Coordinator, Policy & Sector-Building

Position: Coordinator, Policy & Sector-Building
Location: Remote; Los Angeles (Hybrid); Travel required
Employment Type: Full-time, Hourly, Nonexempt
Compensation Range: $26.50/hour – $31.25/hour DOE
Level: Coordinator I
Reports To: Manager, The Vessel Collective
Manages: None
Supported By: Sector-Building & Policy team, Program teams, Development team, Operations team
Education/Experience Preferences: Bachelor’s Degree preferred with relevant professional experience
Start Date: ASAP, open until filled

We Are DigDeep

The DigDeep Right to Water Project is a WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) organization committed to closing the water access gap for the 2 million+ people in the U.S. who still don’t have a tap or a toilet at home.

DigDeep believes access to clean water is a human right. We run several nationally recognized programs that empower communities to build their own water and sanitation systems. We won the 2018 US Water Prize for our Navajo Water Project, which has brought clean, running water to hundreds of Native families across New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah.

DigDeep launched the Appalachia Water Project in 2020, in McDowell County, WV. It has since brought clean, sustainable running water to hundreds of families in Southern West Virginia through public-private partnerships with the McDowell County PSD and East Logan PSD in Wyoming County. In addition to clean running water, the project is installing septic systems and connecting households to centralized sewer. The AWP is now expanding into neighboring states of Kentucky and Virginia to continue its quest for clean water for every Appalachian family.

Our water projects expanded in 2022 when we launched our Colonias Water Project. This project works to bring clean, running water to the residents living in communities along the Texas-Mexico border. The Texas colonias are largely unincorporated, low-income communities that fall just outside city limits and often lack basic infrastructure. Our work began in Cochran colonia near El Paso. DigDeep partnered with residents, housing nonprofits, and county officials to innovate a new model for public-private partnerships that brings these basic services to families for the first time. Now we’re getting the water flowing in five more communities.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager, Vessel Collective, the Coordinator, Policy & Sector-Building will support DigDeep’s work on coalition-building and sector development, as well as Congressional, Tribal, state, and federal policy priorities. Collaboration is central to this role: the Coordinator works closely with the Manager and partners nationwide, often virtually, and must be able to work effectively in a remote environment to advance shared initiatives.

The work is both detail-oriented and visionary and requires flexibility, forward-thinking, creativity, humility, patience, a discerning eye, and efficiency. With a focus on relationship building, as-needed travel is expected.

The ideal candidate has a passion for writing, researching, and synthesizing information, with demonstrated skills in relationship maintenance and event coordination. An interest in policy and advocacy, and ability to analyze and clearly communicate complex issues, is essential.

Key Responsibilities
Coalition and Sector-Building

Coordinate with various external partners, particularly Tribal government and organization representatives, Vessel Collective members, and U.S. WASH Sector organizations.

Aid in the management and development of key coalitions, working groups, and learning cohorts hosted by DigDeep and Vessel.

Support the Manager in organizing a large-scale conference & convening-building process (U.S. WASH Convening).

Assist in identifying, establishing, managing, and maintaining relationships with key officials, policy organizations, think tanks, foundations, and civil society organizations on DigDeep’s behalf.

Help engage policymakers in state legislatures or Congress and/or state or federal agencies.

With guidance, contribute to policy projects such as drafting briefs, legislation, and supporting state and Tribal policy initiatives.

Administrative and Internal Support

Assist the Executive Director and Manager of the Vessel Collective with day-to-day operations and project implementation.

Provide logistical and administrative support for Vessel Collective activities, including coordinating virtual meetings and events, preparing and distributing agendas and invitations, maintaining contact lists, and taking and sharing meeting notes.

Conduct high-level research, track developments, and report on WASH issues to identify and assess potential impacts to DigDeep’s work.

Draft fact sheets, briefing memos, and other materials as requested.

Attend webinars, conferences, government information sessions, and other events on water access, wastewater issues, and other policy priorities.

