The Community Water Center (CWC) acts as a catalyst for community-driven water solutions through organizing, education, and advocacy in California. CWC has offices in Visalia, Watsonville and Sacramento, CA. The Center employs four primary strategies in order to accomplish our goals:
- Educate, organize, and build the capacity of low-income communities and communities of color to address local drinking water challenges.
- Support low-income communities and communities of color in the development of drinking water solutions through technical assistance projects.
- Advocate for systemic change to address the root causes of unsafe drinking water in California.
- Serve as a resource for information and center of expertise on community water challenges.
CWC’s team is passionate, dynamic, and believes in the cause of water justice and making real change that is driven directly by impacted communities themselves. Our organizing and advocacy work, community collaborations, and organizational culture all reflect a concern for equity, mutual respect, appreciation for diversity, and environmental and social justice.
Position Description Options
The Policy Advocate is primarily responsible for assisting CWC’s Sacramento team with sustainable groundwater campaigns, such as drought response and land transition.
The Policy Advocate is a regular, exempt, full-time, salary position based out of our Sacramento office and will report to the Policy Manager. All employees at CWC are “at will.” This position will work closely with CWC’s communications team, community solutions team, as well as other CWC staff, community members, ally organizations and agencies, and various interns.
Ideal Candidate
The candidate must be a strong researcher and writer and have enthusiasm for shaping policy for safe water access in California. They have a strong passion for ensuring that historically
marginalized voices and communities are visible, powerful, and influencing regulatory programs on drinking water issues. While expertise in California drinking water issues is not required, a willingness and passion to learn from staff and community experts is key.
Major Responsibilities
- Supports CWC’s efforts to support the development of, and community participation in, effective and equitable sustainable groundwater management efforts.
- Develop and present advocacy materials, academic research, and best practices related to sustainable groundwater management.
- Assist with agenda preparation, note taking, and facilitation of key meetings with organizational partners.
- Advocate for equitable implementation of the Department of Water Resources’ SB552 drought program in Tulare County and Monterey County.
- Advocate for equitable implementation of the Department of Conservation’s Multigenetic Land Repurposing program (MLRP).
- Represent CWC and coordinate community representation at public hearings, legislative and regulatory meetings, and other key external meetings and events as needed.
- Assist the Policy Manager and other key staff with CWC participation, leadership in advocacy coalitions.