JOB OPPORTUNITY
Position: Head of Programmes
Number of Vacancies: 1
Location: WaterAid Nepal Office, Kathmandu, Nepal
Department: Programmes
Grade: G1
Reports to (title): Country Director
Direct Reports (titles): Programme Managers / Project Managers
WaterAid is an international not-for-profit, determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation. Since we started in 1981, we’ve remained resolutely focused on tackling these three essentials that transform people’s lives. 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. Children grow up healthy and strong, women and men get to earn a living, whole communities start to thrive. It sounds normal and it should be.
By inspiring people and sparking chain reactions we help deliver lasting change in what’s normal. By working closely with partners internationally and on the ground in some of the toughest places in the world, we help achieve widespread change. Millions of people have already taken control of their lives and built better futures.
WaterAid Nepal is looking for a committed person who is an empathetic and empowering leader to champion WASH as the Head of Programmes, playing a vital role in our mission to transform lives with safe water, sanitation and hygiene essential foundations for healthy and dignified lives. This is an exciting time to join WaterAid as we embark on an inspiring and promising journey to develop our strategy for the upcoming strategy period. As a key member of the senior Country Management Team, the Head of Programmes will play an integral part in shaping WaterAid Nepal’s strategy and enhancing organizational effectiveness.
Clean water, decent toilets and hygiene are three essentials that help people lead dignified and healthy lives. They should be normal for everyone, but for millions of people they are not. We are determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene a normal part of everyday life for everyone, everywhere within a generation.
Purpose of Role
- Lead the Programme Team ensuring effective and cohesive implementation of WaterAid’s work through a programmatic approach that combines programme, learning, research and advocacy activities in collaborative partnership with a diverse range of partnerships and organisations.
- Member of Country Management Team with primary responsibility to advice on strategy development of WaterAid Nepal, proactively support fundraising and continuously seek to strengthen its overall performance, developing and reviewing organisational policies that will bring about the transformational changes necessary to achieve sustainable WASH service for all.
Description
Responsibilities
- Lead overall management and quality assurance of WaterAid Nepal’s WASH programmes in line with the strategy and WA programme standards
- Lead in design and development of innovative programmes in line with the country strategy that address needs and aspirations of the unreached and vulnerable communities and bring about transformational change at scale;
- Enable integration of human rights-based approaches and inclusion strategies that prioritize to reach the marginalised and vulnerable people of Nepal.
- Provide guidance to Programme/Project Managers that support them to meet commitments of WaterAid Nepal to its project partners, stakeholder, constituency, and donors; supporting them to develop operational plans and budgets for the implementation of programmatic, research, and advocacy activities in consultation with relevant people and departments;
- Facilitate different programmes to develop synergies, culture of learning and improvement, and cohesive approaches that link the programmes with national advocacy initiatives and the hygiene programme;
- Monitor expenditure against budgets for strategic and annual programme plans, supporting managers to effectively manage their budgets adhering to financial guidelines, delegated authorities and ensuring value for money;
- Ensure programmes report accurately on qualitative and quantitative outcomes and impacts;
- Identify opportunities to build and strengthen relations with donors and develop funding proposals; ensure programme staff are aware of and have capacity to meet donor’s contractual obligations and commitments; be responsible to ensure overall grant management, quality and compliance for relevant grants within the Programme.
- Develop and over-see management the budget for WaterAid Nepal’s Programmes, adhering to financial guidelines, donor compliances, ensuring value for money and acting as appropriate within delegated authorities.
- Represent WaterAid in relevant national CSO, donor, and government forums related to WASH so as to influence thinking of other stakeholders on effective delivery of WASH, and build WaterAid’s reputation as a sector leader;
- Lead the Programme Management Team meeting as an effective forum to coordinate activities, share ideas and learning, and resolve programme related issues;
- Represent WaterAid with counterparts in partner organisations to promote partnerships that are built on a sense of solidarity that can deliver high quality programming; and help strengthening their institutions
- Develop and strengthen effective collaborations, networks and alliances among sector stakeholders, government counterparts, and NGOs involved in water and sanitation related activities to foster mutual learning and to identify innovations that would increase the efficiency and effectiveness of sector performance;
- Foster teamwork and collaboration between staff in the team, provide leadership, effectively manage performance of the team, guiding the department through operational work plan, ensuring important deadlines are met, with proper resource planning and regular 1:1 meetings with direct reports and team meetings, keeping abreast of all unit/team activities.
- Take active measures to address equality issues, particularly relating to gender, caste, disabilities, in operational planning, leadership behaviours and activities
Other Responsibilities
- As a key member of the Country Management Team contribute proactively to CP management and organisational effectiveness
- Ensure highest standards of accountability through ensuring good communication and information sharing in line with GDPR (WAUK) within and outside the organisation
- Be aware of, understand and comply with the WaterAid Code of Conduct and all WaterAid Nepal policies and procedures
- Actively contribute to shape and participate in emergency response if necessary
- Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Country Director
Person Specification
Essential
- Masters in WASH, engineering, social sciences or relevant discipline
- Minimum 7 years of experience in similar role
- IT skills particularly MS Word, Excel and Outlook
- Fluency in spoken and written Nepali language. High level proficiency in spoken and written English, with good interpersonal, negotiating and persuasive skills
- Proven experience of designing and leading influencing strategies that have impacts on the lives of the people of Nepal
- Demonstrated ability to build collaborative partnerships and alliances for influencing the sector
- Confidence in working with senior level stakeholders both internally and externally using tact and diplomacy
- Experience of conducting trainings and capacity building
- Experience of managing and supporting staff from diverse professional background
- Strong sense of discretion and ability to manage information of a confidential / sensitive nature
- Commitment to WaterAid’s values and a working style that reflects these
- Proven experience of leading programmes that deliver transformational change through the integration of learning and advocacy
- Grant management experience
Desirable
- Experience of conducting trainings and capacity building
- Strong network amongst different actors (including government agencies)
- Self-motivated, creative, adaptive and ability to perform with minimum supervision
- Experience of working effectively within a culturally diverse and matrix organisation
WaterAid is committed to ensuring that wherever we work in the world there is no tolerance for the abuse of power, privilege or trust. WaterAid reinforces a culture of zero tolerance towards any form of inappropriate behaviour, abuse, harassment, or exploitation of any kind. The safeguarding of our beneficiaries, staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf, is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All staff and volunteers are required to share in this commitment through our Global Code of Conduct. We will conduct the most appropriate preemployment references and checks to ensure high standards are maintained.
WaterAid is an equal opportunities, disability-confident employer and committed to achieving the highest standards of diversity, fairness and equality.
Source: Himalayan Times, 15 September, 2021
