| Reports to: Executive Director
Department: Executive Services Description:
The Advocacy & Outreach Associate Director manages efforts specific to external-facing engagement for the Water Quality Association across members, clients, key stakeholders and other professionals within the broader water industry. Contributes strategically to the identification and development of opportunities to creatively leverage resources and support the growth of the organization while maintaining focus on the mission of the organization. This role is integral in championing the
benefits, importance, and necessity of water treatment and in doing so advances WQA’s presence as the recognized resource and advocate for the betterment of water quality. The Advocacy & Outreach Associate Director supports the mission of the Association by cultivating, maintaining, and strengthening relationships with and between members, clients and key stakeholders. Essential Responsibilities: • Facilitates and leverages connections across strategic initiatives, programs and projects with the objective of creating synergies and maximizing the impact of programs collectively.
• Manages identified areas and organizations for stakeholder engagement on advocacy initiatives, including grassroots initiatives, coalition development or engagement, and international collaborations.
• Champions recommendations within the industry by creating tools, executing tactics and developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure member feedback and client perceptions are vetted and changes or policy decisions are documented, communicated and advanced with the appropriate stakeholders.
• Supports the Quality Department as a subject matter expert in the review of complaints alleging violations of the Code of Ethics.
• Work with other staff to establish metrics of success and outcomes for programs based on analyzing member/client satisfaction survey data; evaluate the success by overseeing the identification, collection, and analysis of key data points.
• Drives WQA’s process for proactive outreach by staff and volunteers to convey WQA's stance and progress in relevant matters as part of broader effort to build continuous engagement and support.
• Serve as staff liaison to selected organizations and agencies as assigned for purposes of building alliances, creatively identifying collaborative opportunities, and leveraging coordinated efforts.
• Manage staff liaison and volunteer activities including solicitation, open call for
volunteers, onboarding, annual training, engagement, SOP management and governance structure.
• Oversees the association’s external-facing diversity efforts through support of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council and Women in Industry Advisory Council, and Young Professionals Advisory Council and task forces that report to the Councils.
• Facilitates meetings and conference calls of relevant WQA committees and task forces while representing the association in external advisory councils, sections, committees and task forces associated with industry topics.
• Provides support for Board-level meetings by assisting the Executive Team members with agenda content and capturing meeting minutes, as well as, Board processes such as onboarding, orientation, and assessment.
• In collaboration with other departments, volunteers, or volunteer committees, contribute to the development, enhancement, and implementation of a communications strategy to promote programs to raise revenue, promote the value of research, and improve awareness of VALUE.
• Plans, manages, and executes various industry engagement activities; such as webinars, peer to peer programs, advisory boards, content for WQA publications, website content and conferences.
• Regularly disseminates information to association members and may also respond to regulatory, compliance, or other general inquiries from association members.
• Other duties as assigned.
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