Manager, Water Policy

About Audubon

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet.

Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come.

The Water Policy Manager is responsible for advancing Audubon 's water policy priorities in South Carolina through legislative advocacy, coalition leadership, stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, strategic communications, and implementation support. This position will help ensure that science-based conservation priorities are incorporated into water policy, resilience planning, growth management, and funding decisions across the state.

Reporting to the Policy Director, the Water Policy Manager will serve as a key member of SC’s policy team and work closely with state agencies, legislators, local governments, utilities, agricultural interests, conservation organizations, resilience practitioners, academic institutions, landowners, and other stakeholders to advance durable water policy solutions.

The Water Policy Manager will help identify and advance opportunities related to water quantity, water quality, source water protection, wetlands, watershed management, drought resilience, land conservation, and sustainable growth. The position will support implementation of state planning efforts, including recommendations emerging from South Carolina's State Water Plan and related resilience initiatives, while helping build long-term capacity for water policy leadership across the state.

This position is classified as hybrid, in accordance with Audubon’s “Where We Work” Policy. Hybrid employees are expected to work in an Audubon office every Monday and Tuesday and an additional two days each month of the employee’s choosing. Candidates should be located within commuting distance of Audubon's offices and centers in Columbia, SC, Charleston, SC, Audubon Silver Bluff Sanctuary in Jackson, SC or Audubon Center and Sanctuary at Beidler Forest in Harleyville, SC.

This position will work at the SC State House regularly and candidates within commuting distance of the Columbia office are preferred.

$75,526 - $84,967 / year

• Build, manage, and maintain a diverse set of positive working relationships across South Carolina, collaborating and coordinating with elected officials, agency staff, local governments, utilities, landowners, partner organizations, businesses, consultants, and other stakeholders to advance shared conservation and water policy priorities.

• In collaboration with the Policy Director, develop and implement policy strategies that advance SC’s conservation priorities, Flight Plan goals, and water policy objectives. This work should translate into opportunities to advance durable policy, funding, and conservation outcomes across the state.

• Monitor, analyze, and engage on legislative, administrative, regulatory, and funding opportunities related to water resources, resilience, source water protection, wetlands, watershed management, land conservation, and sustainable growth.

• Lead work with Audubon staff, coalition partners, and stakeholders to identify and advance opportunities to implement recommendations from the South Carolina State Water Plan, resilience initiatives, and other planning efforts.

• Coordinate and participate in statewide coalitions, working groups, and partnerships focused on water resources, resilience, land conservation, growth management, and environmental policy.

• Develop policy briefs, reports,…