The Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) seeks a Water Program and Policy Director who is deeply passionate about environmental protection and committed to collaborative, creative problem-solving. This role focuses on building and strengthening coalitions among community leaders, faith organizations, elected officials, and other stakeholders to advance shared water policy goals. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker who can effectively prioritize efforts and resources to maximize impact, and a strong communicator who can translate complex scientific and policy issues into clear, compelling messages. Experience with water issues in the Midwestern United States is highly valued, as is a background in environmental science, engineering, hydrology, geology, or public policy. Essential Duties and

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Monitor for, analyze, track, and provide testimony on water-related legislation introduced in the Indiana General Assembly as a member of HEC’s Legislative Team.
• Develop and implement policy and programs to advance environmentally sound state water protection both during and between legislative sessions, including:
• Developing partnerships and working with and leading coalitions and representing HEC on water related task forces and groups;
• Working with elected officials;
• Drafting and promoting favorable policies, and o Providing educational resources and opportunities in partnership with HEC’s Communications, Outreach and Marketing Team and with partner organizations.
• Monitor state agencies for water-related rulemaking or policy changes, particularly the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and advocate for favorable policies.
• Provide technical assistance to organizations and citizens around Indiana with local water-related challenges.
• Attend appropriate professional conferences, such as the Indiana Water Summit and Indiana Water Resources Association conference, to stay up to date on state water issues, network, and to speak or represent HEC as an exhibitor, when possible.
• Seek funding and assist with writing grants to support HEC’s water program in partnership with HEC’s Development Team.
• Write reports for the grants which support HEC’s water program.
• Advocate for low-impact development and green infrastructure as means of protecting water resources.
• Provide staff support and oversight for members of the HEC water team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Team management and supervisory experience.
• Five or more years of experience working on water policy, water resource management, water quality protection, or within the water regulatory environment, and/or professional experience planning, developing, or implementing water-related programs or projects.
• Curiosity and a strong desire to learn about water systems, watershed dynamics, new water technologies, water treatment methods, and emerging best practices in water protection and management.
• A thorough understanding of surface water and groundwater systems, including: watershed scale planning, stormwater management, wetlands, and aquatic ecosystems.
• An understanding of state and federal water laws and regulations, including the Clean Water Act, water quality standards, permitting processes, and the roles of agencies such as IDEM and IDNR.
• Familiarity with water infrastructure, including stormwater systems, drinking water and wastewater systems, green infrastructure, and low-impact development practices.
• An understanding of the economic considerations of water management, including funding mechanisms, cost–benefit analysis of water protection strategies, and the financial impacts of water infrastructure investments.
• Ability to work with and understand a broad range of stakeholder concerns and interests— including community members, local governments, utilities, farmers, developers, and advocacy organizations—as they relate to advancing HEC’s water policy and protection goals.
• Ability and desire to work collaboratively with HEC team members while also being self-directed and effective in an independent work environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical and scientific water information into clear, compelling, and accessible messages for diverse audiences.
• Fluency with Microsoft Excel and Word, and the ability to learn and adapt to new software tools and data systems as needed.

Organization Wide Core Competencies and Expectations for All Employees

1. Organizing and Engagement - Hoosier Environmental has a proven ability to connect with individuals and communities through many channels of engagement. The focus on our efforts is on building both grassroots and grasstops support for our priorities. Examples include building participation in a training or webinar; encouraging broad response to a calls to action; one-on-one or small group meetings for collaboration, advocacy and/or relationship building with those outside of HEC; building participation with volunteer opportunities provided by HEC; supporting fundraising campaigns and/or grant submissions; and general awareness raising of HEC and our issues.

2. Continual Growth and Learning - All HEC staff are expected to continually build their knowledge base and share and utilize it strategically to advance program goals. Examples of this include increased utilization of provided tools such as Every Action, GIS mapping, and Canva; building subject matter expertise through reading books, news stories and journals; participation in trainings and discussion with colleagues; and learning through other forms of information such as podcasts and videos. Staff are encouraged to identify and name opportunities for further learning and share related budget needs with their supervisor.

3. Staff Communication and Collaboration – Staff are expected to work collaboratively within the HEC team. This means clear communication and follow-through with team members; providing support and assistance with shared organization goals when called upon by fellow team members when appropriate; and doing your best to understand staff varied cultural backgrounds, working styles, and communication methods among team members. In addition, staff should work to share their professional preferences for communication, task sharing and collaboration, and do their best to understand and support the preferences of other team members.

Travel Requirements

• Valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation are necessary.
• Ability to attend and participate in events, workshops, and public meetings, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• While not required preference will be given to candidates that live in the Indianapolis metropolitan area.
• Hoosier Environmental Council Culture and Values:
• Our Vision: Hoosier Environmental Council envisions an Indiana in which all residents have abundant access to clean water, natural lands, pure air, and affordable clean energy
• Our Mission: Hoosier Environmental Council leads and collaborates with diverse coalitions to achieve a healthy natural environment and thriving sustainable communities.
• Our Values: Mitigating Climate Change, Environmental Justice and Health, Commitment to Evidence-Based Science and Methods, Nonpartisan Commitment, Stewardship for Future Generations, Proactive Innovation, Shared Learning and Collaboration, Transparency and Accountability
• Equity Statement: Hoosier Environmental Council believes the benefits of a truly resilient and sustainable healthy environment should be available to all Hoosiers. We recognize that systemic racism, continuous social norms and economic status have resulted in the unequitable distribution of environmental harms related to pollution, particularly in urban areas where pollution and limited access to green space are often concentrated. We believe all residents should have ready access to natural spaces, clean water, pure air and affordable clean energy. We embrace diversity among our staff, board, partners and the communities we serve. We benefit from varying perspectives and lived experiences.

Opportunity Details

Hoosier Environmental Council began in 1983 and is Indiana’s largest state headquartered environmental organization. If you would like to utilize your skills to make a brighter and more sustainable future for all who call Indiana home this is an excellent opportunity for you. Salary range is $75,000-$85,000 depending on experience and comes with health, vision, and dental insurance, retirement and generous PTO benefits. To apply please include your resume AND a cover letter