Director, Colonias Water Project
The DigDeep Right to Water Project
El Paso, TX
Anticipated Start Date: 12/1/2025
Description
Position: Director, Colonias Water Project
Employment type: Salaried, full-time, exempt
Location: El Paso, TX strongly preferred (able to spend 1-2 weeks in El Paso/month at a minimum; with frequent travel to Dallas required as well)
Compensation: $100,000/year - $112,000/year
DOE Level: Officer
Reports To: Chief Program Officer (CPO)
Manages: Project Assistants; Project Coordinators; Project Officers
Supported By: Project Assistant, People & Culture Manager, Finance Manager, Operations Manager; This position will work closely with the Director of Policies & Coalitions to ensure alignment between project-level implementation and broader advocacy efforts.
Education/Experience Preferences: Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent professional experience preferred
Start Date: ASAP
The Director, Colonias Water Project will lead DigDeep’s work to expand water access in Colonias and Colonia-like communities in Texas and the Southwest. This role requires an expert navigator of the Texas water and political landscape, with the credibility to engage state and regional agencies and the ability to build trust with Colonia residents. The Director will shape both tangible water projects and create systems-change, bridging technical solutions, political advocacy, and grassroots relationships.
Responsibilities
Strategy & Implementation
Collaborate with CPO to develop a comprehensive project plan for DigDeep’s work in the Texas Colonias informed by strategy and data; set multi-year targets and timelines.
Monitor and engage in relevant policy and regulatory processes at the state and local level; identify and pursue opportunities for systemic change that advance water access in colonias.
Serve as a key liaison with utilities (e.g., EPWater, LVWD, regional water supply corporations), county commissioners, TA providers, local government and other nonprofits to align efforts.
Identify communities in the region needing WASH assistance; develop strategies for serving these communities based on their unique needs. Ensure projects not only connect homes but strengthen long term governance and financing mechanisms for sustainable service delivery.
Plan and implement DigDeep's annual work plans for the Colonias Water Project, set new targets and timelines and identify and maintain partnerships.
Design, develop timelines, and implement individual projects within the larger Colonias 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 program staff and monitor work plans 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 & Fund Development
Develop the annual Colonias Water Project program budget and monitor on an ongoing basis. Monitor expenditures throughout the year to ensure compliance with budget.
Collaborate with the Development team to maximize all revenue and storytelling opportunities, especially those related to major donor cultivation and annual campaigns.
Assist clients with DigDeep’s bill pay program, including collecting appropriate information and coordinating with local utilities.
Partnerships
Act as a liaison for our clients and staff by leveraging relationships and expertise; 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 their progress and proactively manage conflict.
In collaboration with the Vice President, Policy & External Relations, initiate and facilitate partnerships with CBOs, regulatory agencies and elected officials to help meet strategic goals; consult closely and regularly with relevant agencies (e.g., EPA, USDA).
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; represent DigDeep at relevant conferences and events.
Plan and guide donors, press and media visits to the field; oversee volunteer work as needed.
Foster an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among staff, community members, elected leaders, partner organizations and the public.
Assist with program development, implementation, and strengthening for other DigDeep Water Projects as needed.
Talent Management
Perform supervisory duties for CWP staff; interview applicants for employment; resolve discipline problems and take appropriate action as necessary; develop increasing levels of expertise in staff by encouraging further education and providing learning opportunities.
Partner with HR to implement professional development 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 undertaken by the CWP team.
Foster an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among staff, community members, elected leaders, partner organizations and the public.
Assist with ad-hoc projects and support other tasks/duties as assigned. 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 descriptions.
Requirements
Leadership: Proven ability to navigate the political and utility landscape in Texas and the Southwest, including knowledge of regulatory frameworks and funding mechanisms governing water and wastewater infrastructure. Leads multiple teams/projects independently, optimizing processes through collaboration with the 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.
Analytical Thinking: Determines criteria for assessing issues and opportunities. Uses findings to decide on a strategy to leverage organizational resources effectively. Establishes clear goals and priorities needed to assess performance. Identifies relationships and linkages between different information sources. Identifies deeper root causes and effects of potential problems and proactively collaborate with leadership on a solution. Anticipates potential problems, develops and implements solutions with consideration to corporate strategy.
Change Management: Strategic orientation. Consistently conceptualizes projects to further company goals with consideration to capabilities/resources of functional area. Predominantly operating to better the organization, but considers external impact. Identifies and operationalizes opportunities for functional area growth. Ensures progress of directives and recommends remedies if applicable. Forecasts how change in functional area will contribute to overall organizational change and mission success. Translates business vision and strategy into winning tactics and plans to deliver excellent results for the organization.
Strategic Planning: Demonstrated success in aligning grassroots community needs with policy-level opportunities to secure resources and systemic change. 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.
Professional Communication: Ability to communicate with equal fluency to colonia residents, utility engineers, funders, and high-level elected officials. Exceptional written and verbal communications skills, always represents oneself and the company well in external facing situations, anticipates interpersonal challenges and adapts to prevent or remedy. Tailors communications and presentations to effectively reach the desired audience and with maximum impact, both internal and external to the organization. Converses with, writes strategic documents for, and creates/delivers presentations for groups both internal and external to the organization. Leads discussions with team and senior leaders in ways that support strategic planning and decision-making. Checks for understanding of the communication by asking open-ended questions that draw out the listener’s understanding. Debates opinions, tests understanding, and effectively clarifies ambiguities and judgments. Identifies underlying differences and resolves conflict openly and empathetically. Demonstrates exceptional interpersonal skills. - Explains the context of multiple, interrelated challenges and situations within functional area.
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.
Salary Range and Employee Benefits
$100,000/year - $112,000/year DOE
How to Apply for this Job
About the Organization
The DigDeep Right to Water Project is the only WaSH (water, sanitation and hygiene) organization serving the 2.2+ million Americans who still don’t have a tap or a toilet at home. DigDeep believes access to clean water is a human right. Today, 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 July of 2020, which will bring clean, running water into the homes of Appalachia families across southwestern West Virginia and northeastern Kentucky. The project has already set up planning to work with PSD to install plumbing in approximately 150 homes in one section of McDowell County.
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 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 – people you’re likely to meet. Every American should have the clean, running water they need to thrive. Join us, and we’ll close the US water gap in our lifetimes.
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