Director, International Programs and Policy

WaterAid Canada is a member of WaterAid, a dynamic, fast -growing and well-respected international NGO operating in 35 countries worldwide. Our mission is to transform lives by improving access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene for everyone, everywhere by 2030.

Who we need:

An experienced, dynamic, and inspiring international development leader with an exceptional talent for building and developing meaningful and influential relationships and partnerships, across all levels and in multi-cultural environments.

An advocate committed to water, sanitation, and hygiene as fundamental building blocks to reducing inequality and achieving sustainable development outcomes.

An entrepreneurial individual to identify new business opportunities and lead the development and negotiation of such international programming opportunities.

A leader and mentor capable of inspiring, developing and unleashing the full potential of team members.

An inclusive, innovative, and positive leader who will contribute to the development and implementation of WA’s strategic objectives.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Reporting to the CEO, the Director of International Programs and Policy is a member of the Senior Leadership Team whose principal responsibilities include: providing strategic leadership on international programming, overseeing the management of WaterAid Canada’s (WAC) overseas projects, developing new business and partnership opportunities, as well as supporting policy and advocacy initiatives in Canada.

Strategic planning and leadership (15%)

• Take part in the development of WAC’s overall strategic planning activities, annual operating budget, and annual work plans.
• Maintain effective communications and productive working relationships with all institutional donors and funders.
• Champion WAC’s programming, advocacy, and business development interests within the wider WaterAid federation and maintain effective communications and productive working relationships with members and country programs.

Business development and networking (40%)

• Pursue / develop new business opportunities with current and new institutional donors, to support the expansion of WAC international programming.
• Lead the development of high-quality proposal submissions, in collaboration with WaterAid federation members
• Represent WAC’s work and the international water and sanitation sector through networks, conferences, events, etc.

Program oversight, monitoring, evaluation, reporting: (30%)

• Provide strategic leadership to WAC’s overseas programming activities, including the startup of new projects, as well as general operational and management support.
• Lead on contract negotiations with counterparts and donors.
• Oversee the submission of all timely and quality project reports to GAC and other major institutional donors.
• Carry out regular monitoring and scoping trips to program countries, to ensure quality of project implementation.

Policy and advocacy: (15%) 

• Lead the implementation of a focused policy and advocacy strategy, in line with WAC’s business development.
• Oversee the development of annual advocacy workplans.
• Oversee engagement by WAC with the Canadian development sector and other influential stakeholders, such as MPs and GAC, to ensure the prominence of water, sanitation, and hygiene as a development aim.
• Keep abreast of critical policy and advocacy issues in the international water and sanitation sector.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in development studies, environmental/public health, social sciences, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
•  Minimum ten years of proven work experience in the international development sector, with proven success in business development.
• Demonstrated ability to steward complex relationships and building partnerships with a wide range of private, foundation, multi/bilateral donors and public.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully oversee proposal development; program  planning, implementation, and evaluation; financial oversight; reporting.
• Proven ability to leverage own contacts with GAC and across the INGO sector.
• Ability to work with overseas partner organizations, positively influence, and to deal sensitively with others in a cross-cultural environment.
• Experience in advocacy work/policy development.
• Comprehensive understanding of Results-Based Management framework a must.
• Familiarity with the water and sanitation sector in developing countries an asset.
• Excellent writing, listening, and speaking skills; proven ability to write reports, articles; and, public speaking experience.
• Willingness to travel overseas 2-4 times annually.
• A commitment to WaterAid Canada’s values, vision, approach, and direction.

If you are interested in the position and have the right skills and attributes, please send your application, consisting of a letter of interest and a CV to [email protected],

Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the ideal candidate is found. 

Please note: to apply for this role you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in Canada.

WaterAid Canada’s talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

WaterAid Canada welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

No recruitment agencies please.