Water Programs Manager

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Overseeing the multi-year grant lifecycle for a portfolio of global implementation partners, which includes soliciting and reviewing grant proposals, approving progress reports, monitoring implementation milestones, and managing project timelines.

• Managing program performance in accordance with a defined performance framework by establishing expectations upfront, tracking progress against agreed-upon objectives and indicators, reviewing progress reports, and conducting field visits to inform grant and program decisions.

• Enhancing partner program implementation by integrating M&E findings and sharing effective WASH strategies and innovations with partners when applicable.

• Continuously identifying opportunities to strengthen technical and operational aspects related to program implementation, which may involve managing various external technical consultants as necessary.

• Establishing and nurturing robust partner relationships based on trust, transparency, mutual accountability, and a shared commitment to quality, including navigating challenging conversations across diverse cultures and languages when required.

• Assisting in the achievement of portfolio or departmental goals and special initiatives as necessary.

• Promoting ongoing improvements internally (in our systems, processes, and working methods) and externally (in the quality, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness of partners’ work), all aimed at enhancing systems that boost the efficiency, transparency, and impact of our programs over time.

• Aiding the team’s transition to AI by piloting and adopting AI tools that enhance the efficiency, consistency, and quality of partnerships, while ensuring appropriate human judgment and oversight.

• Supporting the identification, vetting, and onboarding of new global WASH partnerships as necessary.

• Collaborating across the organization with every charity: water department to ensure their involvement in our water programs is maximized and efficient.

• Working closely with the Associate Director of Program Partnerships and other leadership team members to develop long-term partnership plans that incorporate lessons learned from monitoring efforts and M&E data collected for the partnerships you oversee.

• Managing a Water Programs Associate or closely coordinating with other Associates on your team, guiding them to excel in their administrative roles and mentoring their development within the team.

• Overseeing various consultants hired for program evaluations or technical initiatives, and supporting the interpretation and integration of findings or results into partnership strategies.

• Managing requests for information and impact stories from across the organization to disseminate within the organization and the wider charity: water community.

• Providing program-specific content for tailored donor reports and presentations, and engaging with donor audiences as necessary.

• Spending up to 20% of your time traveling to the field.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 5 years of experience managing a WASH funding portfolio at a grantmaking organization or developing WASH programs in international settings.

• A bachelor's degree in a related field.

• Proven ability to manage partnerships or programs according to a defined performance framework, including setting objectives, tracking progress, and supporting actions based on results.

• Experience engaging external technical resources to complement in-house capabilities.

• A strong desire to manage and develop a team in terms of knowledge and capacity.

• A Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as public health, environmental engineering, or water science (having this is a plus).

• Experience managing sustainable rural WASH grant portfolios or partnerships (this is an added advantage).

• Experience in capacity-building with international NGO partners, particularly in West Africa (this is a plus).

• Fluency in French (this is an added advantage).

• Direct international experience in implementing WASH programs, including skills in monitoring and evaluation, budget analysis, and data collection platforms (this is a plus).

🏝️ Benefits

• Unlimited PTO.

• Summer Fridays.

• 6-week paid sabbatical leave after 5 years of employment.

• Annual bonus potential through The Pool.

• 401k plan with employer match.

• Medical coverage at 85% plus contributions for Dental/Vision.

• FSA and dependent daycare FSA.

• Employer-paid life insurance, STD, and LTD.

• 16-week paid maternity and paternity leave for new parents.

• Stipends for home office expenses, professional development, and a You-do-You perk.

• TSA Pre-check reimbursement.

• Flexible working hours; team members are expected to be online from 10am - 4pm ET regardless of location, plus three hours per day asynchronously, including one hour for lunch.

• 2-4 annual travel commitments that promote team alignment, connection, and in-person collaboration.