Collaborate with internal DigDeep teams, including executive, research, programs, communications, and operations, on cross-cutting projects.

Assist with ad-hoc projects and support other tasks/duties as assigned.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. As the organization continues to evolve, duties or tasks may change without impacting the overall job description.

Competencies

Analytical Thinking: Begins to analyze information for trends, patterns, and gaps. Makes logical deductions from information. Identifies and proposes workable options and solutions for problems and inconsistencies. Gathers information needed to address issues and prioritizes between multiple tasks.

Collaborative Working: Actively solicits ideas and opinions from others to efficiently accomplish objectives. Shows interest in others’ experiences, ideas, and roles. Proactively sources feedback and integrates it into approach.

Initiative: Questions processes to improve them, focuses under pressure, delivers against timelines, and identifies resources or people to support problem-solving.

Innovation: Seeks opportunities to try new experiences, generates innovative responses to problems, adapts to changes, and suggests ways to improve work processes.

Personal Development: Commits to improving and learning, independently reviews progress, reflects on performance, and responds well to new situations.

Professional Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills. Expresses ideas clearly, handles conflict empathetically, and effectively communicates complex information to different audiences.

Technical Expertise: Demonstrates depth of knowledge in the desired technical area, applies technical knowledge to identify solutions, and understands data security best practices.

Skills and Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree with relevant professional experience (preferred)

At least 3 years of relevant professional experience, including coalition- or sector-building, relationship development, and/or coordinating events or convenings (required)

Experience engaging with Tribal governments, community organizations, and/or U.S. WASH sector stakeholders (preferred)

Experience in the WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) sector (preferred)

Demonstrated experience providing logistical and administrative support for multi-stakeholder initiatives, including coordinating multiple virtual meetings or events, maintaining multiple contact lists, preparing agendas, and taking/sharing notes (required)

Strong written and verbal communication skills (required)

Ability to build and maintain relationships across diverse stakeholders (required)

Organized, trustworthy, dependable, and detail-oriented (required)

Comfortable working independently and collaboratively (required)

Experience/willingness to work across cultural contexts (required)

Proficiency in MS Office Suite, Google Workspace, and Zoom (required)

High computer literacy and tech-savviness (required)

Experience with Slack and Asana (preferred)

Knowledge of water poverty and the WASH sector, with focus on Tribal territories/lands (preferred)

Fluency/strong proficiency in Navajo (preferred)

Willingness to travel to locations including Navajo Nation (AZ/NM/UT), West Virginia, Texas, DigDeep HQ, Washington, DC, and others as needed (required)

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive wage based on position level

Generous vacation and sick leave

23 weeks paid Parental Leave

Annual Professional Development Stipend

Annual Wellbeing Reimbursement

BrightPlan membership (Financial Wellness Benefit)

Health Benefits:

Employee: medical, dental, vision insurance, 100% employer-paid

Spouse/Children/Family: employer covers up to $500 monthly for medical, 100% for dental and vision

One Medical membership

Life insurance, 100% employer-paid

Work laptop, monthly cell phone and internet allowances

15 paid holidays (including one-week closure for Labor Day)

Domestic travel

401k retirement plan with employer match

Interested?

When applying, please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume. References should be available upon request. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. No office visits or calls, please.

In an effort to promote pay equity and transparency, DigDeep does not negotiate compensation outside of posted ranges. Compensation is based on internal budget analysis, external market value, internal pay alignment, and annual merit increases. Candidate compensation history is not used in determining pay.

DigDeep cannot provide immigration sponsorship for this position.

DigDeep is deeply committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We believe social change happens when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with a common purpose. DigDeep is built on principles of equity, transparency, and the power of human experience. Your work will improve daily lives. Everyone should have clean, running water. Join us, and we’ll close the US water gap in our lifetimes.

DigDeep is a certified Great Place to Work®

#LI-DNI

Learn more here