Position: Water Infrastructure Research and Policy Fellow; Part-Time; Based in Washington, DC or Remote

Who We Are

The Water Finance Exchange (WFX) is a partnership between federal and state stakeholders, communities, philanthropy, and the financial sector to address the funding shortage of water infrastructure projects for thousands of American communities. A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, WFX is comprised of a team of water and finance professionals devoted to supporting communities across the U.S. reach sustainable water infrastructure solutions, encompassing economic, public health, and environmental needs.

Our model is to provide neutral, third-party expertise to develop water solutions for small and underserved communities from the ground up, rather than top-down. We work at a local level together with communities to provide support to reach sustainable water solutions while providing accessible financing opportunities to remove roadblocks that prevent projects from launching.

WFX believes it can support the efforts of small, rural, and disadvantaged communities to access funding
by assembling the best expertise, building trusted relationships with communities, completing projects, and disseminating information about recurring issues and solutions that allow for scaling-up funding of similarly situated communities and regional initiatives. WFX aims to serve as a national platform to accelerate the adoption of best practices, increase the ability of smaller communities to access financing, and close the water infrastructure equity gap across the country.

Launched in 2020, WFX has created a pipeline of community water infrastructure project opportunities and is expanding its efforts to match the new federal and state investments in water infrastructure.

To support these efforts, WFX is offering a new Fellowship opportunity to support the research, assessment, and policy development of the organization and its partners. This Fellowship is designed for graduate students and will support the overall efforts of WFX, particularly in Mississippi, Alabama, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

This fellowship opportunity is for Fall 2022, with potential opportunity to continue in Spring/Summer
2023.

Internship Summary

WFX is seeking a part-time intern based at our office in Washington, DC or remote. A monthly stipend will be paid.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include the following:

Support WFX’s efforts to build community assessment database using a excel and possible contact software, which is inclusive of socio-economic demographics, environmental, compliance and public health indicators, and financial capacities.
Assist with community screening and outreach, including review of municipal financial information, water quality reports, and water rate data.
Research and development of white papers, case studies, and other informational documents, focusing on the intersection of water infrastructure, economic outcomes, and watershed resiliency.
Assist with stakeholder engagement forums and convening public-private leadership through webinars, workshops, etc.
Creation of routine marketing and communication materials (e.g., press releases, blogs, newsletter, flyers).
Provide support for overarching WFX efforts and other administrative functions as needed.

Qualifications

Strong research and technical writing skills.
Prior experience with communications, public relations, and digital media.
Strong attention to detail, with the ability to multi-task.
Candidates must have a track record of strong academic achievement.
Graduate students are preferred, with a demonstrated interest in the environmental/sustainability field.
Proficiency in MS office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Preferred but not required – experience in visual basic or excel macros and/or GIS

How to Apply

Applicants should submit the following to info@waterfx.org

A cover letter of qualifications
Resume
2-3 professional references
Writing samples