Director, Legislature & External Affairs
American Water

Requisition ID: 107319

Share Our Purpose. Be Yourself. Feel Valued.

People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals.

We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey.

About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations. American Water's 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.

As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $30 to $34 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities.

American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron's 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense® Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions.

For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Primary Role

• This role will be responsible for American Water's engagement at strategically targeted conferences, events and other engagements, nationally, to provide AW thought leadership and subject matter expertise, such as at the US Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, NARUC (and regionals).
• Responsibilities also include identification of panel topics, presenters, overall narrative development, and archival conference summary documents.
• Additional responsibilities will include building new and or expanding existing coalition relationships and partnerships with trade associations and other similarly situated organizations and stakeholder groups, including for example NMSU and EEI and ensuring maximization of these relationships.
• Also will develop and expand relationships with key external policymakers and corresponding staff, including e.g. EPA Office of Water, Environmental Council of the States and the NARUC Water Committee.
• Coordinates closely with the Director, Regulatory Policy and Affairs. Also responsible for managing any external lobbyists and/or consultants specific to legislative and external affairs support.
• Potentially also explores/supports creation of NAWC -like state chapters.

Key Accountabilities

• Leads the effective development and implementation of AW's engagement, visibility and utilization of subject matter expertise, nationally, at conferences, events and speaking opportunities where the company's industry leadership and expertise can be showcased. This includes regulatory conferences and events, legislative/ policy focused opportunities and other strategic engagements such as US Conference of Mayors and National League of Cities, to enhance the company's strategy and reputation, and to further position American Water as the trusted expert and industry leader on water and wastewater issues.
• Evaluates existing portfolio of AW strategic relationships, to identify which exist and potentially need to be strengthened or expanded and to identify key, strategic relationships and partnerships that are not currently in place and are needed.
• Works closely with the Director, Regulatory Policy and Affairs and External Communications Coordinator to ensure timely awareness internally of conferences and speaking engagement opportunities, for potential AW engagement and to support development of relevant materials.

Knowledge/Skills

• Demonstrated strength in building, establishing and expanding key, strategic relationships within the company and externally.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and aptitude in public speaking and presentations.
• Must work with agile mindset to multitask, prioritize responsibilities, and meet deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
• A positive, collaborative attitude, proactive nature, and confidence and enthusiasm when working with colleagues, new people, ideas and technologies.
• Ability to manage through influence and build strong, trusting relationships internally and externally.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budget resources efficiently in order to maximize benefits to the organization
• Able to manage/coach people to develop potential and build capabilities.
• Must possess an excellent working knowledge of state executive and legislative branches and their governing processes and understand the hierarchy of government officials so the company has access to the right people, at the right time, in the right departments, for the right purpose.
• Has a thorough understanding of PAC laws, Election Law Enforcement Laws (ELEC) for the state, where applicable, and a knowledge of the various reporting requirements.
• Must know how to access information and gain knowledge of issues that may impact the company in the business and political arenas.

Experience/Education

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, government affairs, journalism, communications, public relations or related field is preferred, or demonstrated experience commensurate with the requirements of the position.
• 12+ years of related work experience of which 6 to 8 years in government relations or policy, preferably within the utility sector.
• Registration as a lobbyist at a Federal or State level is preferred/desired, not required.

Travel Requirements

• May be required to travel up to 40%, could be less if based in DC

Work Schedule

• Remote, Monday through Friday, 8am - 4:30pm

Work Environment

• Standard office environment located in a state supporting the full array of local/state government affairs activities.

Competencies

Prioritizes & Role Models Safety

Self-Awareness

Develops Talent

Plans, Aligns, & Directs

Drives Engagement

Decision Quality

Join American Water...We Keep Life Flowing™

American Water is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based on his or her age, race, color, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, citizenship, or because they are an individual with a disability, protected veteran or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.

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