Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs

Job Description: Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs
Tennessee Clean Water Network

TCWN Description: TCWN organizes Tennesseans to claim our right to clean water and healthy communities by fostering civic engagement, building coalitions and advancing water policy. –
All Tennesseans to have access to and benefit from clean, free-flowing water;
• An unstoppable upwelling of Tennesseans exercising our right to protect clean water;
• Tennessee water quality policy to be a model for the nation, with standards that exceed federal minimums and a commitment to improve those standards for the benefit of all Tennesseans;
• Protection of the unique beauty of Tennessee's rivers, lakes and open spaces.

This position reports to the Executive Director and starts January 1, 2008.

Location: This position is may reside in or around the Nashville area in a home office or at the offices in Knoxville, TN

Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy or related field, 3 – 5 years experience in environmental non-profit organization, educational or governmental fields. Knowledge of the Farm Bill a plus, but not a requirement. Must have experience writing and analyzing public policy.

Principle Functions: The Director will manage current programs and coordinate future program priorities with the Executive Director, staff and Board of Directors.

TCWN Values: We look for people with passion, compassion, confidence, uncommon skill, a hunger to win, and a belief in doing more than is expected.

Program Direction – Oversees, directs and manages the Clean Water Policy program (73%)

This job concentrates on the Clean Water Policy Program whose main focus is on strengthening the Tennessee Water Pollution Control Act, other State resource protection acts and the Federal Clean Water Act to protect water resources. Under the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act, the Director will be responsible for:
• Monitoring and commenting on all rulemaking related to water quality;
• Increasing public access to information regarding permit issuance, enforcement and implementation of standards within those permits with emphasis on the anti-degradation process;
• Primary relations with TDEC and other resource protection agencies and their field offices;
• Increasing protections for wetlands;
• Assisting the community organizing program with policy analysis.
• Create and monitor templates and procedures to analyze TDEC programs and decisions.

In a parallel manner, the Clean Water Policy Program will be looking at innovative ways to use the Farm Bill and other farm programs to help reduce impacts to the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers. The Director will be responsible for:
• Increasing funding access for farmers in Tennessee to implement good conservation practices;
• Work with other collaborative members to identify states contributing the most pollution through agricultural activities and assist them with strategies that work from Tennessee.
• Work with partners along the Mississippi and Tennessee River Basins to reduce impacts to those rivers.

Legislative Affairs – directs TCWN legislative activities, tracks state and federal legislation as allowed under the current 501(c)(3). (20%)
• Creates, drafts and monitors state legislation as necessary to protect and enhance clean water laws;
• Works with the lobbyists to educate legislators and formulate legislative strategies to pass sound legislation;
• Monitors federal legislation and submits comments when appropriate;

Fundraising (5%) – TCWN’s fundraising program goes hand in hand with program work. The Clean Water Policy Program Director will assist fundraising activities in the following manner:
• Identifies, applies for and manages government grants
• Contributes content for foundation grants.

Other Functions (2%)
• Attends board meetings when necessary, attends all events, workshops and conferences sponsored by TCWN.
• Provides content for the newsletter.

Compensation and Benefits:
• This is a full-time salaried position.
• Base salary range is $32,000 – 38,000 based on education and experience.
• Medical, dental and vision insurance provided.
• Generous vacation, sick and parental leave benefits provided.
• 403(b)(7) available. Employee contribution only.
• Annual raise up to 7%.
• All applicable professional fees covered.

Please send a resume, a writing sample that includes policy analysis and a list of 3 references to:

Renée Victoria Hoyos
Executive Director
Tennessee Clean Water Network
P.O. Box 1521
Knoxville, TN 37904

For further inquiries call 865.522.7007 x 100