Job opportunity at WaterAid: Title: Head of Programmes- Rwanda :Deadline:Friday 8th Nov. 2019.

WaterAid is determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation.

We started in 1981 because no water charity existed and since then we’ve been on a mission to change normal for millions of people within a generation – by getting clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene to everyone, everywhere by 2030. Without all three, people can’t live dignified, healthy lives. With all three, they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty and change their lives for good

With clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, children are born healthier. They get the chance to go to school and grow up to become adults. Women and men get to earn a living. Whole communities start to thrive. It sounds normal and it should be.

Changing normal is what drives us. We want to bring about change that sticks and help change lives for good. There is still a lot to do. But together with our colleagues, supporters, and partners around the world, we’re making progress.

We welcome talented people who are still hungry to learn and grow as individuals. We are connected as WaterAiders – we have fun together and look out for one another. We’re not afraid to challenge one another but we do it constructively and thoughtfully.

At WaterAid, you’ll be encouraged and empowered to be yourself at your very best – giving you the space to use your own talents and shape your own future, the space to change what’s normal for yourself too.

We’re committed to changing normal forever—are you?

Job purpose

 The Head of Programmes is key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) of the Country Programme, providing leadership and technical guidance to staff and partners for the implementation of quality, sustainable and inclusive water, sanitation and hygiene projects. Reporting to the Country Director, you will be required to work closely with other in-country Heads of Departments, the WASH expert, the Regional Team and relevant teams based at WA Headquarters to define program content, goals and monitoring mechanisms. You will be required to ensure the proper implementation of program strategies and plans and coordinate a broad spectrum of programs, stakeholders and geographies while leading the documentation, replication of WASH best practices, closure and/or transfer process of programs to partners or government agencies. You will coordinate and supervise the operations of the WASH Managers/ Coordinators and other technical staff and guarantee timely and high-quality program delivery that is consistent with WaterAid values, mission, and goals, aligning them with donor requirements as well as district and national priorities

Accountabilities

Under the supervision of the Country Director, your key accountability areas will include: Strategic planning and management, Leadership and strategic support to programs, partners management and capacity, documentation, innovations and knowledge sharing. You will be responsible for the coordination of cross-border programmatic themes, project and program planning, management, documentation, monitoring/evaluation, and reporting. You will also be responsible for proper grants management by working closely with the Senior Management Team, finance and fundraising teams, partners, and grants lead in the WaterAid UK office to ensure compliance with internal processes, national laws, and donor requirements.

This role provides:

Strategic planning and management support

• Contribute to the Country Programme Strategy development, evaluation, and review

• Contribute technically towards national and regional scale interventions

• Establish, reinforce and maintain relationships with partner and other WASH and non-WASH development actors, academic and research institutions, media, private operators, and others in order to share learning/information and advice on WASH sector strengthening

• Lead on continuous review on WASH sector building blocks to suggest strategies that address blockages to universal access at local, national or pan African levels.

• As a member of the SMT, actively engage at SMT and regional level on programmatic and partnership management forums in pursuit of the realization of WA’s strategic aims

Leadership and strategic support to programs

• In close collaboration with other SMT members, design/re-design WASH programs that help WaterAid Rwanda achieve its strategic objectives consequently contributing to WA’s global strategic aims

• Lead, manage and motivate the programs team, by helping on setting clear objectives and making sure it receives instructive feedback on its performance. This involves identification of staff needs, capacity gaps and development plans that address the gaps, coaching/mentoring as appropriate

• Coordinate the development of Country Programme Business Plans and budgets for WaterAid’s projects/programs for WASH service supply as well as sector strengthening

• Ensure Quality Programme Standards are met, ensure the project is well managed, completed on time, on budget and in line with national strategies

• Ensure projects alignment with WaterAid principles of gender mainstreaming, sustainability, equity, and inclusion

• Identify major risks to programming and ensure risk management is embedded in programs/projects plans to mitigate these risks and to manage emergencies

• Strengthen and own the PMER system at the country program level and share lessons learned for continuous improvements on the system

• Lead on Data Reliability Audits (DRA) and Post Implementation Monitoring Surveys (PIMS) and implement recommendations

• Promote the integration of WASH in the overall development agenda to ensure sustainability

• Manage and monitor programs/projects budgets with support and collaboration of Finance Manager

• Represent WARw in recommended Sector Working Groups (SWGs) and Thematic Working Groups (TWGs) relevant to WARw interventions.

Partnerships management

• Contribute significantly to local partnerships management including ethical check, due diligence, preparation of MoUs, capacity gaps analysis, performance assessment, and partnerships reviews

• Work with local partners to identify capacity gaps in the delivery of sustainable WASH projects and support them to develop capacity and identification of staff needs, capacity gaps, and coaching/mentorship as appropriate

• Ensure compliance with donor requirements as outlined in the funding agreements, timely and proper communication on grants management as required

• Manage relationships and capacity building for Implementing partners and local government officials for a strong and sustainable district-wide programming

Innovations, documentation and knowledge sharing for sustainable WASH access

• Lead on dialogue and knowledge sharing among partners using existing or new platforms at district and national level to ensure that appropriate WASH technologies and approaches are taken to scale to sustainably improve access

• Suggest and coordinate the consolidation of evidence from the demonstrative work on WASH services and technologies

• Identify and suggest researches and analyses which extend and shape the program’s discussions towards the relevant sector strengthening in collaboration with the Head of Policy Research and Advocacy and the WASH expert

• Promote the culture of innovation in WASH service delivery towards universal access by 2030 with focus on most vulnerable people and communities

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Academic qualification in a relevant technical WASH discipline, such as civil engineering, water/waste engineering, Water Resource Management, Public Health Engineering, Environmental Health; Development Studies, Projects Management

• Solid experience in project/program coordination and management

• Good knowledge of national policies on water, sanitation, and hygiene

• Detailed understanding of WASH technical and management issues including water security and broader development and poverty reduction themes

• Experience in conducting formative research and feasibility studies, using the findings to make program decisions and deliver appropriate design options.

• Proven experience of building the capacity of employees and partner organizations especially CSO’s and government

• Track record of developing strategic & operational plans

• Planning and organizing skills and the ability to prioritize

• Able to build and maintain trusting relationships, negotiate, influence and resolve conflicts with multi-level stakeholders including donor representatives, government officials, and community-level actors

• Strong communication skill and ability to effectively convey information and ideas verbally and in writing

• Experience of leading, managing and motivating others and driving change

• Commitment to WaterAid’s values (Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Innovation, and Integrity) and a working style that reflects organizational strategic shifts (Thinking big, confronting reality and acting fast)

• Work experience embedding sustainability, equity, and inclusion

• Adherence to safeguarding principles

Desirable Criteria

• Membership of relevant professional bodies/networks

• Fundraising experience