Application Guide

How to Apply for Small Utility Consultant I (Job #349) ($76,103 - $83,976)

at Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)

🏢 About Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)

RCAC is unique for its dedicated focus on providing technical, managerial, and financial assistance specifically to small, disadvantaged rural and Indigenous communities for water, wastewater, and solid waste systems. Someone might want to work here because it offers a mission-driven opportunity to directly improve public health and equity in underserved areas through hands-on community partnership, not just technical consulting.

About This Role

This Small Utility Consultant I role involves providing direct TMF assistance to help small community water/wastewater systems operate sustainably, which is impactful because it ensures safe drinking water and sanitation for rural residents who often lack resources. You'll work closely with local leaders and residents to assess needs, secure funding, and implement solutions, making a tangible difference in community health and environmental justice.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve virtual meetings with rural community leaders to assess their water system needs, researching funding opportunities like USDA grants for a client, and preparing a training module on wastewater management for local operators. You could also be reviewing technical reports from small systems and traveling occasionally to visit communities for on-site assistance.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) Is Looking For

  • Has 1-3 years of hands-on experience managing water/wastewater/environmental projects (not just academic study), ideally involving community engagement or small systems
  • Demonstrates a genuine commitment to rural communities and health equity through volunteer work, previous roles, or personal background
  • Is a practical problem-solver who can translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences during trainings and community meetings
  • Is willing and able to travel (with valid license/insurance) to remote communities as needed, given the rural focus

📝 Tips for Applying to Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)

1

Quantify your 1-3 years of water/wastewater project experience: specify project types (e.g., well rehabilitation, septic system design), budgets, and community sizes served

2

Explicitly connect your background to RCAC's mission by mentioning rural, Indigenous, or disadvantaged communities you've worked with or your passion for water access equity

3

Highlight any experience delivering trainings or technical assistance to non-experts, as preparing/delivering trainings is a core responsibility

4

If you lack a Bachelor's degree (only required is high school diploma), emphasize your hands-on project management experience and commitment to rural issues

5

Mention your driver's license and insurance upfront in your application to show you meet this operational requirement for remote work

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your direct experience with water/wastewater project management and how it prepares you for providing TMF assistance to small systems', 'Specific examples of working with rural, Indigenous, or disadvantaged communities (or your passion for doing so)', 'Your ability to assess needs, recommend solutions, and help access financial resources—link to a relevant project outcome', "Why RCAC's mission resonates with you personally or professionally, avoiding generic nonprofit praise"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → RCAC's specific programs and geographic focus areas (e.g., which states/regions they serve, Indigenous community partnerships)
  • → The challenges small rural water systems face (e.g., funding, aging infrastructure, operator shortages) to speak knowledgeably in interviews
  • → Recent RCAC projects or success stories from their website/news to reference in your cover letter
  • → The technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) assistance framework and how it's applied in rural water sector
Visit Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)'s Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you managed a water/wastewater project for a small community or with limited resources—what challenges arose and how did you address them?
2 How would you approach building trust and working effectively with rural or Indigenous community leaders who may be skeptical of outside consultants?
3 Walk us through how you would assess the needs of a small water system and recommend a solution, considering both technical and financial constraints
4 Tell us about your experience developing and delivering trainings to non-technical audiences on water/wastewater topics
5 Why are you specifically interested in working with RCAC and rural communities, rather than a larger engineering firm or urban utility?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on technical water/wastewater expertise without demonstrating community engagement or commitment to rural/equity issues
  • Overemphasizing desire for remote work convenience rather than passion for traveling to and serving rural communities
  • Using generic nonprofit language without tying your experience to RCAC's specific mission of assisting small, disadvantaged systems

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)!

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