Assistant Director for External Affairs

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.

3300 North Central Avenue

Phoenix, Arizona 85012

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

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.

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, accurate, and timely information

• Hire and manage staff (or engage external contractors and consultants) to provide the public with clear and transparent access to WIFA’s programs, actions, and public meetings including through (but not limited to) websites, social media, traditional media, in-person meetings, and public presentations

• Provide creative leadership in the review, development and editing of videos, graphics, fliers, posters, leave-behinds, public-service announcements and other products that support WIFA's objectives

• Provide potential WIFA project beneficiaries with clear understanding of WIFA resources and provide best-in-class customer service to WIFA’s customers

• Along with CIO, responsible for prompt responses to public records requests

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of Arizona water policy and issues surrounding water security

• Knowledge of the Arizona legislative process

• Knowledge of local, state, and national media

Skills:

• Skilled in writing external communications pieces, including press releases and stakeholder communications

• Skilled in building relationships with and between diverse stakeholder groups

• Skilled in media management and strategy, including social media

Ability:

• Ability to supervise employees as well as maintain relationships with external consultants and contractors

• Ability to manage multiple communications tools for maximizing stakeholder engagement

• Ability to mobilize a diverse group of stakeholders around a unified outcome

• Experience as brand health and external communications consultation in a government setting (State agency preferred)

• Experience communicating with the legislature, the media, stakeholder groups, and the general public

• Possess a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from an accredited college or university

Driving Requirements:

• Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver license record checks, required to maintain acceptable driving records and complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.11)
• Requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver license appropriate to the assignment

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance

• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year

• Health and dental insurance

• Retirement plan

• Sick leave

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)

• Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment

• If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Yolanda Mendoza at ymendoza@azwifa.gov for assistance