Water Security Lead

Water Security Lead

Contract: 2 years Fixed term contract, Full-time

Location: WaterAid is a global and equal opportunities employer. The role will be based in one of the following countries where WaterAid works, subject to right-to-work eligibility in the respective countries: United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia.

For the UK Location, we offer a minimum of 40% of working time is spent face to face, either in London office, or as a result of external engagement or travel for WaterAid. WaterAid is located at Canary Wharf, London and this will be your location and contract base.

Salary: Salary: Salaries and benefits for different countries will vary in line with the location of the successful candidate and depending on experience. See further details below for some of the countries:

• UK: £56,249 - £59,602 per year with excellent benefits
• Liberia: 38,552 - 49,526 USD per year with excellent benefits
• South Africa: 1,009,626 - 1,376,465 ZAR per year with excellent benefits
• Nigeria: 28,986,826 - 41,543,242 NGN per year with excellent benefits
• Tanzania: 143,500,704 - 179,375,880 TZS per year with excellent benefits
• Bangladesh: 2,117,046 - 4,403,435 BDT/Taka per year with excellent benefits

About WaterAid: Want to use your skills in International Development and Water Security to play a vital role in making clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene normal for everyone everywhere?

We need passionate, creative, and dedicated people to work with us to achieve this goal. In return, you will be encouraged and empowered to be your very best. Together, we will make a bigger difference.

Join WaterAid as Water Security Lead to change normal for millions of people so they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty, and change their lives for good.

About the Team: The Water Security Lead is based in the WASH Technical Effectiveness team of the Programme Support & Knowledge team (PSK), a key unit of the WaterAid UK International Programmes Department (IPD) operating in 17 African and Asian countries. PSK is a diverse and motivated group of 20+ technical specialists and advisors, passionate about bringing sustainable WASH to the world’s poorest and most marginalised people. PSK leads and supports organisation-wide programme learning and knowledge management, collating and disseminating programme knowledge and facilitating knowledge exchange.

The team provides technical advisory expertise and fosters and supports internal and external programme and technical partnerships and networks. The team also leads on developing normative programme documents and standards and advise and support the delivery of a programme capacity enhancement strategy. PSK collaborates with many functions across the organisation including policy, advocacy, campaigns, fundraising, communications, as well as with WaterAid partners and collaborators..

About the Role:

The Water Security Lead is responsible for delivering WaterAid’s water security programming by providing strategic leadership, technical expertise, and innovative solutions. The role supports programme design, implementation, evaluation, and the development of standards and guidance, working with global teams to enhance knowledge sharing, technical delivery, and external engagement.

• Develop evidence-based narratives on the private sector’s role in improving water security and WASH outcomes, emphasizing their contribution to sustainable water resource management.
• Build frameworks for integrating WASH into corporate sustainability practices, ensuring alignment with WaterAid’s strategic goals.
• Document and share case studies of effective private sector actions, fostering learning and collaboration across the federation.
• Represent WaterAid in high-level forums, building relationships with key stakeholders to influence global policy on water security and private sector engagement.
• Collaborate across teams and regions to drive new research and advocate for impactful private sector actions.
• Lead efforts to gather and analyse data on private sector contributions to water security.
• Support policy development through evidence-based research and case studies.
• Build and maintain partnerships with private sector actors, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
• Represent WaterAid in relevant global events and discussions, positioning the organization as a leader in water security.
• Develop and manage systems to track progress on private sector initiatives.
• Collaborate with teams across WaterAid to align strategies and amplify impact.

To be successful, you’ll need: 

• Extensive technical experience in water security, water resources, catchment protection, hydrogeology, water supply, water quality, services delivery, resilience, sustainability, and related areas.
• Strong background in systems strengthening, sustainable development, sanitation, hygiene, behaviour change, and WASH-related topics.
• A relevant postgraduate degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Proven leadership skills with strategic thinking capabilities.
• Substantial experience in providing technical assistance, consulting, and capacity development.
• Ability to tackle complex technical challenges with practical, innovative solutions. 
• Excellent English writing skills and experience producing knowledge products for diverse audiences.
• Highly organized and efficient, with the ability to manage tasks to completion with quality.
• A collaborative team player, able to work under pressure across diverse cultures.
• Commitment to WaterAid’s values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity, and Innovation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other core IT tools.
• Willingness to travel internationally up to 30%.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of French, Portuguese, Spanish, or other languages spoken in WaterAid program countries.

Closing date: Applications will close at 23:59 on 23rd February 2025. Availability for an interview is required the week commencing 17th March 2025.

How to Apply: Click ‘Apply’ to upload your CV and Cover Letter and answering the following question.

o What are your top 3 skills / areas of experience that you feel meet the requirements of the role? Please limit your answer to no more than 200 words.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application? At WaterAid, we advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well.

Pre-employment screening: To apply for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to the applicable laws in the respective countries.  All our UK-based vacancies require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to comply with our Safer Recruitment policy. 

Our Benefits

As an organisation WaterAid is committed to creating an environment where you can thrive and be yourself at your very best. So, in addition to our inspiring global mission and engaging work environment, we have a generous benefit package to help you take care of your health, happiness and wellbeing.

Our Global Commitment

Our People Promise:
We will work with passion and focus to ensure safe and sustainable water, toilets and hygiene are available to everyone, everywhere. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have.  We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to put the wellbeing of our people first, to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.     

Equal opportunities:
We are an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and are dedicated to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions and ways of life. This includes, but is not limited to, race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, national or social origin, health status, and economic or social situation.

Safeguarding:
We are also committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously.