Programme Manager

This is an exciting opportunity to join our small but mighty team in a strategically important position as manager of our flagship Fair Water Footprints Programme.  Over the past 15 years Water Witness has carved out a key role in holding governments, business, and investors to account for sustainable water management.  In 2021 this work triggered the Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints - a breakthrough moment at COP26, when twenty-eight founding Signatories committed to end the abuse of water in our supply chains and establish water stewardship as the global business norm by 2030.  With our partners we have secured significant funds to take forward and scale up this groundbreaking work which will harness trade, enterprise, and civic engagement to drive water justice and climate resilience as part of the UK’s Just Transition for Water Security.

The Programme Manager will be accountable for coordinating and delivering our contributions to the Fair Water Footprint Programme. These will include: the production and dissemination of influential water footprint assessments; pioneering new research and on-the-ground investigations; participatory planning, technical support and training with diverse partners; development, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of action plans, advocacy and communication campaigns to secure improved water security for millions of people and systemic change at a sectoral and global scale.   

The successful candidate will use their exceptional organisational and communication skills, technical know-how and experience of multi-stakeholder engagement and policy influence to shape this world-changing initiative and ensure impact.  They will represent Water Witness at the highest levels, to convene and work constructively with leaders from public, private and financial sectors, civil society, and academia, to co-lead a partner coordination unit, and ensure value for money and impact through sub-contracts and grants.    

This new position will play a central role in delivery of our wider 2030 Strategy, will support our country teams and line manage a Programme Officer. Once established they will take on a wider remit for effective delivery across our portfolio of exciting programmes.  The post will suit a high-calibre professional seeking the next step in their career as an influential leader for social justice and sustainable development. We seek someone who shares our values, who thrives in a fast-paced setting and who will be as equally comfortable facilitating participatory processes with remote communities, as when compiling high-quality reports within tight deadlines, or shaping evidence and diplomacy to sway Ministers, CEOs and the global media.