Senior Manager, AI & Cybersecurity

Location : Hybrid (Alexandria, VA)

Salary Range : $90,000 - $105,000

WEF Overview

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization representing more than 30,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations worldwide. Since 1928, WEF and its members have worked to protect public health and the environment. WEF provides water quality professionals with education, training, and business opportunities and brings together a diverse community that includes scientists, engineers, regulators, academics, utility leaders, and plant operators. Through this collective expertise, WEF advances progress toward a life free of water challenges.

WEF’s Strategic Plan is centered on achieving a life free of water challenges through three core goals. First, WEF is strengthening the water workforce by attracting, developing, and retaining diverse talent with the skills and leadership needed for the future. Second, WEF is cultivating a purpose-driven community that collaborates across disciplines and sectors to solve water challenges for all. Third, WEF is leading the transformation to the Circular Water Economy by accelerating practices that recover resources, build resilience, and create long-term environmental and economic value.

Disruptive technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, are central to all three goals and define the “Water-AI Nexus,” which connects the water sector and the AI economy. These technologies present both risks and opportunities. On one hand, the growth of the AI economy is driving increased water demand, making it critical to decouple water use from economic growth through more efficient policies and technologies. On the other hand, AI offers transformative potential for the water sector, including improved risk prediction for flooding, contamination, emissions, and energy use, as well as new approaches to train and upskill the water workforce. As these tools are adopted, cybersecurity and ethical use must remain top priorities for the sector.

As part of its innovation leadership, WEF founded the Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence, a cross-sector initiative that brings together water utilities, technology partners, and researchers to advance responsible use of artificial intelligence in the water sector and promote sustainable water use within the AI economy.

Position Overview

The Senior Manager, AI & Cybersecurity is a senior level program and relationship manager responsible for executing complex, cross functional initiatives related to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity across the Water sector. This role is central to advancing the Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence and managing WEF’s engagement with key sector cybersecurity partners, including the Water Sector Coordinating Council (WSCC) and WaterISAC.

This position is well-suited for a motivated professional who brings strong project management and relationship building skills, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to quickly develop fluency across technical and policy domains. While a deep technical background in AI is not required, the Senior Manager must demonstrate familiarity with AI concepts and an understanding of water sector and cybersecurity issues, along with the ability to work effectively with subject matter experts.

The Senior Manager, AI & Cybersecurity must thrive on initiative, problem solving, being agile, inclusive, and a team player. The ideal candidate will have experience working in a collaborative environment, leading a high-performing team and success working across and supporting our mission-based organization, to best help WEF serve the Water Community. The Senior Manager translates strategic direction into action, leads complex workstreams, and coordinates across internal teams and external partners, while operating within established organizational priorities. Strong program management

Key Responsibilities:

Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence (CoE)

• Lead day-to-day execution and coordination of the Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence initiatives, under the direction of senior leadership
• Manage multiple, concurrent projects associated with the CoE, including AI education efforts, surveys, publications, webinars, and partner driven activities
• Develop and maintain clear project plans, timelines, and deliverables, ensuring accountability across contributors
• Support CoE workgroup meetings, documentation, progress tracking, and internal reporting

Cybersecurity Engagement and Sector Coordination

• Manage WEF’s staff level engagement with external partners and organizations including the Water Sector Coordinating Council (WSCC) and WaterISAC
• Serve as a consistent point of coordination for meetings, briefings, follow-up actions, and internal alignment related to cybersecurity initiatives
• Support development and delivery of cybersecurity related education, publications, and convenings led by WEF
• Track emerging cybersecurity and critical infrastructure issues affecting the water sector and elevate implications for WEF programs and members

Cross Functional Leadership and Relationship Management

• Coordinate and align work across WEF teams, including Marketing & Communications, Community Engagement, Business Development, IT and other stakeholders as needed.
• Lead defined project teams or workstreams, including contractors or cross functional contributors
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal colleagues, WEF members and volunteers, and external partners
• Prepare clear briefing materials, summaries, and recommendations for senior leadership

General Responsibilities

• Independently manage workload in a fast-moving environment while maintaining strong communication with leadership
• Track progress, risks, and outcomes across assigned initiatives
• Represent WEF in meetings, working groups, and convenings, as appropriate to the role
• Perform other related duties consistent with the scope and level of the position

What Success in the Role Looks Like

The Senior Manager, AI & Cybersecurity will be successful by delivering consistent, high-quality execution across WEF’s AI and cybersecurity priorities. Indicators of success include:

• Demonstrated program management discipline that ensures priorities are executed effectively and risks are identified and addressed early.
• Strong execution of the Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence content and deliverables, with clear project plans, on time delivery of key outputs, and effective coordination with internal teams and external partners.
• Trusted relationships with partners and stakeholders, with WEF viewed as organized, responsive, and reliable in AI and cybersecurity engagements.
• Well coordinated cybersecurity engagement with sector activities.
• Effective cross functional coordination, ensuring teams across WEF are aligned and able to contribute efficiently.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience, with a strong emphasis on project management, program execution, and relationship management
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders
• Familiarity with artificial intelligence concepts and awareness of water sector and cybersecurity issues (deep technical expertise preferred but not required)
• Excellent organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Proven ability to work independently while collaborating across teams
• Occasional travel for meetings and events (generally less than 25%)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in or adjacent to the water sector, critical infrastructure, technology, or public interest organizations
• Experience engaging with utilities, associations, government agencies, or industry partners
• Formal project management training or certification
• Demonstrated work with generative AI and emerging technologies

Work Environment and Travel

• Position is hybrid but must be based in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area

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