Program Manager - Safe Drinking Water & Adequate Sanitation Facilities

Program Manager, Water.org, New Delhi

Background :

- Water.org, head quartered in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, works to ensure safe water and sanitation for all.

- Co-founded by Gary White and Matt Damon in 2009, Water.org has impacted more than three million lives and transformed thousands of communities in Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.

- 750 million people (about one in 10), globally lack access to safe water and 2.4 billion people (about one in three), do not have access to a toilet. Water.org serves these people.

- Water.org goes beyond traditional approaches to safe water and sanitation, focusing on addressing the underlying causes of this global crisis and innovating to deliver large-scale and sustainable change.

- Water.org's program in India provides safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities to families living in rural and urban Indian communities in 11 states and one Union Territory viz. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry (UT). Water.org offers both grant and Water Credit programs in India.

For more information, please visit, http://water.org/

JD :

- Reporting to the Executive Director, the Program Manager shall be accountable for the effective and timely execution of programs within her/his portfolio. This includes program design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation with assigned partners.

- She/he shall be additionally responsible for participating as a key contributor to pipeline development, fundraising and donor support, and global learning.

- Key areas of accountability and responsibility are listed below, alongside current expectations of time associated with these activities.

Exploration and Strategy (10%) :

- Develop programmatic strategy and facilitate research and development of new models for implementing programs and/or developing new channels and partner geographies for implementation.

Key activities include, but are not limited to :

- Participate in strategy sessions at the country level and assist with developing country work plans

- Review Expression of Interest (EOI) documents and determine whether organizations are eligible for partnership

- Develop certification visit plan and schedule certification visits with partners;

- Conduct partner certification/due diligence for potential new partners including; scheduling, reviewing data and materials about partner, and visiting partners

- Assist with collecting and organizing information on potential partners and prioritization for making contact;

- Support to the Global Learning team to improve Water.org's ability to execute, expand, and apply its program models to new geographies

- Serve as a resource base for practitioners and enable Water.org to further position itself as the leader in Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) finance and services sector

- Participate in the Community of Practice online practitioners forum, engaging in discussions, answering questions, and encouraging partners to participate

- Follow up with partners on application of learnings and best practices gained during exchange visits

- Document and share programmatic learnings internally and externally through meetings, publications and participation in sector forums

- Assist in supporting the Global Learning team in planning for learning events such as Partner Exchange Visits and WaterCredit forums

- Provide feedback to partners on results of baseline and/or end line surveys, impact assessments, case studies, etc

- Assist with determining sizes of programs number of people served, total budget, number of loans - based on available funding and commitments to donors

- Assist in working with M&E team on M&E plans for initiatives

- Assist with providing information to inform evaluation design, and review proposals for evaluation activities.

Program Design and Implementation; Manage Partner Relations (50%) :

- Provide support for the design and implementation of Water.org models and approaches.

- Review and approval of partner Concept Notes and/or proposals. Provide technical support to partners as required and ensure lessons learned and best practices are incorporated into the program design

- Design program activities, work plans, and formal agreements (e.g. memoranda of understanding, contracts, etc.) for Advisory Services engagements. This includes identification and engagement of third party service providers and execution and management of contracts with third parties

- Build relationships with third party service providers and act as a liaison between service providers and partners. This includes providing technical assistance to service providers to assist them in customizing their services to partner needs

- Build and maintain effective working relationships with partner program implementation teams. This includes conducting regular check-ins, support visits and meetings with partners as needed throughout the program implementation cycle to support on-time and on-budget program implementation

- Assess data and learn challenges from partnerships in order to improve partner performance. Encourage other practitioner organizations to apply WaterCredit principles

- Provide support to partners by reviewing information at each phase of the product development cycle and offering technical advice/assistance. This also includes offering guidance on sustainability, development of WSS marketing materials, community capacity building, monitoring, integration of WaterCredit into overall portfolio, exit strategies/handing over of end result, etc

- Manage payment processes for partner disbursements and payments to third parties

- Provide assistance to partners when required to make changes to their program scope, deliverables, and/or implementation geographies

- Mitigate risks to program implementation by addressing areas of risk with partners and assisting them in developing risk mitigation plans. When programs are not on target, work with partners to troubleshoot and offer recommendations. Work with partners on necessary course corrections that emerge through monitoring activities.

Program Monitoring and Evaluation (30%) :

- Support the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team in their efforts to ensure standard M&E practices across operations. Additionally, ensure M&E staff are alerted to potential gaps between current and anticipated program or operational activities, identify data and research needs to build evidence-base and inform current and future strategy and program design, and promote and encourage staff engagement with M&E practices.

