Water and Energy Program Director

Founded in 1988, River Network is the leading national organization exclusively dedicated to empowering and uniting grassroots action to protect rivers and watersheds. Our work benefits thousands of organizations, including river groups, watershed associations, land trusts, Native American communities, environmental justice groups and local governments, and millions of people in all 50 states.

River Network staff include climate and health experts, field organizers, scientists, policy analysts and educators. We are the only national environmental organization headquartered in Portland, Oregon and have field staff in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest and Northern Rockies.

River Network has just completed a collaborative planning process involving hundreds of our ost active Partner groups, leading national environmental organizations, scores of state and ederal government agencies, and researchers at the forefront of science. The plan outlines a path to successful protection and restoration of our country's water resources by empowering local leaders to safeguard and care for their "home waters."

Position Overview:

The Water and Energy Program Director will be a lead strategist nationally as we galvanize our network to address our country's shifting water demands and availability in the face of global climate change. Specifically, the Director will develop an innovative program to ensure that the impacts of climate change are reduced on people and the environment and river health improved by more effective and efficient use of water and energy.

The Director will be responsible for developing and overseeing programs for local and state groups and forging strong professional partnerships with national peer organizations and federal agencies. She/he will develop and implement strategies to make the water-energy nexus a major national priority in strategies addressing global climate change.

Candidates must be able to work collaboratively and empower others to take responsibility for change in the world. She/he must have a strong grasp of applied science, proven experience translating science into policy recommendations, a track record of integrating science into educational programs and grassroots campaign work, an ability to inspire others through written and verbal communications, and familiarity with program development, workplanning and budgeting. This position is full-time with flexible location, ideally based in either Washington, DC or Portland, Oregon.

Reports to: President/ Chief Executive Officer

Responsibilities:

Leadership:

• Develop steering committee of national leaders in water, energy and climate issues to pool the best thinking and practices developed to date; identify opportunities for synergy across many organizations, institutions and agencies; and clarify roles and responsibilities on water/energy work directed at the common goal of addressing climate change.
• Work with the steering committee to create and implement a multi-year strategy that engages thousands of grassroots groups - including watershed and river organizations, land trusts, and the environmental justice community - in climate-response activities.
• Develop strategic partnerships with other national non-profits, government agencies, research institutions and individuals to maximally leverage River Network's grassroots leadership in the water/energy nexus.
• Develop, grow and support an "alliance within the network" of Partner groups dedicated to working on shared goals for addressing climate change challenges.

Research and Best Practices:

• Access best available science and develop best practices for local communities saving water while saving energy, promoting energy solutions that minimize water use and pollution, and other strategies for communities addressing changing climate.
• Work with Partner groups, national peer organizations, utilities, scientists, and technical experts to develop water and energy policies informed by the grassroots and implementable by the grassroots.
• Review and interpret cost/benefit information and environmental impacts of model water/energy and green infrastructure projects, their GHG emissions, water footprint, and water pollution estimates.
• Help the Field Mobilization Program develop national campaigns, ensure they are driven by the best available science and positions, and produce replicable models.

Tools, Training and Assistance:

• Provide guidance and technical assistance to local Partner organizations to ensure success of pilot projects and foster opportunities for replicability regionally or nationally.
• Conduct train the trainer programs for a variety of local, regional and state-based training partners to expand our ability to educate more groups and audiences.
• Oversee development of educational content on the water/energy nexus and warming rivers and watersheds for webinars, publications, website, blogs, etc.
• Create new tools for use by local communities in assessing the costs and benefits of various water/energy practices and projects.

Communications:

• Conduct public presentations on the water/energy nexus to Partner groups, culturally diverse constituencies, and a variety of other audiences.
• Leverage River Network's on-line resources, journals, the National River Rally and other communications vehicles to elevate public awareness of the Water and Energy Program's goals and work.
• Serve as Chief Editor and a key contributor for specific program-related publications, reports and other resource materials.

Management:

• Serve as a key member of the River Network Senior Management Team, and oversee the day-to-day activities of the program, including budget and workplan supervision.
• Interact regularly in cross-organizational teams and special projects.
• Work with the Development and Finance Departments to establish and manage relationships with funders from initial contact to proposal development to grant performance to renewal.
• Lead long-range and annual work planning and budgeting for the program.
• Recruit, manage and mentor a team of specialists to support the development and execution of the program strategy.
• Establish and monitor staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish and monitor priorities, and conduct annual performance appraisals.
• Promote a culture of respect, performance, continuous learning and a commitment to the individual.

Qualifications:

• Master's Degree or at least 7 years professional experience in environmental science and/or grassroots campaign work. Advance degree in Environmental Sciences, Biology, Public Policy, Engineering, Atmospheric Sciences or Climatology preferred.
• Experience translating complex scientific information for public communication and action.
• Strong quantitative and/or modeling skills.
• A proven ability to generate information and tools of benefit to the advocacy community.
• Commitment to values of mutual respect and collaboration, team work, and diversity.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and management skills.
• Connections to and contacts in the water and energy sector preferred.
• Connections to and contacts with environmental nonprofit groups preferred.
• Experience communicating with and including culturally diverse constituencies in programmatic work preferred.

Compensation: Competitive salary, depending on experience, and full benefits.

Deadline: 02/15/2010

To Apply:

To apply, please submit your resume and a letter showing your passion for the mission of River Network. Submissions requested by February 15, 2010 but search will remain open until the position is filled. No phone calls please.

River Network
Att: Water & Energy Director Search
520 SW 6th Ave., Suite 1130
Portland, OR 97204 

River Network is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status.