Director, Community Engagement - Partnerships - Military veterans preferred

$105,000 - $125,000

How This Position Contributes to the Team

The Director, Community Engagement - Partnerships works as part of a team focused on cultivating and supporting Water Environment Federation (WEF) community engagement.  This position is aimed at building and growing effective partnerships with volunteers and supporters in support of WEF’s mission and strategic objectives.   The responsibility of the Director includes an emphasis on communications and outreach, working across the organization and membership to showcase WEF communities.  This position is responsible for the operation of WEFUnity, as well as coordinating and collaborating with other WEF departments for events and initiatives to further the strategy.

NOTE: This role is hybrid and requires working in the office (Alexandria, VA) 2 days every other week. Travel is required (up to 15% of the year) for meetings and events, including travel to WEF’s annual conference, WEFTEC.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supervise and develop direct reports, including recruitment, hiring, retention, professional development, coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
• Oversee operations and budget for the department.
• Represent and present on behalf of WEF at conferences, meetings, and events.
• Coordinate closely with WEF staff and volunteer leadership to develop and implement WEF's community engagement strategy.     
• Identify opportunities to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the water sector.
• Coordinate with other internal WEF departments on projects, initiatives, and events, including but not limited to: Workshop in a Box, WEFTEC, CWE, Workforce Development, Marketing and Communications.
• Propose new initiatives and programs to complement and strengthen existing WEF member efforts.
• Coordinate and collaborate with member associations on initiatives and projects to further WEF’s community engagement.
• Oversees WEFUnity and work to improve engagement and usage.
• Provides primary point-of-contact services for assigned member associations and other WEF volunteer entities.  
• Provides primary point-of-contact services for other water sector partnerships.
• Offers suggestions to improve team efficiency
• Other duties as assigned within the scope of the role

Minimum Qualifications:

• 10+ years in volunteer engagement, management and communications, project management, or related fields.
• 3+ years of experience in people leadership.
• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience leading and motivating volunteers, building and growing teams.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Ability to lead collaboratively and work as part of a team while achieving individual goals.
• Deadline and detail oriented with accurate follow-through.
• Excellent project, organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including good phone and email manners.
• Creative problem-solving abilities.
• Computer literate in Microsoft Office 365, Teams, SharePoint, Word, and Excel.
• Experience with Hivebrite or related membership engagement platforms. 
• Ability to coach and train volunteers, employees and other interested parties.
• Ability to travel, up to 15% of the year.

This person will work primarily in an office environment using standard office equipment. 

WEF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

About Us

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of more than 30,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations (MAs) representing water quality professionals around the world. Since 1928, WEF and its members have protected public health and the environment. WEF and its global network of members and member associations provide water quality professionals around the world with the latest in water quality education, training, and business opportunities. WEF’s diverse membership includes scientists, engineers, regulators, academics, utility managers, plant operators, and other professionals. WEF uses this collective knowledge to further a shared goal of improving water quality around the world.

WEF is operating under a new Strategic Plan built on the vision of a life free of water challenges. Our ultimate goal is a world where each person has access to clean water and sanitation, where communities prosper, and where nature thrives. The key strategic goals under the new Strategic Plan are: 1) to attract and develop a diverse and passionate workforce; 2) to cultivate a purpose-driven community to sustainably solve water challenges for all; and 3) to lead the transformation to the circular water economy.

The new Strategic Plan embodies WEF’s embrace of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all that we do. WEF is committed to equity and inclusion in all aspects of our work, including within the governance structure and leadership, WEF partners, WEF staff, and the WEF membership. This commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion will guide our work and our programs, culminating in outcomes that improve public health for all.