WASH Advocates is hiring: Global Partnerships Director

 Please let folks know - this is a really good opportunity for the right person! 

Position description:  Global Partnerships 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 Global Partnerships Director reports to the CEO and is a peer to the four other directors. The primary duties of the Global Partnerships Director include engaging corporate, foundation, civic, faith, academic, nonprofit, the US public sector, and other stakeholders to increase:

a)      awareness of the global WASH challenge,

b)      the amount and effectiveness of investments (predominantly philanthropic) for WASH efforts in developing countries, and

c)       the number of partnerships dedicated to pursuing global WASH objectives.

The Director will be creative, selective, and results-focused in establishing and maintaining relationships with current and potential WASH donors, and in catalyzing new partnerships focused on programs which see communities in developing countries achieve sustainable access to WASH.

The Director will work in the WASH Advocates office in Washington, DC. At the outset of the engagement, he/she will develop a work plan in cooperation with colleagues. This work plan will outline key milestones and deliverables on an annual and quarterly basis, and will focus on catalyzing partnership activity that generates a measurable increase in funding for the WASH sector. Activities will include, but not be limited to:

-          conduct outreach to current and potential supporters of global WASH in the philanthropic, corporate, civic and faith sectors;

-          maintain and expand the network of WASH stakeholders through participation in conferences regarding participation or philanthropic investment in the WASH sector;

-          work with the WASH Sustainability Director at WA to educate donors on WASH sustainability, monitoring and evaluation, and partnership models.

On a case by case basis, the Director will:

-          Serve as a pro bono philanthropy advisor and corporate social responsibility consultant;

-          Work with WA’s Communications Director and others to help create and support campaigns that lead WA in a direction that is most useful for the issue and the sector;

-          Work with the CEO and colleagues to launch a peer-to-peer networking group for private foundations and other philanthropists interested in WASH grantmaking;

-          Strengthen relationships with the public/private partnership offices of the US State Department, USAID, and potentially other US Government agencies;

-          Work with colleagues at WA and beyond to ensure a successful World Water Day each year and leverage other annual events/days;

-          Create tools and guidelines to streamline the partnering process;

-          Engage US citizen sector in grassroots and grasstops advocacy on behalf of the WASH issue and relevant federal legislation;

-          Perform other tasks as required.

Desired Skills

The ideal Global Partnerships Director will have attributes and demonstrated abilities as below:

-          Commitment to values, mission and vision of WASH Advocates; engagement in global health and/or environmental issues, preferably with a particular focus on WASH;

-          Minimum ten years of experience working with diverse constituencies including private foundations, corporations, the federal government, and civic and religious organizations;

-          Degree (Masters preferred) in a relevant field;

-          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;

-          Excellent oral and written communication skills;

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

-          Excellent research skills, and the ability to deliver compelling arguments to new and existing funders (strong written and oral communication);

-          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 commensurate with experience.  Minimum travel, primarily domestic, will be required. 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@WASHadvocates.org. No phone calls please.