1. POSITION VACANT: State Programme Directors, WaterAid India, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh and Pune, Maharashtra (Two vacancies)

2. ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:

WaterAid India (WAI), operating as Jal Seva Charitable Foundation, is a leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing sustainable, climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions across India. WAI is part of the global WaterAid federation, leveraging global expertise to deliver impactful solutions tailored to local contexts. Over the years, WAI has transformed millions of lives through access to clean water, decent sanitation facilities, and improved hygiene practices.

WAI’s programme priorities over the next five years include ensuring access to safe and assured drinking water for households, and provision of safely managed sanitation services at both household and community levels. The organization also aims to strengthen WASH infrastructure in Anganwadi’s, schools, and healthcare facilities, while developing integrated water and sanitation solutions tailored to small towns. Climate resilience is a cross-cutting concern, embedded across all infrastructure and systems. These efforts are delivered through demonstration models and technical/ knowledge support to governments at various levels, with implementation primarily led by WAI’s own field teams.

WAI aims to enhance the quality of life for 5 million vulnerable households by 2029, focusing on rural and urban areas and small towns. With offices across multiple states, including Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Patna, and Raipur, WAI actively collaborates with communities, governments, and partners to address WASH challenges.

For more information, please visit https://www.wateraid.org/in/

3. JOB DESCRIPTION / RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Director Programmes, the State Program Directors (SPDs) will provide leadership and strategic direction for WAI’s Direct Implementation Programme in her/ his respective state, Madhya Pradesh or Maharashtra. These roles ensure high-quality, compliant, and impactful WASH programmes aligned with national strategy and state priorities.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

(A) Strategic Leadership & State Portfolio Management:

(1) Develop and execute state programme strategy aligned with national priorities;

(2) Translate objectives into multi-year and annual plans with clear outcomes and budgets;

(3) Represent WAI externally, engaging government, donors, and partners;

(4) Build strategic relationships to strengthen WASH systems and enable scale.

(B) Programme Delivery & Financial Stewardship:

(1) Ensure timely, cost-effective delivery of programmes per plans and donor agreements;

(2) Oversee planning, budgeting, and financial discipline;

(3) Monitor performance using evidence for continuous improvement;

(4) Ensure accurate reporting and compliance with organisational policies.

(C) Governance, Risk & Compliance:

(1) Adhere to governance standards, financial controls, and statutory requirements;

(2) Identify and mitigate operational, financial, and safeguarding risks;

(3) Maintain documentation and audit readiness.

(D) Partnerships & System Strengthening:

(1) Lead partnerships with government, civil society, and technical agencies;

(2) Promote convergence with government programmes for sustainability and scale.

(E) Inter-Departmental Coordination:

(1) Collaborate with Resource Mobilisation, PMEL, HR, Finance, and Communications teams for donor management, monitoring, compliance, and branding.

(F) People Leadership & Learning:

(1) Lead and motivate a multidisciplinary team, fostering a high-performing culture;

(2) Build technical and leadership capabilities;

(3) Promote organisational learning and share insights across teams.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualifications
Applicants must have postgraduate degree in Management, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Rural Development, Engineering, or related fields.

Experience

(1) 12–18 years of experience in large-scale development programmes, of which minimum three to five years of experience in senior leadership;

(2) Experience in WASH or allied sectors;

(3) Proven ability to manage budgets, compliance, and multidisciplinary teams.

(4) Prior experience in overseeing the Finance, Procurement, Admin and HR functions within large programmes is essential

Competencies

(1) Strong execution and operational management under direct implementation;

(2) Ability to build trust with government and partners;

(3) Sound judgement in risk management and decision-making;

(4) High integrity, resilience, and communication skills;

(5) Strategic thinking with ability to translate vision into action.

Additional Skills

(1) Knowledge of their respective states’ development context and WASH challenges;

(2)  Proficiency in English; Proficiency in Marathi (for Maharashtra) and Hindi (for Madhya Pradesh), will be essential;


5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

The compensation for the position is competitive and shall be commensurate with the candidate’s experience and salary history.

6. NUMBER OF VACANCIES: Two

7. LOCATION: Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh and Pune, Maharashtra

8. DURATION OF CONTRACT: Three years

9. REFERENCE: SPD-WAI

10. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Team SAMS
Strategic Alliance Management Services Pvt. Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar,

New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110025
Tel: 011-011- 4081 9900; 4081 9926

11. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to apply at the earliest. 

Note: This is an urgent requirement, and the vacancies are to be filled at the earliest. Preference will be given to early applicants, and interviews with promising candidates will commence almost immediately.

WaterAid India (Jal Seva Charitable Foundation) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace. All recruitment decisions are made purely based on merit, qualifications and alignment with the role and organizational values without discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other status protected under Indian law.