CHARITY JOBS IN AFRICA

Organization: The Water Trust
Country: Uganda
Closing date: 24 Oct 2014

The Water Trust (TWT) provides sustainable investments in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) to combat disease and poverty in the developing world and allow people to live empowered lives of dignity. Currently, TWTs geographic focus is western Uganda. TWT implements community driven projects, the majority of which are village partnerships that consist of a hand dug well, TWT-facilitated Community Led Total Sanitation and monitoring and evaluation of these developments that are implemented in collaboration with the local government, village and TWT. Additionally, TWT implements pilot studies aimed to improve the long-term management of the water sources. TWT recently underwent an extensive strategic planning process to evaluate external and internal strengths, weaknesses and differentiators of our organization, partnering orgs and the WASH sector overall. TWT is now ready to leverage our strengths to match the need on the ground and is looking for a long-term leader to take us to help take us there.

Position: Project Area Manager
Reports to: Executive Director, TWT and Board of Directors, New York, NY
Based In: Masindi, Uganda
Salary: Based on experience and education. TWT offers competitive benefits package, flexible leave allowance; one annual flight, benefits & visa/work permit costs.
Hours: Provisionally 40 hours per week – Mon to Fri (though these are often longer and include weekends depending upon workload)

Main Purpose of the Job

• To execute on a program of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) community-driven implementation, education and monitoring projects in target areas
• To ensure that the program is done in accordance with an agreed work plan and budget
• Manage a team of 19; 15 full-time employees and 5 contracted employees in two different locations (Masindi and Kiryondongo Districts of western Uganda)

Key Relationships

• Maintain a strong communications link with US management, Board of Directors and development partners
• Liaise with Local Government officials, suppliers, development partners and stakeholders

Scope of the Job

• Ensure field activities are implemented on time through efficient planning and logistical management
• Provide regular reports to US Management on all operational aspects of the project (weekly and quarterly) in a clear and effective communication style
• Manage the authoring of webpage and other reporting with pictures, video and commentary
• Maintain records in accordance with internal regulations
• Develop quarterly and annual work plans and budgets to meet targets successfully in collaboration with US Management
• Financial modeling, budgeting and planning for $650,000 budget and a team of 14 18 employees
• Build and maintain a strong working relationship with local Government officials and other development partners keeping them abreast of project progress and seeking their feedback
• Lead the organization forward toward significant projected growth via geographic expansion, product line expansion, innovative strategies etc.
• Oversee and conduct strategic planning in alliance with TWT and needs of the WASH space
• Represent TWT at local, district, national and international levels in a professional manner
• Ensure project staff are motivated and morale is kept high
• Carry out additional reasonable tasks as required

Person Specification:

The ideal candidate will have significant management experience in a developing country, excellent oral and written communication skills, strong planning and organizational skills, patience and a sense of humor

Knowledge/Qualifications

• • Educated to degree level (or equivalent)
• • Project management skills and the capacity to manage time and workload effectively
• • Ability to meet heavy workloads and multiple project deadlines simultaneously
• • Able to absorb information quickly, understand it and make decisions based upon it within a short timeframe
• • Good working knowledge of IT; word processing, spreadsheets, Excel databases, new technology, email and comfortable with illustrative media, photo & video production
• • Attention to detail and organization
• • Understanding and fluency of budgeting, financing, accounts and overseeing internal and external regulations
• • Driving license (4wd off road experience preferable)

Experience

• • Experience of working at management level within a developing world context (preferably within a WASH context) for a minimum of 4 years
• • Experience managing a team of 20 or more people in multiple locations
• • Experience of communicating with parties in all levels of organization in a manner most appropriate to the party concerned
• • Experience of dealing with relevant external stakeholders: Government Officials, donors and partners
• • Experience evaluating and improving organizational structures to improve efficiency and overall impact
• • Experience in simultaneously managing multiple projects with different deadlines
• • Experience implementing, evaluating and making suggestions for improvements of new ideas and strategies

Skills and Attributes

• • Strong leadership ability; possessing confidence, humility and integrity
• • Highly motivated individual, a "self-starter" able to manage their own time, coordinate staff and other parties and balance an extensive range of tasks
• • Excellent oral and written communication skills
• • Strong planning and problem solving skills
• • High frustration threshold and ability to cope with stress
• • Comfortable operating independently; entirely self-sufficient with the resourcefulness and confidence to resolve situations in isolation

How to apply:

Application Process

•No later than October 24, 2014 email a CV, Cover Letter, and 2 professional references to jobs@watertrust.org with Program Area Manager in the subject line of the email; CV only applications will not be considered. Due to the number of applications received, we are not able to respond to each application.