WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE AUTHORITY OF ARIZONA

The mission of the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority is to maintain and improve water quality in Arizona by providing financial assistance and technical assistance for basic water infrastructure.

Assistant Director for External Affairs

Job Location:

3300 North Central Avenue

 Phoenix, Arizona 85012

Posting Details:

Salary is Negotiable

This position is at will and serves at the pleasure of the Board of the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority; a separate employment agreement will be required  

This posting will remain open until filled  

Job Summary:

WIFA is hiring an Assistant Director for External Affairs. The Assistant Director will be a key member of a goal-oriented, pragmatic, innovative leadership team that provides expertise and leadership to drive economic growth and environmental benefits through supporting a holistic approach to water security, including augmenting water supplies, conserving water, and modernizing water infrastructure for all of Arizona.

Historically, WIFA’s primary responsibility has been to help Arizona’s communities construct and maintain their wastewater and drinking water infrastructure by providing low-cost financing through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs. In 2022, WIFA’s responsibility and mission expanded to include three new, state-funded programs designed to meet the existing and future water supply needs of the State: the Water Supply Development Fund (WSDF), the Long-Term Augmentation Fund (LTWAF), and the Water Conservation Grant Fund (WCGF).

The ideal candidate will design and implement a strategic outreach framework that highlights WIFA’s role in Arizona’s innovative approach to water security. This will include building relationships with policy makers, regulators, water providers and users, and the public to maximize WIFA’s reach and impact. This person will be comfortable building rapport and relationships with individuals and groups and requires an outgoing, poised and persuasive communication style. As an organization that has evolved significantly over the last three years, WIFA requires an Assistant Director who is willing and able to handle unexpected environmental and organizational change.

Job Duties:

The Assistant Director for External Affairs will require a high degree of decision-making focused on implementing practical, timely solutions.

The job duties require acting quickly and transitioning seamlessly between varying issues and responsibilities.

Self-assurance, and the confidence to drive toward results while constantly problem-solving and engaging others is essential to be successful in this role.

A leadership style that is firm and goal oriented, and yet motivates, trains, and involves others in an enthusiastic way is important.

Major job responsibilities include:

• Cultivate WIFA’s brand health and external communications including, but not limited to, the legislature, the media, stakeholder groups, and the general public

• Represent WIFA at conferences, meetings, and other gatherings. Identify and prepare other staff, Board Members, and Committee Members to represent WIFA across a diverse range of stakeholders and interested parties

• Develop and implement a stakeholder engagement plan to build WIFA’s core base of champions and advocates across the state, especially between potential offtakers of long-term water augmentation projects

• Develop and implement a strategic communications framework for external engagement across multiple channels, with a wide range of audiences locally, statewide, regionally, and nationally

• Develop and implement a strategic plan to advance WIFA’s legislative and policy agenda. Hire and manage staff to serve as liaison(s) to the legislature able to proactively present WIFA’s interests and positions at the local, state, and federal level, as well as promptly respond to legislative issues

• Maintain close relationships with key media stakeholders. Hire and manage staff (or engage external contractors and consultants) to identify, build and sustain relationships with local, statewide and national media outlets and journalists to promote the agency and provide the public with reliable, accur