are not left behind.
- Maintain and further develop collaborative relationships with other water/wastewater industry groups, rural community development organizations, potential funders and other entities that complement the work of RCAP.
- Lead, participate in, and/or contribute to various workgroups as assigned both on the national external level as well as internally with RCAP regions.
- Generate or contribute to environmental funding proposals.
Other duties as assigned by the Chief Programs Officer.
Required Qualifications:
- Experience overseeing programs with a variety of deliverables and overseeing various partner organizations; federal grant management experience preferred including the management of funder relationships, reporting, and budget and sub-agreement processes
- Experience in drinking water or wastewater management, finance, or technical operations; previous work directly with communities a plus. Solid understanding of industry needs and community-based solutions around training and technical assistance to small systems in any one or more of the following areas: affordability, sustainability and resilience, addressing disparities in access to clean water and infrastructure financing, regional collaboration among systems, or other areas that demonstrate similar experience.
- Strong written/verbal communication and project management skills including experience with written funder reports and public presentations; attention to detail a must
- Ability to work independently but also collaboratively in a remote team setting
- Relationship and trust building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
- Familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, and database applications; skills in the MS Office Suite, including Outlook and SharePoint preferred
- A multi-tasker with the ability to wear many hats in a fast-paced environment
- 7+ years of relevant work experience, a bachelor’s degree preferred but can be substituted for additional experience
Desired Qualifications:
- Knowledge of and experience with State Revolving Loan Funds (Drinking Water and/or Clean Water) and Environmental Protection Agency and/or U.S. Department of Agriculture drinking water, wastewater and/or solid waste programs; stormwater, re-use, lead and/or PFAs experience preferred
- Technical assistance, capacity building and/or training experience, with water and/or wastewater specifically preferred; facilitation experience a plus
- Experience with logistical planning/coordination with events and communications staff
- Experience working with and a passion for assisting rural, Tribal and/or other un/underserved communities especially in the area of environmental justice
How to Apply: To apply please submit a letter of interest and resume/CV to abrown@rcap.org. The application process will close on February 3.
The Selection Process: In an effort to be as transparent as possible in our selection process as well as to help expedite bringing new staff on board, below is a timeline of key events:
- Review of Resumes: Applications will be reviewed as they come in. All initial reviews will be completed by February 10
- Initial Screening Interviews (via phone): By February 17
- Full Interviews (via Zoom): By February 24
- Reference checks: February 27-March 2
- Extend offer: March 3
While we will proactively communicate these dates and any changes to you throughout the process, please consider placing tentative holds on your calendars for the initial screening and face-to-face interviews. Dates subject to change.
