Full-Time US WASH PROGRAM MANAGER
Job Description
Water For People is a global nonprofit working across nine countries, bringing together communities, local entrepreneurs, and governments to build and maintain water and sanitation services that will last. We have a sustainable solution to end the global water and sanitation crisis, and our employees across the world help drive this solution.
ABOUT THIS ROLE
Reporting directly to the Chief Impact Officer (CIO), the US Program Manager will lead Water For People’s efforts to help end the US water crisis, including through external representation and thought leadership in partnerships, events, and policy action focused on ending the US water crisis. The US Program Manager will lead further exploration of the five potential avenues for Water For People to create impact in the US:
1 – Lending Our Voice: potential actions include highlighting the US gap on our website with a statement of our position, spotlighting organizations, people, and/or legislation focusing on it, etc.
2 – Advocacy, Learning, Convening: we co-convened (with DigDeep) a US WASH Sector event in October 2022. We intend also to support broader convenings in the coming years. We will provide support to marginalized communities to advocate for themselves, and advocate for collective impact through a US WASH sector. We will also endorse and promote legislation designed to close the US gap.
3 – Technical Assistance to US-focused organizations: leveraging our global expertise, we may provide technical assistance to organizations working to close the US gap, focused primarily on aspects of system strengthening (building blocks analysis, full life-cycle costing, market systems development, sustainable source management, conceptual models for exit, organizing associations of service providers/operators, creating service authorities, sustainable services frameworks).
4 – Formal Partnership with US-focused organization: as our Destination 2030 Alliance grows, we may consider adding a US-focused organization. This would allow us to engage more significantly in US work, and also track and report progress in the US as progress of the D30 Alliance.
5 – Direct Implementation: this option would represent the most significant commitment by Water For People, as it would result in establishing a team, operations, and essentially a new country program in one or more of the “hot spots”.
IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL
Strategy Development and Implementation
- Further explore the five potential avenues for Water For People to create impact in the US
- Provide thought leadership to develop Water For People’s US WASH strategy.
- Develop at least one of the five potential avenues for Water For People impact in the US.
- Collaborate with the CIO to ensure the US strategy is understood, communicated, and implemented effectively.
- Work closely with the CIO to keep the Global Leadership Team and the Board informed of progress, opportunities, and challenges related to our impact in the US.
- Coordinate with Water For People Canada on efforts designed to address the Canada water crisis
Influence and Partnerships
- Lead Water For People’s efforts to strengthen the WASH sector, oriented towards collective impact, a common influence agenda, and learning.
- Serve as thought partner on Water For People’s growth, relationship-building with national and local allies, and development of messaging frameworks to effectively outline and communicate the goals of a US WASH sector and Water For People’s role in it.
- Develop recommendations for strategic partnerships and collaborations in the US for Water For People to gain national influence for impact.
- Represent Water For People at key events, conferences, and in broader coalitions and facilitate introductions and partnerships for greater impact.
- Collaborate with the Donor Impact Team to identify funders for US WASH work, and develop fundraising initiatives as requested, including participation in donor meetings.
- Stay informed of policy changes/proposals in the water / wastewater / equity and infrastructure.
- Collaborate with DigDeep through the US WASH Collective to develop a US public policy and influence agenda to help end the US water crisis.
- Advise on impacts from new or existing legislation or administrative rule changes.
- As required, developing external-facing content (such as writing letters, drafting organizational policy priorities documents, and collaborating on policy communications deliverables like op-eds or blogs, where needed).87
- Participate in US WASH Collective Working Groups as needed.
YOU WILL EXCEL IN THIS ROLE IF YOU HAVE
- Bachelor’s degree required and master’s degree preferred (or an equivalent combination of education and experience).
- A minimum of 3 years of experience helping close the WASH gap in the US.
- A minimum of 2 years of policy/advocacy experience.
- Self-driven, with strong strategy and partnership skills.
- Ability to translate and communicate complex topics in a variety of forums, tailoring communications to effectively fit and influence the targeted audience.
- Ability to lead the entire range of problem-solving work from problem definition to analysis, recommendation, and the development of implementation plans.
- Ability to influence on a national stage, with an approachable style that inspires confidence.
- Ability to bridge cultural boundaries and norms to overcome barriers and improve outcomes.
BONUS POINTS IF YOU HAVE
- Professional-level proficiency in Spanish.
Don’t meet every single requirement but you are excited about this role? Water For People is committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so we encourage you to apply even if your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification listed above. We also value your volunteer work in any philanthropic organization and feel that your volunteer contributions may help us build critical competencies. Please feel free to include all qualifying volunteer experience.
MORE ABOUT THIS ROLE
- Ability to travel up to 15% of the time domestically.
- Ability to work outside typical office hours at times to collaborate across multiple time zones.
- This position has the option to work from the Denver office or remotely in the United States, except in the following states: NY, NJ, WA, VT, and CA.
- Open office environment if choosing to work from the Denver Office.
Note: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.
How to Apply
HOW YOU WILL APPLY: If Water For People and this position interest you, please visit our Career Center and apply with your resume and cover letter to this position.59 total views, 0 today