Director, Appalachia Water Project

Position: Director, Appalachia Water Project

Location: Mercer County and surrounding region, West Virginia (In-office)

Employment type: Full-time, Salaried, Exempt 

Compensation Range: $100,000/year - $112,000/year DOE

Level: Director

Reports to: Chief Program Officer

Manages: Water & Sanitation Technicians, Field Supervisors, Project Coordinators 

Supported by: Project Assistant, People & Culture Manager, Finance Manager, Safety Manager

Education/Experience Preferences: Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent professional experience preferred 

Start Date: ASAP, open until filled

We Are DigDeep

The DigDeep Right to Water Project is a WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) organization committed to closing the water access gap for the 2 million + people in the U.S. who still don’t have a tap or a toilet at home. 

DigDeep believes access to clean water is a human right. We run several nationally recognized programs that empower communities to build their own water and sanitation systems. We won the 2018 US Water Prize for our Navajo Water Project, which has brought clean, running water to hundreds of Native families across New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. DigDeep launched the Appalachia Water Project in 2020, in McDowell County, WV. It has since brought clean, sustainable running water to hundreds of families in Southern West Virginia through public - private partnerships with the McDowell County PSD and East Logan PSD in Wyoming County. In addition to clean running water, the project is installing septic systems and connecting households to centralized sewer. The AWP is now expanding into neighboring states of Kentucky and Virginia to continue its quest of clean water for every Appalachian family. Our water projects expanded in 2022 when we launched our Colonias Water Project. This project works to bring clean, running water to the residents living in communities along the Texas-Mexico border. The Texas colonias are largely unincorporated, low-income communities that fall just outside city limits and often lack basic infrastructure. Our work began in Cochran colonia near El Paso. DigDeep partnered with residents, housing nonprofits, and county officials to innovate a new model for public-private-partnership that brings these basic services to families for the first time. Now we're getting the water flowing in 5 more communities. 

The Opportunity

Reporting the Chief Program Officer, the Director, Appalachia Water Project is responsible for the overall oversight of the day-to-day operations of all the Appalachia Water Project’s location sites. This includes overseeing and implementing program activities, budgeting, staffing, collaborating, and coordinating with the relevant local, regional, and state government agencies, external partners, and community members, while maintaining strong communication with multiple departments within DigDeep.

Strategy & Implementation

• Collaborate with CPO and Director of Program Operations (DPO) to develop a comprehensive project plan for DigDeep’s work in central Appalachia informed by data; set multi-year targets and timelines.

• Identify communities in the region needing WASH assistance; develop strategies for serving these communities based on their unique needs; identify and track all current and potential partnerships

• Plan and implement DigDeep's annual work plans for the Appalachia Water Project, set new targets and timelines and identify and maintain partnerships with local governments and other nonprofits.

• Design, time and implement individual projects within the larger Appalachia portfolio, including new water projects from start to finish, monitor work plans and ensure objectives are met in a safe, timely and complete manner.

• Oversee staff and monitor work quality and efficiency to ensure objectives and work plans are met in a timely and complete manner and within budget; maintain productivity records including construction reports, inventory, and other datasets.

• Ensure program compliance with relevant laws as well as all workplace and employee policies. 

• Routinely visit all partners and project sites.

Finance & Development

• Develop the annual Appalachia Water Project program budget and monitor on an ongoing basis. Monitor expenditures throughout the year to align budget with programmatic goals and workplan

• Collaborate with the Development team to maximize all revenue and storytelling opportunities, especially those related to major donor cultivation and annual campaigns. 

Partnerships 

• Foster an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among staff, community members, elected leaders, partner organizations and the public.Represent DigDeep at conferences, events, and other public relations opportunities.

• Own local partner relationships; guide partners as they collaborate on project implementation; deliver funding, supplies and technical assistance, monitor project progress and proactively manage conflict.

• In collaboration with the External Affairs team, initiate and facilitate partnerships with community-based organizations, regulatory agencies and elected officials to help meet strategic goals; consult closely and regularly with relevant agencies (e.g., EPA, USDA). Establish and maintain positive, non-partisan relationships within the community and region.

• Plan and implement outreach activities to develop visibility of the organization within the local community; represent the organization at local meetings. 

• Provide clear, concise reports on plans, processes, and outcomes to executive  staff

• With the Development Department, plan and guide donors, press and media visits to the field; oversee volunteer work as needed.

• Assist with program development, implementation, and strengthening for other DigDeep Water Projects as needed.

Talent Management

• Perform supervisory duties for AWP staff, including but not limited to; interviewing applicants for employment; developing higher levels of expertise in staff by encouraging further education and providing learning opportunities; resolving discipline problems; and recommending termination as necessary.

• Partner with HR to implement professional development and retention program/opportunities to ensure team members have consistent access to skill development, in order to support employee engagement and sense of fulfillment.

• Lead and facilitate regular staff meetings, both virtually and in-person; provide strong day-to-day leadership that bridges high and low communication contexts to ensure all team members and clients are heard and understood.

• Uphold the unique culture of DigDeep by implementing values-aligned operations and management strategies for all work in central Appalachia. 

• Foster an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among staff, community members, elected leaders, partner organizations and the public.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. As the organization continues to evolve, duties or tasks may change without impacting the overall job description.

Competencies

• Influence: Establishes and maintains relationships with external stakeholders and organization leadership. Accepting of recommendations/challenges, understands that everyone has a voice at DigDeep and can drive company achievement. Collaborate with leadership on strategic directives.

