Job Description

Posting number: SM-092026-502330

Department: Water Department

Job classification: Government Affairs Specialist

Posting type: Open

Categories: Legal, Professional, Community Development, Organizational Development, Manufacturing/Production

Summary

This is not a Civil Service Position. DWSD employees are subject to provisions of Court Orders entered in United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, Case No. 77-71100 with regard to certain terms and conditions of employment. DWSD does not honor reversion rights for internal candidates.

Applicants for open positions at the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

The Government Affairs Coordinator serves as the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s (DWSD)

primary liaison to state and federal elected officials, legislative staff, and regulatory agencies

on water and wastewater policy. This role advances the utility's legislative agenda, secures state

and federal infrastructure funding, and builds relationships with lawmakers and their staff to

advocate for policies supporting the utility's operational, financial, and public health mission.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Legislative Advocacy: Track, analyze, and report on state and federal legislation affecting

water/wastewater operations — Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act reauthorizations, PFAS

regulation, lead service line replacement mandates, water affordability and shutoff policy,

stormwater and combined sewer overflow (CSO) requirements, biosolids regulation, and water

rights/allocation issues. Draft position papers, testimony, and talking points.

• Relationship Building: Build and maintain relationships with state legislators, congressional

delegations, Federal and State legislative staff, and relevant committee members (e.g., state

environment/natural resources committees, House/Senate committees overseeing EPA). Represent the

utility at legislative sessions, hearings, and regulatory stakeholder meetings.

• Funding Pursuit: Identify, pursue, and help administer state and federal funding — Clean Water

State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), WIFIA loans, USDA Rural

Development water/wastewater grants and loans, Bureau of Reclamation programs, and Bipartisan

Infrastructure Law (BIL) appropriations. Coordinate with finance and engineering teams on

applications, match requirements, and compliance/reporting obligations.

• Coalition & Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with various trade associations — AWWA (American

Water Works Association), AMWA (Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies), NACWA (National

Association of Clean Water Agencies), WEF (Water Environment Federation), and state rural water

associations — on shared legislative priorities.

• Regulatory Coordination: Monitor EPA rulemaking (e.g., PFAS MCLs, Lead and Copper Rule

Improvements) and state EGLE, MDEQ and other agency actions; coordinate utility comments during

rulemaking and public comment periods.

• Internal Coordination: Brief executive leadership and the BOWC on legislative developments,

funding opportunities, and regulatory/political risk. Coordinate with legal, engineering, and

regulatory compliance staff on overlapping issues (rate cases, capital improvement plans, consent

decrees).

• Communications Support: Draft correspondence to elected officials, prepare briefing materials,

and coordinate facility tours (treatment plants, pump stations) for legislators and staff.

• Compliance: Ensure all lobbying activity complies with state/federal lobbying disclosure and

ethics laws.

Examples of duties

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Working knowledge of the legislative process at both state and federal levels; familiarity with

EPA/state primacy agency structure preferred.

• Familiarity with water sector policy and funding mechanisms (SRF programs, WIFIA, rate-setting,

consent decrees) strongly preferred.

• Existing relationships with state/federal officials, legislative staff, or state environmental

agency contacts strongly preferred.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfort with public testimony and

technical-to-lay translation (e.g., explaining PFAS treatment costs to a legislator).

ABILITY TO:

• Work effectively in a team-based, flexible workforce with minimal supervision
• Ability to travel to state capital and Washington, D.C. as needed.

Qualifications

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (position requirements at entry)

• Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Environmental

Policy, Communications, or related field (Master's a plus).

• 3–7+ years of experience in government relations, legislative staff work, public affairs, or

water utility

regulatory affairs.

Supplemental information

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to

successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to

enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

This position may require sitting and standing for prolonged periods of time, light to moderate

lifting, reaching, pulling, and carrying. Manual dexterity and audiovisual/linguistic acuity is

required.

Environmental Working Requirements:

Work may be physically performed in, but not limited to, an office environment, in the field, in

public settings or from employee’s home office, with exposure to computer screens and noise.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Valid Michigan Driver’s License

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned

to the class. Incumbents may be required to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other

than those stated in

this specification. Specific job duties may vary from position to position. Employees in this class