Senior WASH Program Design Specialist

Who is Water Mission?

Water Mission is a nonprofit Christian engineering organization that designs, builds, and implements safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas. Guided by love, excellence, and integrity, we are driven to share clean, safe water and God’s love with all. To date, we have served more than 7 million people in 57 countries. Working at Water Mission is as much a calling as it is a career, and we are searching for people with the courage, passion, and drive to help us change the world. Read more about our Statement of Faith and Christian Mission.

What is the opportunity?

The Senior Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Program Design Specialist is responsible for expanding Water Mission’s holistic approach to community development, resulting in improved wellbeing in the areas where the organization is actively engaged. In addition to conceptual development, the Senior Specialist engages in capacity building and project management activities to ensure programs are implemented as designed. He/She collaborates with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning team to support the design, monitoring, and evaluation of WASH projects. This full-time position reports to the Program Development Director and can be remote or based in Charleston, SC.

A successful Senior Program Design Specialist will:

• Maintain a strong Christian witness to colleagues, donors, volunteers, and the general public.
• Work in a collaborative team environment to identify best practices in asset-based, church-centered program design and development within the context of rural WASH programs.
• Assist in the design and development of relevant models and materials which can be effectively communicated to Water Mission’s Country Programs, Affiliate Programs and implementing partners.
• Provide guidance for the effective implementation and quality of WASH projects globally. This includes development of systems-based, sustainable WASH schemes and practices, and implementation of effective hygiene promotion programs.
• Build technical and managerial capacity and monitor incorporation of relevant approaches in Water Mission’s Country Programs, Affiliate Programs, and with implementing partners, recommending corrective actions where required.
• Collaborate with other program design specialists in the design of WASH solutions in the context of disaster. Provide WASH technical support for disaster response operations when needed including supporting other staff in assessing, designing, and implementing WASH elements of disaster response programs.
• Ensure pilot projects are executed according to an agreed upon scope of work, schedule, and budget.
• Cultivate strategic implementation and funding partnerships, maintaining good communication channels, and coordinating international travel as required.
• Identify and engage in opportunities for collaboration with relevant sector experts.
• Other duties as assigned.

What is required?

• Personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Alignment with Water Mission’s Statement of Faith and core values of Love, Excellence, and Integrity.
• Master’s degree in International Development, Public Health, or other WASH-related field of study required.
• 3-5 years of WASH program design experience required.
• International field experience, especially in East Africa and Latin America, preferred.
• Working familiarity with integral mission required.
• Project planning and management experience required.
• Extended, independent international travel (up to ten weeks per year) required. Most international trips are 1-3 weeks in length and require this person to ride in long car rides on rough terrain, stand for extended periods of time in hot weather, and lift heavy things.
• Written and verbal French or Spanish language proficiency preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in cross-cultural settings required.
• Advanced word processing and spreadsheet software skills required.
• Home internet bandwidth strong enough to support video conferencing and other job-related responsibilities.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.