Job at WASH Advocates: Director of Operations and Special Projects

Position description: Operations and Special Projects Director, WASH Advocates

WASH Advocates is the successor organization to Water Advocates, the first independent, full‐time advocacy organization within the United States dedicated to increasing the amount and effectiveness of funding for safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in developing countries. WASH Advocates (WA) seeks to substantially increase awareness of the global WASH challenge and the amount and effectiveness of US public and private funding directed to this crisis.

Advocacy for WASH still pales in comparison to other international development causes. WA supports the US WASH community in moving the US Government and US citizens into a stronger global leadership position on safe drinking water and sanitation on several fronts, including the level of international development assistance; general awareness of the global water and sanitation crisis; sustainability of WASH programming; private and corporate philanthropic efforts; prioritization of WASH within the US Department of State and USAID; and the integration of WASH and other global development activities.

Description: The Operations and Special Projects Director reports to the CEO and is a peer to the four other directors. The Operations and Special Projects Director will:

·         Ensure the effective and efficient operation of WASH Advocates, including managing the human resources and finance functions of WASH Advocates, either in-house or via a contract with a fiscal agent;

·         Manage WASH Advocates’ systems and policies (knowledge management, IT and related equipment, building, procurement, personnel policies, etc.) and train/coordinate with colleagues on all of the above.

·         Lead on special projects, both time-sensitive and ongoing, that will make significant contributions to WASH Advocates’ advocacy work in the US and abroad; special projects are to be negotiated depending on the needs of WASH Advocates, its current staff, and the strengths/interests of the Operations and Special Projects Director. Projects could include World Water Day and other related activities, outreach to businesses/foundations, grasstops/grassroots advocacy focused on Capitol Hill, standalone communications initiatives, and/or efforts to link WASH to other important development challenges; projects will likely involve many partners outside WASH Advocates.

Necessary Competencies

To be successful, the Operations and Special Projects Director will:

·         Have experience in managing the human resources and finance departments of a nonprofit organization, either in-house or via a service provider, and in managing the operations of a small organization;

·         Be highly disciplined and detail-oriented;

·         Work well in a small and highly productive team and foster collaboration among a diverse set of stakeholders;

·         Engage partners inside and beyond his/her organization to actively participate and contribute to the sector with time and resources;

·         Exercise creativity and opportunism in finding ways of raising the profile of WASH issues;

·         Have strong and persuasive oral and written communication, facilitation, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Minimum Education and Skills

The successful candidate will have:

·         Commitment to values, mission and vision of WASH Advocates; engagement in international development issues;

·         Masters degree or commensurate experience in operations, project management, international development, communications or a related field;

·         5-10 years of experience in operations and international development work (ideally WASH-related);

·         Excellent communications skills – oral, written, online/offline;

·         Strong ability to develop and foster alliances; ability and desire to support and motivate colleagues, and to work in a consensus-oriented environment with different work styles and to facilitate staff communication;

·         High-energy, love of challenge, and ability to be effective in a constantly changing environment;

·         Able to travel occasionally and to work independently and creatively.

Successful completion of a writing test will be required.

This is a full‐time exempt position located in Washington, DC. Salary range is $60k - $75k. WASH Advocates is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action employer that is committed to diversity in the workplace. Please send résumé and cover letter to John Oldfield at joldfield (at) WASHadvocates (dot) org. No phone calls please.