Government Affairs Specialist

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.

• 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 rule making (e.g., PFAS MCLs, Lead and Copper Rule Improvements) and state EGLE, MDEQ and other agency actions; coordinate utility comments during rule making 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.

• 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…