Did you know raw sewage is still routinely dumped in the Charles River? It’s time to Cut the Crap.

Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) is seeking a community organizer to temporarily join our team advocating for an end to the practice of dumping sewage into the Charles. Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are a public health risk, exposing our communities to bacteria, viruses, excess nutrients, pharmaceuticals, trash, and even harmful PFAS compounds. And CSOs are becoming more frequent as climate change brings increased rainfall and stronger storms. More information is available at crwa.org/cso.

The Clean Water Organizer will be responsible for reaching out to constituencies in the cities and towns serviced by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and  communities in the Charles River watershed and asking them to send comment letter and attend public hearings supporting CSO elimination. Examples of such constituencies are members of local select boards, town meeting, conservation commissions, boards of health , Democratic and Republican Town Committees, local “Friends of” groups, local environmental groups, local fishing groups, additional town/city boards and commissions, and more. This outreach is key to eliminating CSOs from the Charles once and for all, and will be undertaken as a part of CRWA’s larger “Cut the Crap” campaign, crwa.org/cutthecrap.

This is a non-exempt, temporary, full-time position ending September 1, 2026.

Job Responsibilities:

• Become familiar with the issue of combined sewer overflows and CRWA’s Cut the Crap campaign; be able to explain the issue and campaign to others in a persuasive way

• Conduct direct initial outreach to the constituencies listed above, including via email, phone, and in-person; request, schedule, and attend meetings; conduct follow-up communications

• Support constituencies in drafting and finalizing letters/public comments supporting CSO elimination

• As needed, organize informational zooms with CRWA staff and/or partners to explain the issue of CSOs and answer questions

• Conduct work in accordance with CRWA’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives

• Complete all administrative work associated with this position (e.g., completing timesheets, submitting expense reports, etc) in a timely and accurate manner

Who we are looking for:

At CRWA, we recognize that someone may excel in this role even if they don’t have every attribute listed below. We also recognize that the skills needed in this position may be gained from a variety of personal, educational, employment, and volunteer experiences. We take all of this into account when reviewing applications and if you think you’d be a great fit for this role, we encourage you to apply.

Attributes of a successful candidate include:

• Proven ability to communicate effectively and persuasively with a diverse range of audiences

• Ability to travel frequently throughout the greater Boston area

• Ability to work independently, take instruction, and execute tasks with minimal oversight

• Experience with campaigns, grassroots organizing, or education

• Demonstrated high level of professionalism

• Commitment to CRWA’s mission and ending CSOs

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google GSuite

• Highly organized

• Able to work evenings and weekends as needed

• Ability to speak language(s) other than English is a plus

CRWA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, protected veteran status, disability, pregnancy (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth, and breastfeeding), genetic information, or other bases protected by law.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. CRWA is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

What We Offer

The hourly rate for this position is $29.00 per hour. It is expected that the Clean Water Organizer will work 30-35 hours per week between the date of hire and September 1, 2026. This is a temporary, non-exempt position ending September 1, 2026. Mileage will be reimbursed at the IRS standard rate; other approved expenses will be reimbursed at-cost.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to hiring@crwa.org and include “Clean Water Organizer” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and candidates are encouraged to apply early–the position will remain open until filled. Candidates will be interviewed and selected based on criteria such as prior experience and skills relevant to this position. Date posted: January 21, 2026

CRWA strives to attract and retain staff from a wide range of backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives and to foster a culture of belonging in which all feel valued and respected. If you need accommodation(s) to make the interview process more accessible, please let us know by emailing hiring@crwa.org.