Position Summary:  Washington Environmental Council/Washington Conservation Voters seeks a Toxics and Stormwater Policy Manager to advance policies and campaigns that reduce impacts from toxics and stormwater on people, water, and wildlife. Responsibilities include analyzing and developing policy and establishing advocacy strategies; engaging in rulemaking and implementation work; participating in and at times leading coalitions; and being a leader in toxics and stormwater policy.

This is a full-time position. Position location is preferably out of our office in Seattle, WA; a remote position from another location in Washington State will be considered for exceptional candidates capable of meeting position requirements. If outside Seattle, travel will be required to attend in-person office and coalition meetings, at the discretion of the Program Director. The Toxics and Stormwater Policy Manager reports to WEC and WCV’s Puget Sound Program Director.

About our organizations

Washington Environmental Council (WEC) is a nonprofit, statewide advocacy organization. For over 50 years, WEC has brought people together to solve Washington’s most critical environmental issues. WEC builds power for the environmental movement by building partnerships, mobilizing the public, connecting voters to decision makers, and taking legal action. Our mission is to develop, advocate, and defend policies that ensure environmental progress and justice by centering and amplifying the voices of the most impacted communities.

Washington Conservation Voters (WCV) ensures Washington’s decision makers keep our environment protected, healthy, and vibrant. Over the last 35 years, we have elected environmental champions, held our elected leaders to the highest standard, and built statewide momentum for environmental campaigns through innovative voter outreach efforts and community organizing. WCV’s mission is to develop, advocate, and defend policies that ensure environmental progress and justice by centering and amplifying the voices of the most impacted communities.

By effectively combining the policy know-how of WEC with the political know-how of WCV, we have reshaped how environmental protection is achieved in Washington. With one shared CEO, our organizations work in partnership as each pursues its unique mission. Combined, we have a staff of 40 and work in a LEED-certified building in downtown Seattle with a view of Elliott Bay. We are currently working in a flexible hybrid model, with staff in the office two or three days a week for collaboration or celebration. Our teams have access to a variety of online tools and systems that support working remotely

We offer competitive salaries, good benefits, and the opportunity to make a difference. We are committed to a representative, socially just, and welcoming work environment – people of color, people with varying abilities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are especially encouraged to apply. We continue to advance the application of a racial equity lens to our work and are led by a CEO who is a citizen of the Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs, Oregon.

Responsibilities:

Working with the Puget Sound Program Director, the Toxics and Stormwater Policy Manager will be responsible for implementing our portfolio of approaches to reduce impacts of toxics and stormwater. This position will engage with Tribes, state agencies, local governments, partner organizations and coalitions to succeed. The successful candidate must be able to identify strategic opportunities to effect durable environmental changes.

Toxics and Stormwater:

• Identify and implement opportunities to strengthen stormwater policies and regulations to accelerate adoption of green stormwater infrastructure using a range of tools from incentives to regulatory based.
• Lead the organization’s policy development and advocacy for the multi-year Model Toxics Control Act rulemaking, with a particular focus on advancing environmental justice.
• Identify and implement strategic opportunities to keep toxic chemicals out of the environment and out of people by reducing toxics at the source.

General Responsibilities:

• Center and advance racial equity and tribal sovereignty in external and internal programmatic work. Grow and deepen authentic relationships with Tribes and communities of color to better center and amplify their voices in decision-making. Engage in internal racial equity teams to further organizational goals.
• Effectively communicate Puget Sound team efforts and advocacy positions to a range of audiences, including newsletters to members, media, comment letters to government officials, and multi-media tools that reach new audiences in creative ways. Build the program’s communications capacity in collaboration with the Communications Team, including identifying opportunities to develop blog posts, member education emails, storytelling, and other communications.
• Build relationships and identify opportunities for synergy and collaboration with internal teams including political, government affairs, forest, and climate programs, that include but are not limited to developing materials for candidates and elected officials, collaborating on legislative approaches to durable change, salmon and ecosystem recovery, comprehensive planning, and clean water.
• Work effectively independently and as a critical member of the Puget Sound team, as well as in coalitions with partner organizations while maintaining a professional and respectful approach.
• Build and sustain strategic partnerships within and beyond the environmental community, including relationships with other non-profit organizations that center environmental justice, government officials, and interest groups outside of the environmental community with common objectives.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Demonstrated commitment to environmental protection, environmental justice, and tribal sovereignty.
• Knowledge of Washington state and Puget Sound region, including laws, policies, regulations, legislative process, and rulemaking.
• Policy experience with Clean Water Act stormwater permits and state toxics laws including the Model Toxics Control Act, and at least five years of experience in environmental policy, science, law, or a related field that builds analytical skills.
• Proven leadership within a coalition, including strong facilitation skills and experience leading collaborations that build trust and collective power.
• Able to evaluate highly complex policy and technical issues to find the root causes of problems or policy triggers to effectively advocate for positive change.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with people from different backgrounds and interests.
• Strong writing, verbal and analytical skills to ensure consistent and precise communication of perspectives and ideas, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to perform confidently and comfortably in conflict situations and dynamic environments.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
• Ability to travel across Washington as needed (see Working Conditions).

Desirable Skills:

• Experience working productively with environmental justice organizations and tribal nations.
• Experience engaging in and supporting organizational fundraising, including reviewing and writing grant applications, supporting funder outreach, and supporting fundraising events.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

This is a full-time position and is expected to work a standard work week of 40 hours. Some weeks may require additional hours to meet deadlines. The position involves office work and frequent sitting at a desk, using a computer and/or phone for long periods of time. Must be able to conduct business in English, though fluency in other languages is welcomed. For remote work, employees must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work during scheduled work hours. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with different abilities to perform functions essential to the duties of the position.

This position is hybrid (minimum of 40% in the Seattle office) but we will consider an option for being fully remote for those located within Washington State, but outside of mass transit options to our Seattle office. We anticipate this job will involve occasional travel to in-person meetings and staff gatherings at the discretion of the supervisor.

Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters is a unionized employer represented by Communication Workers of America Local 7800. This is a represented position.

COVID-19

The organization follows all requirements of local health authorities. We are currently working in hybrid remote work model with staff working from home in addition to in-office time for collaboration and celebration. We maintain strict safety protocols while in our office. All staff who come to the office must be fully immunized against COVID-19.

Compensation and Benefits:

This is a full time, exempt position with a salary range of $59,000 – $64,500 depending on experience. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package including 100% employer paid medical and dental insurance, 401k plan and organizational match of up to 3% of your annual salary, a flexible spending account, three weeks of paid vacation to start, a separate pool of sick leave, 12 paid holidays per year plus four floating wellness days, and an unlimited ORCA transit pass that covers several Puget Sound area transit agencies, including Metro, Pierce Transit, Sound Transit and Community Transit, and if you work for seven consecutive years you are eligible for a two-month paid sabbatical. We welcome new and diverse people to a great team who together shape environmental protection in Washington.

Washington Environmental Council/Washington Conservation Voters is an equal opportunity employer committed to dismantling structural racism and creating a welcoming work environment. WEC does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, gender, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. People of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities are encouraged to apply.