Research and Advocacy Manager / Funding Manager

• Deadline : 18 Jun 2014

WaterAid is an international NGO. WaterAid Nepal has been operating since 1987. Its vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene (WASH). It emphasises on (a) scaling up inclusive, affordable and sustainable community-managedwater supplies, (b) promotion of sanitation, (c) improving sustained hygiene behaviours, and (d) increasing advocacy work for responsible WASH governance.  

WAN seeks to recruit for following two positions. 

Position No. 1:       Research and Advocacy Manager

Level:                             5

Duration:                        Two years with an initial probation period of six months

Duty Station:                  KathmanduRequired number:           One
Job description:        Download (.docx; 36KB) >

Position description: Reporting to the Country Representative of WAN, the selected candidate is expected to: 

• Lead the Research and Advocacy Team to work on research and policy issues related to water and sanitation, health and hygiene, media and campaigns, WASH  finance, budget advocacy and communications
• Conceptualize research proposals, design research methodologies, hire and work with researchers, and monitor progress for the dissemination of research findings by working closely with internal and external experts
• Help represent WaterAid's position in front of the government, international, national and local civil society institutions, and NGO partners and communities to find ways to collaboratively and critically advocate for all aspects of WASH access, which WAN considers to be an integral part of development
• Support NGO partners and wider WASH stakeholders to strengthen their capacity to raise the voice for WASH, especially on behalf of marginalized and oppressed people
• Help develop advocacy- and research-related competencies in the staff of partner NGOs and relevant wider stakeholders
• As a member of the Senior Management Team, assist in the preparation of the new Country Strategy (2015-2020), Advocacy Strategy (2015-2020), and annual work plans and budgets.

Expected skills and experiences 

• Credible multi-year track record in advocacy, campaigns and communications work
• Ability to learn new ideas and concepts quickly, and an ability to apply them creatively to daily work for effectiveness
• Strong interest in advocating for water, sanitation and hygiene access for poor and marginalized people at the national policy level, at the local government level and at the community level 
• Excellent trustworthy interpersonal skills, with ability to build strong professional rapport within WAN (with colleagues working on urban WASH, rural WASH, M & E, finance, HR and admin), and with Nepal government ministries and departments, civil society institutions, donor agencies, think tanks and universities, NGO partners and media institutions
• Ability to start, lead and complete complex projects and research works without much supervision
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in both English and Nepali
• Fluent in MS office-related computer skills
• A postgraduate degree or equivalent in development studies, economics, media and communications, statistics, civil engineering, and other relevant disciplines 

Position No. 2:      Funding Manager

Level:                     5

Duration:               Two years with an initial probation period of six months

Duty Station:         KathmanduRequired number:  One
Job description:      Download (.docx; 43.5KB) >

Position description: Reporting to the Country Representative (CR) of WAN, the selected candidate is expected to: 

• Support the CR and the Senior Management Team (SMT) with the development of WAN's fundraising strategy
• Help WAN raise funds from donors, and manage grants and donor contracts by working closely with WAN's program teams to deliver accurate and timely reports
• Identify opportunities to meet funding requirements by working closely with fundraising teams based in WaterAid UK and other WaterAid member countries to scope opportunities to meet WAN's funding requirements 
• Manage funders'/donors' accounts within WAN, and manage relationship with key donor representatives, program teams, NGO partners and community leaders 
• Support the CR with risk management of projects by developing and maintaining project risk management plans
• Support the Finance Manager to complete funding forecasts, to accurately identify funding gaps, and to track expenditure against grant commitments

Expected skills and experiences 

• A demonstrably credible three to five years of similar or comparable work experience in grant/contract management
• Strong experience in reviewing, monitoring and reporting against donor contracts
• Ability to attract and secure new funds, and to develop and review funding proposals
• Strong numerical ability to review budgets
• Strong project management skills
• Attention to detail and ability to produce high quality and accurate documentation
• Excellent report writing and  communication skills
• Fluent in MS office-related computer skills
• A relevant certification and/or degree in finance, economics, development studies and other relevant disciplines

How to apply

1. Download an application form (.docx; 45KB) >
2. Submit your completed application form to wateraidnepal@wateraid.org or to: Front Desk Assistant, WaterAid Nepal, Kupondole Lalitpur, P O Box 20214, Kathmandu, Nepal (Please clearly mark your envelope as "Application for the position of ____").