Communications and Administrative Coordinator

About the California Water Data Consortium

The California Water Data Consortium (Consortium), a nonprofit organization that supports data-informed water management decisions in California, seeks to hire a part-time Communications and Administrative Coordinator to support our team of seven staff members as we expand our influence in ensuring that decisions about water are made using timely, accurate, easily accessible, and publicly available data to guarantee California's long-term success.

The Consortium was established to help implement AB 1755, the Open and Transparent Water Data Act, which was designed to dramatically improve how the state develops and uses water and ecological data. We are funded with donations from foundations, individuals, and government agencies, and have voluntary support from state agencies and water districts. Our Board and Steering Committee include representatives from state agencies, local water agencies, agriculture, philanthropy, business, nonprofit organizations, and other water and data experts.

Our goal is to be a useful, independent, trusted partner for all agencies, communities, and decision makers. We are building a community of water data users and advocates, and we’re working to improve how water is managed by articulating the value of transparent, trusted water and ecological data throughout California. For more information, visit cawaterdata.org.

About the Role

The part-time Communications and Administrative Coordinator will provide essential support across two key areas: administrative coordination and communications. This position will help maintain efficient operations, coordinate governance activities, and support the Consortium's communications and outreach efforts to advance our mission. This is a non-exempt role, requiring approximately 20-25 hours per week, with an hourly rate of $25-$30 commensurate with experience.

The Coordinator will support governance activities, including Board and Steering Committee meetings, provide administrative assistance to executive leadership, coordinate communications content across multiple platforms, and help track key organizational metrics and reporting requirements. In this role, the Coordinator will report to the Director of Operations and Finance and also coordinate closely with the Senior Communications and Outreach Manager.

In your first six months, success in this role looks like independently managing social media scheduling, email newsletter and blog production, efficiently tracking action items and meeting logistics, and building strong working relationships with Board members, Steering Committee members, and organizational partners.

Location

This position is based remotely in California, with occasional travel for meetings throughout the state. The candidate must reside in California, and travel is estimated to be between 1-5% of the role.

Key Responsibilities

Administrative Coordination Responsibilities

(approximately 8-10 hours/week)

• Schedule and coordinate meetings for Board of Directors, Steering Committee, Board committees / working groups, and internal staff meetings, including planning logistics for in-person convenings.
• Take meeting notes, track action items in Asana, and maintain organized records of meetings materials and communications
• Provide calendar management and administrative support to the Chief Executive Officer & President
• Support with basic accounting functions, such as preparing simple spreadsheets to support invoicing and budget tracking

Communications Responsibilities

(approximately 8-10 hours/week)

• Draft and schedule social media posts for LinkedIn and Bluesky/Twitter/X, and monitor channels for engagement opportunities.
• Draft content for “The Data Current,” the Consortium's regular email newsletter.
• Schedule and publish finalized blog content on the WordPress website.
• Update and manage website content, such as adding events, resources, and other information.
• Support the Senior Communications and Outreach Manager in efforts to ensure communications are aligned with the organizational brand.
• Schedule and coordinate stakeholder outreach meetings and external partner calls; take notes and track follow-up action items in Asana.
• Maintain contact database and outreach tracking systems.
• Assist with the Data for Lunch virtual event series logistics and follow-up.
• Compile and organize grant reporting materials, including metrics, documentation, and supporting materials for quarterly and monthly reports.

Ideal Candidate

Required Qualifications

• Associate's degree (or equivalent work experience)
• 2-3 years of experience in communications, administrative support, nonprofit operations, or related field
• Excellent written communication skills with strong attention to detail, grammar, and clarity
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities with competing deadlines
• Experience taking meeting notes and tracking action items in professional settings
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive)
• Experience with or ability to quickly learn project management tools (particularly Asana)
• Familiarity with social media platforms for professional organizations (LinkedIn, Bluesky, Twitter/X)
• Ability to start in this role no later than March 31, 2026 – preferably earlier.

Preferred

• Experience with nonprofit organizations, environmental organizations, or public sector entities
• Experience with event or workshop planning
• Familiarity with California environmental issues
• Experience with email marketing platforms (Mailchimp, Constant Contact, or similar)
• Basic graphic design skills or experience with Canva
• Previous work supporting executive leadership or governance bodies
• Understanding of data management, open data, or water data issues

Commitment To Equal Opportunity Employment

The California Water Data Consortium is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization. We encourage all individuals with the necessary skills and experience to apply for this position.

Additional Background on the California Water Data Consortium

The California Water Data Consortium provides an ongoing venue for collaboration and decisions on water data governance among the Partner Agency Team and non-state partners. The public-private partnership that makes the Consortium unique is reflected in the Consortium's governance structure, which includes a 9-member Board of Directors representing a diversity of water and data interests and sectors; an 11-member Steering Committee with 6 state agency representatives and 5 non-state agency partners; and Working Group Co-Chairs.

The Consortium is an independent, 501(c)(3) corporation that seeks grants and funding from philanthropy; local, state and federal governments; and private donors.

Learn more about the Consortium at cawaterdata.org.

• Monthly home office stipend
• Paid sick leave
• Option to enroll in Dependent Care FSA
• Flexible remote work schedule with core collaboration hours
• Professional development opportunities and exposure to California water leaders
• Meaningful work contributing to California's water and data infrastructure future
• Opportunity to grow expertise in water data governance and policy

Native English fluency