East Africa Program Coordinator

Position: East Africa Program Coordinator

FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) Classification: Salary/Exempt

Division/Location: East Africa (Preference for Uganda or Tanzania)

Position Type: Full Time Employee

Reports To: GWC Program Lead

Department: Collective Action

Work Hours: Monday– Friday, 40 hours/week, additional hours as required

ABOUT GLOBAL WATER CENTER

Global Water Center “GWC” believes everyone deserves access to safely managed water. We provide education, innovation, and collaboration to equip leaders to solve the global water crisis together. As the go-to resource for the rural water sector, our safe water resources have reached people in 131 countries. In addition to education, we also use innovative technology to make water projects more effective and reliable.

GWC mobilizes internal and external experts to aid in capacity development, and the assessment, design, implementation, and monitoring of projects that serve water sector organizations in low- and middle-income countries.

Global Water Center’s work environment is fast-paced, dynamic, and highly collaborative. Candidates should be comfortable working in an early-stage environment, balancing the need for flexibility, structure, and procedure.

See more at www.globalwatercenter.org

WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY?

The East Africa Program Coordinator will play a pivotal role in developing relationships, managing projects, and coordinating GWC’s programs across East Africa. This role is centered on expanding and managing vocational and government training programs to build local capacity in the water sector. It is responsible for driving initiatives that strengthen partnerships, enhance training programs, and ensure effective project execution in the region.

This position is based in East Africa, with a preference for Uganda or Tanzania. The role requires regular regional travel, with the potential for international travel outside the region as needed. The GWC work environment is dynamic, fast-paced, and flexible, with a focus on collaboration and innovation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Relationship Management:
• Build and strengthen strong partnerships with government bodies, vocational training institutions, NGOs, and other stakeholders to expand GWC’s collective impact in the region.
• Serve as the primary GWC representative in East Africa, promoting the organization’s mission and values to external audiences.
• Program Coordination:
• Supporting the planning, execution, and monitoring of GWC projects in East Africa, ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic objectives.
• Coordinate the implementation of vocational training programs, focusing on developing the skills of water professionals across the region.
• Manage budgets, timelines, and project deliverables, ensuring that projects are completed on time and within scope.
• Work closely with the Program Lead to align regional activities with GWC’s global strategy.
• Coordinate with local and national governments to integrate GWC’s training programs into existing frameworks, ensuring sustainability and scalability.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building among regional stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of water projects.
• Oversee the scheduling and logistics of program activities and events.
• Training:
• Support coordination of and participate in partner training sessions for various stakeholders, including local government officials and vocational trainers, to align capacity development in the water sector.
• Support the GWC team in developing and adapting training materials to meet the specific needs of the region.
• Provide support and mentorship to local trainers.
• Reporting and Evaluation:
• Provide timely and accurate reports on project progress, challenges, and outcomes to the GWC leadership team.
• Support the evaluation of the impact of GWC’s programs in the region, using data to drive continuous improvement.
• Gather valuable feedback and evaluate program effectiveness to inform continuous improvement efforts.

QUALIFICATIONS

• An extensive knowledge of key local and regional decision makers and organizations that are critical catalysts to GWC’s work.
• Alignment with GWC’s core values of love, excellence, and integrity, with a passionate commitment to ending water poverty in East Africa.
• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., international development, environmental science, or engineering) is preferred.
• Minimum of five years of experience in WASH and project management, ideally with a focus on capacity building and vocational training.
• Experience in conducting training is a significant advantage.
• Ability to manage complex projects, work collaboratively with diverse teams, and build strong relationships with external partners.
• Experience working with government agencies and understanding the dynamics of public sector engagement in East Africa.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively represent GWC to a variety of audiences.
• Willingness to travel extensively within East Africa and occasionally internationally.
• Ability and capacity to manage remote working conditions and working across different time zones

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Leadership: Ability to inspire and lead teams, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Results Orientation: Strong organizational skills with a focus on achieving measurable outcomes.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Deep understanding of the cultural and socio-economic context of East Africa, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to think critically and strategically about GWC’s mission and how to best achieve its goals in East Africa.
• Innovation: Capacity to develop creative solutions to challenges and adapt to changing circumstances.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to safely lift a minimum of 35 lbs.
• Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods.
• Ability to work outside the normal Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm workweek: Ability to work flexible hours to provide course support across multiple time zones, including but not limited to Eastern, Pacific, Greenwich Mean Time, Indian Standard Time, Central European Time, and other European time zones.

WHY JOIN US

• Make a tangible impact on the lives of 2.2 billion living without access to safely managed water
• Collaborate with a passionate and competent team of professionals.
• Opportunity to shape and influence our company’s core strategy and future direction.
• Competitive salary and benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, PTO (Paid Time Off).

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the person in this position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.