The Opportunity
At Lifewater, we believe that work should be more than a job; it should be an opportunity for you to make a difference in the world. We are social scientists, engineers, program managers, advocates, and community workers who care deeply about preventing the needless and tragic death of 1,600 children who die each and every day from preventable water-borne diseases. If you are looking to join a lean but rapidly growing global team comprised of like-minded, professional, passionate people motivated by faith in Jesus Christ, then this might be just the job you have been praying for.
Who We Are
Lifewater is a non-profit Christian community development organization dedicated to effectively serving vulnerable children and families by partnering with underserved communities to overcome water poverty. With experience in more than 40 countries since 1977, Lifewater serves all people by providing them with contextually appropriate water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions. We walk alongside families, leaders, schools, and churches to overcome all forms of water poverty by helping them learn to live in healthy relationship with God and the environment and to recognize how small changes can transform their life and community.
We are a non-governmental, faith-based organization serving communities in the rural regions of East Africa and Southeast Asia. We have active programs in Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Uganda; countries with a desperate lack of resources to provide basic water and sanitation services to rural children and families. Since our inception, Lifewater’s worldwide team has impacted the lives of more than 2.5 million people. And we’re just getting started!
Lifewater has an annual budget of $3.5M USD with plans to grow this strategically to over $5M USD in the next three years. Our global headquarters is located in San Luis Obispo, California with domestic staff fewer than 20 people that serve our field offices around the world. We have regional offices in Addis Ababa, Kampala, and Phnom Penh and program offices in the actual remote regions of service. All in-country operations are staffed by qualified national personnel, currently numbering 50 people.
Who You Are
You are an experienced international development program manager that works deep in the weeds and can also see the big picture. You can build weekly, monthly, and annual program plans as well as you can research new regions of service. Your cross-cultural skills are exceptional. You are patient, gracious, and deliberate in working with national staff, increasing the capacity of those reporting to you for their long-term development and contribution to our organization. You have a high capacity to manage multiple competing deadlines and priorities at the same time, without letting any of them slip. You are an effective leader and communicator that genuinely loves people, loves community development, and loves the change process.
What You Would Be Doing
Reporting to the President, the Regional Program Director, East Africa will serve as a vital member of the Global Programs Team at Lifewater International. Based in East Africa, the Director will be responsible for the growth and implementation of Lifewater programs throughout their region of service. At present, there are three field offices implementing multi-year programs in the target region. The Director will be responsible for the ongoing quality implementation of these field offices, while also adding three more field offices in-line with Lifewater’s strategic plan.
S/he will work directly with Country Directors and Program Managers to execute detailed program work plans and budgets to realize the Vision of a Healthy Village in the target region of service. In addition to overseeing the implementation of program activities in existing regions, the Director will also work alongside Country Directors to expand Lifewater’s reach into new territories, including the sourcing of staff to establish new field offices.
This is a leadership position inside and outside of the organization. At all times, the Director must represent Lifewater well to various stakeholders in diverse settings.
Primary Responsibilities
Leadership
- Provide day-to-day leadership of Country Directors and Program Managers, building capacity while implementing programs. You are their first line of support for personnel and operational problems.
- Regularly share Vision of a Healthy Village program strategy with staff at all levels to reinforce Lifewater’s Theory of Change.
- Facilitate WASH University, Lifewater’s multi-week foundational training for new staff, for the launch of new field offices and staff.
- Alongside Country Directors, expand from three existing field offices to six field offices by the end of 2018.
- Update job descriptions and oversee hiring process with CD’s in target regions.
Program Management
- Provide strategic support to CD and field teams in program implementation, including the building of timelines that incorporate dependent relationship in activities.
- Evaluate and approve weekly program schedules for current quarter program activities, and quarterly program schedule for the time period beyond the current quarter.
- Lead the development and execution of weekly program schedule for new field office launches.
- Train staff on Program Cycle Management (PCM) to continue to develop their capacity in managing programs.
- Monitor program progress at all times to ensure that deliverable dates are made and progress toward targets is happening.
- Lead Program Status Meetings between field staff and HQ.
Quality Assurance
- Regularly visit field offices and target communities to build rapport with staff, build their capacity, and monitor program quality. Minimum of 2 site visits/field office/year
- Evaluate field-level trainings in person to determine the quality of training and software delivery in target areas, identifying ways to increase our quality of service.
- Work with HQ to evaluate monitoring data collected electronically through AKVO and progress toward targets. Collaborate with CD and PMs to course correct as necessary.
- Participate in Monthly Program Management meetings with CD and PM to problem solve issues at the field office (programmatic and personnel).
- Ensure compliance with Operations Manuals by providing refresher trainings on critical activities before they happen in the communities (water committees, WASH facilitator, etc.).
Work Experience & Qualifications
Education and work experience required:
- Master’s degree with 10+ years of community development and/or program management experience in a related sector.
Required competencies and skills:
- Active Christian Faith as evidenced by adherence to Lifewater’s statement of faith and demonstrated involvement in a local church
- Excellent people skills & emotional intelligence in working with teams
- Analytical thinking and data interpretation
- Cross-cultural relationship building & training/facilitation skills
- Ability to construct a story and present data in an effective way in both written and spoken formats (reports & presentations)
- Excellent command of oral and written English for business
- Travel experience and/or living abroad for extended timelines (few weeks at a time)
Desired competencies and experience:
- At least 5 years’ experience in WASH program activity in a developing world context
- Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite including advanced skills & experience in:
- Working with workflow spreadsheets in Excel and data analysis in Excel or SPSS
- Design & Preparation of presentations and posters in PowerPoint
- Program work-plan design, monitoring, and evaluation
- Working knowledge of ArcGIS and/or other GIS systems
- A command of AKVOFlow and/or other field-database tools
To be successful as a member of the Lifewater team, you will also:
- Have to be moved to action by our global water and sanitation crisis, and feel a deep sense of calling for the work of Lifewater.
- Have a passion for our mission, vision, core values, and a strong desire to shape the future of an up-and-coming social change organization
- Be a humble and creative problem solver - you are not afraid to try something new and inspire others to do so
- Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
- Have a strong work ethic, take initiative, and require minimal direction
- Work well independently as well as part of a team
- Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment
HOW TO APPLY:
Please submit resume and cover letter: https://lifewater.org/careers/#op-146384-regional-program-director-east-...