- Train partners on Water.org reporting templates and uploading data into the WaterPortal. Ensure partners submit reports and upload data in accordance with Water.org requirements. Review partner reports and data uploads and complete initial approval or rejection of loan data in the WaterPortal

- Review regular program reports from partners to ensure timeliness, completeness and accuracy, and provide guidance and feedback to partners as needed

- Monitor partner progress toward program deliverables and budget burn rates and provide regular feedback to partners

- Manage partner Program Monitoring Visit (PMV) process including developing PMV schedules, conducting PMVs, preparing PMV reports, and sharing reports with partners and Water.org US-based staff; Validate and ensure program quality standards with regard to WSS assets constructed, Use smart tablets and/or phones to collect data during interviews and surveys and to assist with compiling visit reports

- Review proposed revisions to partner work plans and budgets, ensure unspent budget amounts and unaccomplished program activities are carried over between quarters and program years, provide feedback to partners when further revisions are required, and make recommendations for approval

- Monitor partner reports on availability of loan capital to ensure continuality of program implementation and sustainability of WaterCredit portfolio;

- Review evaluation materials, disseminate findings to partners, and insure learnings are incorporated into future program design

- Assist with developing and/or refining partner reporting templates at the beginning of a program or initiative, as needed;

- Review and analyze partner and program information wit in the WaterPortal and send feedback to partners and Program Managers when errors, information gaps, or outdated information occurs. Ensure technical problems with the WaterPortal are reported

- Review proposed revisions to partner work plans and budgets and make recommendations regarding approvals;

- Assist with programmatic and impact evaluations. This includes informing evaluation design, facilitating evaluation activities between partners and M&E staff, and reviewing reports.

Other Tasks (10%) :

- Assist with on-boarding, training, and mentoring new staff members

- Liaise with partner organizations to prepare for donor visits, assist with coordination, logistical support and hosting for film/photography crews to support marketing, communications and/or brand partnerships activities

- Assist with collection of beneficiary/partner stories and photos from partner reports for use in publications.

Qualifications, Experience And Competencies

Qualification :

- Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in related field. Master's degree shall be preferable. Additional relevant certifications, trainings and coursework shall also be considered.

Experience :

- Applicants must possess a minimum of five years of relevant work experience in finance, WSS or international economic development sectors project and program management;

- Demonstrated proficiency in facilitation and capacity building to ensure collaboration and linkages between staff, donors, partners and stakeholders;

- Ability to travel up to 30% of the time;

- Language proficiency in English is required;

- Must have local citizenship or work permit.

Skills and Competencies :

Program and Portfolio Management : Skilled at managing a project lifecycle, overseeing the implementation of several related projects, analyzing information and formulating appropriate action, mitigating risk, and applying lessons learned;

Sectoral Knowledge :

- Sound and up-to-date knowledge of concepts, methodologies and techniques including demonstrated expertise in at least one specialty area within finance, WSS and/or economic development.

- Clear understanding of issues related to gender and inequality in development and demonstrated commitment to promoting gender equality and pro-poor strategies within the organization and in program work. Innovative mind-set oriented toward constructive problem-solving, proactive strategic development and thought leadership. Familiarity with capacity building and technical assistance programs in the finance and WSS on sectors;

Networking :

- Possesses strong contacts within local financial institutions (e.g. microfinance institutions, commercial banks, mobile network operators, cooperatives, etc.), relevant local governmental institutions, the local development sector, the WSS sector, and other relevant stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to identify new opportunities, establish cross-sector partnerships and design programs that are creative and leverage different stakeholders' capacities;

Communication :

- Proficient in the use of effective communication techniques, particularly across a variety of constituencies and stakeholder groups. Skilled at cross-cultural communication and collaboration.

- Ability to communicate fluently and effectively in English, with expertise in local language(s) in the region necessary as required. Advanced knowledge of computer applications and ability to integrate technology into office and program activities.

Compensation Offered :

- The gross remuneration budgeted for the position is attractive. Offers shall be commensurate with the qualifications, experience and salary history, of the selected candidate.

Note : Additional benefits, including medical/ dental insurance, life insurance, and a retirement program shall be covered by water.org

Last Date For Applications :

- Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to apply with a cover letter, discussing their interest in and suitability for the position, along with an updated resume, giving details of three references, current cost to organization and expected compensation, by September, 27, 2016. For further details, please visit www.sams.co.in

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