• Innovation: Uses understanding and forward-thinking to devise responses and solutions to future situations in your functional area. Encourages and promotes exploration of new ideas and creative thinking in self and others. Displays open mindedness and a willingness to try new approaches. Adapts readily to changes and needs. Is able to shift attention and priorities in own work in response to needs of their work. Actively seeks opportunities to try out new experiences.

• Leadership: Leads multiple teams/projects independently, optimizing processes through collaboration with executive team. Fosters an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among staff, community members and leaders, partner organizations and the public. You anticipate project needs and ensure proper delegation to managers. Listens constructively, responds to colleagues' feedback, and effectively integrates recommendations into approach, and conversely provides appropriate, integrative feedback. Solicits the input of others who are affected by plans or actions and gives credit and recognition to others who have contributed. Seen as an expert within functional area. Seeks a consensus within peer group, team, and organization leaders.

• Ownership: Sought out as a mentor and known as the “teammate of record” in their subject area. Complete ownership over projects/people within area(s) of expertise. Identifies and proactively tackles major challenges and problems in their area. Works independently and owns projects entirely, both in their area and cross-functionally.

• Personal Development: Developing predominantly for functional area processes and the benefit of the organization. Reviews, selects, and disseminates information regarding key technologies, best practices, and tools to others in their department. Takes actions to prepare for own future development, identifies long-term development needs and plans to create opportunities to bridge them. Anticipates future needs of their functional area and identifies opportunities to learn new things for current and future needs in one’s role. Continual development of self. Become a better leader through feedback, consistent collaboration, and coaching. Keeps up-to-date on current research and technology in one’s work focus and identifies and pursues areas for development and training that will enhance job performance.

• Strategic Planning: Challenges the status quo and continually strives to improve organization's alignment with its goals. Begins to collaborate with leadership to establish directives with consideration to functional area capabilities and organization goals. Revises processes and tasks as they apply across functional areas. Develops project teams and staffing plans based on consideration of strategic objectives. Ensures functional area objectives and performance are consistent with strategic plan. 

• Technical Expertise: Has demonstrated ability and depth of knowledge with the technology in the desired technical area. Effectively uses and applies technical knowledge, and uses knowledge to identify solutions to existing problems.  Basic understanding of data security best practices.

Skills & Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years in nonprofit sector (focus on social justice, community organizing, international development or environmental justice organizations strongly preferred)

• Minimum 7 years in program management preferred

• 5+ years in people management required

• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, Google Workspace (e.g. Excel and Google Sheets) required

• Experience with Slack, Asana, Expensify, Zoom, and data collection platforms preferred

• Able to define tangible measures for program evaluation and reporting required

• Experience with budgeting, planning and project management required

• High computer literacy, and tech savviness required

• Able to focus in the face of pressure, deliver against timelines and not be intimidated by tasks /time limitations

• Ability to navigate relationships with staff, partners, and contractors

• Experience/Willingness to work across various cultural contexts and communicating across cultural differences

• Willingness to travel, including but not limited to: Navajo Nation (AZ/NM/UT), West Virginia, Texas, DigDeep main offices in California, and additional locations as needed

• Passionate about the mission and able to promote the philosophy, mission and values to just about anyone

Compensation and Benefits

At DigDeep, we believe that great work requires a great job. We understand that people thrive with rest and holistic support, which is crucial for our long-term success. We take pride in offering top-notch benefits to our team across the United States, prioritizing their health and wellbeing, as well as providing additional support for our employees' families. If you join us, here’s how we’ll support you in your work:

• Competitive wage to commensurate with level of position

• Generous vacation and sick leave

• 23 weeks paid Parental Leave

• Annual Professional Development Stipend

• Annual Wellbeing Reimbursement

• BrightPlan membership (Financial Wellness Benefit)

• Health Benefits

• Employee Offering: Medical, dental, vision insurance, 100% employer paid

• Spouse/Children/Family Offering: Employer covers up to $500 of the monthly cost for medical insurance for spouse/children/family; Employer covers 100% of the cost for dental and vision insurance for spouse/children/family

• One Medical membership 

• Life insurance, 100% employer paid

• Work laptop

• Monthly cell phone use allowance

• Monthly internet use allowance

• 15 paid holidays (including one week closure for Labor Day)

• Domestic travel 

• 401k retirement plan, with employer match 

Hiring Process 

For candidates who are selected to move forward, the interview process involves: one 30-minute phone screen; and two 1-hour virtual panel interviews.

Interested? 

When applying, please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume. References should be available upon request. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. No office visits. No calls please. Thank you.

DigDeep has adopted a COVID-19 vaccination policy to safeguard the health of our employees and community at large. Where permissible by law, candidates applying to work at DigDeep should be ready to demonstrate proof of receiving up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of their employment.

In an effort to promote pay equity and transparency, DigDeep does not negotiate compensation outside of posted compensation ranges. DigDeep’s compensation is based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to: internal budget analysis, external market value, internal pay alignment, and annual merit increases. A candidate’s compensation history will not be used in determining compensation at DigDeep.

Please note that DigDeep cannot provide immigration sponsorship for this position.

DigDeep is deeply committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We believe social change happens when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with a common purpose. DigDeep is built on the principles of equity, transparency and the power of human experience. Your work will improve the daily lives of real people. We believe everybody should have the clean, running water they need to thrive. Join us, and we’ll close the US water gap in our lifetimes.

DigDeep is a certified Great Place to Work®