Systems Strengthening Senior Advisor

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Systems Strengthening Senior Advisor

Contract type: Permanent, Full Time, 35 hours per week

Location: The role can be based in London-UK, Pretoria (South Africa), Kigali (Rwanda), Lilongwe (Malawi), Stockholm (Sweden) subject to right-to-work eligibility in the respective countries.

Salary: Salaries and benefits will vary based on location and experience. See details below:

• UK: GBP 48,314- 50,729 per year with excellent benefits
• South Africa: ZAR 827,550 - 1,034,437 per year with excellent benefits
• Rwanda: RWF 26,700,728 - 35,196,712 per year with excellent benefits
• Malawi: MK 32,256,911 - 47,555,903 per year with excellent benefits
• Sweden: Competitive salary package

About WaterAid

Want to use your skills in Systems Strengthening to play a vital role in making clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone everywhere?

We need passionate, creative and dedicated people. In return, you will be encouraged and empowered to be yourself at your very best. Together, we will make a bigger difference.

Join WaterAid as Systems Strengthening Senior Advisor to change normal for millions of people so they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty and change their lives for good.

About the Team

The WaterAid Programme Support and Knowledge (PSK) team provides technical advisory expertise across programme design and delivery. It leads and supports organisation-wide programme learning and knowledge management, and facilitates knowledge exchange, fosters and supports internal and external programme and technical partnerships and networks.

The Systems Strengthening Senior Advisor is a senior position in the WASH Systems & Programme Partnerships sub-team, focused on advising and supporting the evolution of WaterAid's systems strengthening approach across all of its work in the WASH and the public health arenas. It also facilitates and provides support for programmatic partnerships, including with utilities.

About the Role

As our Systems Strengthening Senior Advisor, you will strategically lead and shape systems strengthening approach conceptualisation and operationalisation in WaterAid. In this role, you will provide high quality specialist technical analysis, advisory, and support services to the design, inception, implementation, troubleshooting, monitoring, and/or assessments of WaterAid's programming worldwide, at both strategic and operational levels. In collaboration with country, regional and global colleagues, you will co-lead the facilitation of effective capturing and exchange of technical and programme knowledge across the organisation and co-lead the development of relevant standards and guidance. You will also provide strategic and technical input to fundraising, communications, and external engagements.

The Systems Strengthening senior advisor reports to the WASH Systems & Programme Partnerships Senior Manager and their key accountabilities are:

• Provide and coordinate targeted technical support to WaterAid programming to ensure coherent integration of a systems approach into various thematic areas and related interventions.
• Strategically support programme learning and knowledge management on systems related topics
• Steer and strategically support development and application of systems-related programme guidance and standards
• Strategically support fundraising, external engagement, and communications for WaterAid's positioning and strategy resourcing.
• Provide strategic technical insights and contribution to the team, translated into effective annual priorities, plans and budgets - fully integrated within PSK's overall plan and linked to the organisational priorities.

Requirements

To be successful, you'll need:

Essential skills

• Strong technical experience in systems thinking, systems strengthening, system dynamics, complexity, programmatic approach, adaptive management, sustainability, and other inter-related topics for WASH programming in both urban and rural, low-income settings, demonstrated through a progressive career record.
• Relevant technical experience in sustainable development, water, sanitation, hygiene, behaviour change, gender, inclusion, environment and/or other WASH-related topics.
• A relevant post-Graduate degree or equivalent work experience.
• Strong experience in offering technical assistance, consulting, and/or advisory services to empower and to develop capacities in low and middle-income countries.
• Ability to handle highly specialized, unusual, and challenging technical assignments, resolve complex issues in practical and imaginative ways.
• Strong writing ability in English. Experienced in producing practical knowledge products targeting needs of diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to drive tasks forward to completion in a timely manner while maintaining high quality.
• A team player, able to work responsibly, under pressure, and collaboratively across diverse groups and culture.
• A self-starter, able to work independently and drive tasks forward to completion, escalating issues where appropriate.
• Working style that reflects WaterAid's values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation.
• Solid IT skills, particularly with core Microsoft Office software.
• Ability to travel internationally up to 30%.

Although not essential, we also prefer you to have:

• Working knowledge in French, Portuguese, Spanish, and/or any language widely spoken in the countries where WaterAid has programming.
• Experience of formation and nurturing of virtual communities of practices and networks.
• Experience of conducting and/or managing research.
• Sound knowledge of WASH and related development issues such as sustainability, rights and equality.

View the full job description here

Closing Date: Shortlisting and interviews may take place on a rolling basis and the application process will close if a suitable candidate is found prior to the advertised closing date of 14th March 2025

How to Apply: Click 'Apply'. Please apply by submitting your CV and a Cover Letter. Please answer the following questions within the application form:

1)Can you please describe how you would apply your top 3 skills in undertaking this role? not more than 200 words

2)"The traditional model of delivery for water supply, sanitation and hygiene services is arguably broken and has failed". What is your view on this statement (provide justification)? What do you see as the model(s) for the future? Based on your experience, what would be the role for State/non state actors, non-traditional partners in the model(s) you have outlined - Not more than 350 words.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application? At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well.

Pre-employment screening: To apply for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to the applicable laws in the respective countries to comply with our Safer Recruitment policy. All our UK-based vacancies require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Benefits

As an organisation WaterAid is committed to creating an environment where you can thrive and be yourself at your very best. So, in addition to our inspiring global mission and engaging work environment, we have a generous benefit package to help you take care of your health, happiness and wellbeing.

Our Commitment
Our People Promise:
We will work with passion and focus to ensure safe and sustainable water, toilets and hygiene are available to everyone, everywhere. WaterAid is a place of purpose - where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have. We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to put the wellbeing of our people first, to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.

Equal opportunities:
We are an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and are dedicated to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions and ways of life. This includes, but is not limited to, race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, national or social origin, health status, and economic or social situation.
Safeguarding:
We are also committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously.