Request For Proposal

Urban Waters Federal Partnership Ambassador Position

The Grand Valley Metro Council (GVMC) and Grand Rapids Whitewater (GRWW) would like to invite qualified individuals to submit a proposal for an Urban Waters Ambassador position to work with the Grand Rapids/Grand River Urban Waters Federal Partnership. Interested candidates must respond by submitting an electronic copy of a proposal by 5:00 pm (ET), on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, with the following subject line: Grand Rapids/Grand River UWFP Ambassador, to: Wendy.ogilvie@gvmc.org. The proposal should include the following: a statement of understanding, personal qualifications, hourly rate, and contact information. Those selected to proceed with an interview will be notified by August 17, 2022. A final selection will be made by August 22, 2022, with a starting date as soon as possible. To discuss any questions related to this Request for Proposal (RFP) or to get clarity on the project and needs, please reach out to either of the contacts below before submitting a written proposal. Responses will be handled within two business days.

Wendy Ogilvie GVMC Director of Environmental Programs 678 Front Ave., Suite 200 Grand Rapids, MI 49504 616-776-7605 wendy.ogilvie@gvmc.org

Matt Chapman Grand Rapids Whitewater Chief Program Officer 120 Lyon St. NW Grand Rapids, MI 49503 989-430-1763 matt@grandrapidswhitewater.org

BACKGROUND

Helping the residents of Grand Rapids and the surrounding urbanized areas realize the benefits of the U.S. Clean Water Act requires skilled and innovative professionals. Diverse interests, public health concerns, complex ecologies, and changing climate are just some of the challenges of this unique urban environment. The Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP) Program seeks to accelerate and coordinate projects that are critical to improving water quality and public health, restoring forest resources, and fostering community stewardship in urban watersheds. A critical component of the UWFP is the Urban Waters Ambassador. GVMC’s Environmental Programs is committed to serving the diverse communities within the Lower Grand River Watershed and to facilitating an ongoing and inclusive dialogue with scientists, managers, policy makers, other stakeholders, and the public to address the environmental and societal challenges facing the community of the Lower Grand River Watershed. We seek to enhance this work by supporting researchers, students, and partners with unique and varied backgrounds, circumstances, needs, and perspectives of the community we serve, to achieve a collaborative network that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and just. PROJECT SCOPE The UWFP brings together federal agencies, local and state government, and leading community organizations to support watershed revitalization efforts through ecological restoration, green infrastructure, water quality monitoring, recreational programs, and environmental education. The Ambassador will be responsible for finalizing, coordinating, and regularly updating the draft GR/GR UWFP Workplan and will work closely with the GVMC’s Environmental Programs staff, GRWW, and local leaders in Grand Rapids, as identified in the draft Workplan. The components of the Workplan that will guide the effort of the Ambassador are as follows:

• Initiative 1: Improve Water Quality and Habitats through Implementation of Best Management Practices

• Initiative 2: Provide Education and Outreach on Activation/Stewardship of the Lower Grand River Watershed

• Initiative 3: Monitoring the Health of the Watershed

• Initiative 4: Adaptation and Resilience Planning Related to Climate Change

• Initiative 5: Environmental Justice

• Initiative 6: Policy and Regulations

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Ambassador will be contracted through the Grand Valley Metro Council to lead the GR/GR UWFP efforts. The Ambassador must excel in relationship building and management of multiple tasks and projects simultaneously. Hours are flexible and may include evenings and weekends. The Ambassador will participate in the UWFP’s national network and be responsible for connecting federal agencies, local government, scientific/technical expertise, and financial and other resources with the needs of local communities; working with these interests to identify priorities for watershed revitalization and environmental justice; and supporting planning and data collection to achieve those priorities. With U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U. S. Forest Service support, the GR/GR UWFP could become a model for engaging public/private partnerships in other locations. The GR/GR partnership has worked with several federal lead agencies and built relationships that will provide expertise and advice as the projects progress. Some of the major duties and outputs are:

• Finalize and continually update the UWFP Work Plan for the GR/GR partnership.

• Communicate local watershed and river-related activities to core federal partners through monthly newsletters and Urban Waters monthly meetings.

• Arrange and co-facilitate quarterly Project Network meetings, including developing agendas, arranging guest speakers, securing meeting space, setting up Audio/Visual equipment, taking and disseminating meeting minutes, facilitating the conversation, and ensuring follow up to priorities and tasks agreed upon during the meetings.

• Communicate with Urban Waters partners about urban waters-related activities, funding opportunities, and other information that may assist local partners. Help develop and electronically disseminate a monthly partnership newsletter.

• Coordinate with U.S. EPA Region 5 Urban Waters Regional Coordinator to develop and maintain materials for U.S. EPA Headquarters to post to the national Urban Waters website. • Participate in national, monthly Urban Waters conference calls to keep informed about the program and provide updates about the GR/GR partnership.

• Identify opportunities to help local partners, such as field work, data analysis, technical writing, education and outreach, meeting assistance, project development, grant application development, and other tasks as they emerge. Connect federal partners to these needs and provide direct assistance as appropriate.

• As time and/or expertise allows, assist GVMC’s Environmental Programs Department with current initiatives and enhance urban forestry practices and management.

• Assist GRWW with administrative duties, including updating content for website, writing updates for monthly River for All newsletter, and coordinating project and funding schedules.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Undergraduate degree related to one of the following: communications, community and urban planning, environmental studies, public policy, social sciences, forestry, or non-profit administration and at 2-5 years of relevant work experience.

• Strong writing and communications skills; organized, flexible, and reliable within a complex environment.

• Experience with urban community organizing, environmental science/management, or public engagement.

• Willingness to be imbedded in the urban community, cultivating relationships with partners and potential partners.

• Ability to work a minimum of 20 hours per week. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Familiarity with the communities and environmental justice issues within the Lower Grand River Watershed.

• Experience in strategic planning and community development.

• Knowledge of and/or experience working in diverse sectors, including public, private, non-profit, and community-based sectors.

• Knowledge of local government and political decision-making processes related to urban and community issues and economic development or served as a volunteer and/or engaged in community service.

• Experience developing and analyzing proposals, grant programs and requirements; identifying opportunities; and organizing and managing varied work programs.

• Willingness and enthusiasm to participate in agency-wide teams, committees, and special assignments, and/or other duties as assigned. • Ability to communicate in Spanish, including reading and writing.

• Experience in making professional presentations, meeting facilitation, and partner/stakeholder coordination. FUNDING Funding for this position is from the Urban Waters program under the U.S. EPA, through an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. This is a contracted position under GVMC, as a flexible, part-time position of one to four years, depending on renewal of federal funding. Position is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The proposal will take in account many factors including but not limited to:

• Statement of understanding

• Clarity of proposal

• Breadth of experience

• Documentation of ability to establish an effective working relationship with local, state, and federal partners

• Hourly rate

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