Job Description
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Job title
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State Programme Director
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Grade
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4
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Location
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Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
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Reporting to
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Director - Programmes
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Reporting from
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State and District team
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Contract Duration
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Three years
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About WaterAid India:
Jal Seva Charitable Foundation (JSCF) is registered in India as a not-for-profit company under Chapter 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. JSCF, is an associate member of the WaterAid federation and uses the brand name ‘WaterAid’ in India.
WaterAid India seeks to improve the quality of life of 5,000,000 households – with a special emphasis on the vulnerable by 2029 through the provision of climate-resilient and sustainable WASH services via demonstration, institution strengthening, and the effective utilization of public resources. We work in rural and urban areas and seek to deepen our presence in states we operate in and to work in small towns. Thanks to our amazing supporters, we have reached millions of people with these three essentials – clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene – enabling communities to unlock their potential to break free from the cycle of poverty and to change lives for good.
We will not stop. Not until clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene are a normal part of everyday life for everyone, everywhere.
WaterAid India’s (WAI) country office is based in New Delhi with State Offices in Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Patna and Raipur. We currently have a presence in ten states in the country.
WAI’s Programme focus in the next five years is on ensuring access to safe and assured drinking water in the households, as well as safely managed sanitation at both the household and habitation level. Further, we seek to ensure that anganwadi’s, schools and health care facilities have adequate and appropriate water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. Finally, we seek to create integrated water and sanitation solutions in small towns. In all of these efforts, ensuring climate resilience of infrastructure and systems is critical. We seek to do this through demonstration and the provision of technical and knowledge support to governments at all levels who can facilitate adoption on scale. Implementation is primarily through our own field teams.
Role Purpose & Key Responsibilities:
The State Programme Director provides leadership and strategic direction for WaterAid India’s Direct Implementation Programme in MP. The role ensures high-quality, compliant, and impactful WASH programmes aligned with national strategy and state priorities.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & State Portfolio Management
- Develop and execute state programme strategy aligned with national priorities.
- Translate objectives into multi-year and annual plans with clear outcomes and budgets.
- Represent WaterAid India externally, engaging government, donors, and partners.
- Build strategic relationships to strengthen WASH systems and enable scale.
Programme Delivery & Financial Stewardship
- Ensure timely, cost-effective delivery of programmes per plans and donor agreements.
- Oversee planning, budgeting, and financial discipline.
- Monitor performance using evidence for continuous improvement.
- Ensure accurate reporting and compliance with organisational policies.
Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Adhere to governance standards, financial controls, and statutory requirements.
- Identify and mitigate operational, financial, and safeguarding risks.
- Maintain documentation and audit readiness.
Partnerships & System Strengthening
- Lead partnerships with government, civil society, and technical agencies.
- Promote convergence with government programmes for sustainability and scale.
Inter-Departmental Coordination
- Collaborate with Resource Mobilisation, PMEL, HR, Finance, and Communications teams for donor management, monitoring, compliance, and branding.
People Leadership & Learning
- Lead and motivate a multidisciplinary team, fostering a high-performing culture.
- Build technical and leadership capabilities.
- Promote organisational learning and share insights across teams.
Eligibility & Requirements
Education
- Postgraduate degree in Management, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Rural Development, Engineering, or related fields.
Experience
- 12–18 years in large-scale development programmes; 3–5 years in senior leadership.
- Experience in WASH, public health, or allied sectors.
- Proven ability to manage budgets, compliance, and multidisciplinary teams.
Competencies & Attributes
- Strong execution and operational management under Direct Implementation.
- Ability to build trust with government and partners.
- Sound judgement in risk management and decision-making.
- High integrity, resilience, and communication skills.
- Strategic thinking with ability to translate vision into action.
Additional Skills
- Knowledge of MP’s development context and WASH challenges.
- Fluency in English and Hindi; Marathi preferred.
What Success Looks Like in the First 12 Months
- Clear control over programme delivery, budgets, and risks.
- Improved consistency and quality across districts.
- Strong governance and compliance.
- High-performing state team with clear ownership.
- Strengthened government partnerships for sustainability and scale.
How We Select & What We Value
WaterAid India is committed to building leadership teams that combine integrity, capability, and purpose.
We look for leaders who demonstrate:
- Integrity and accountability.
- Respect for people and communities.
- Execution excellence and systems thinking.
- Learning orientation and adaptability.
- Alignment with WaterAid’s mission and values.
Why Join Us
- Be part of a mission-driven organisation creating large-scale impact.
- Lead people and operations for a growing 350+ team.
- Shape workplace culture and operational excellence.
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.
All hiring is conducted directly by our internal team and via official communication channels, and we do not authorize any third party, individual, agency or external consultant to act on our behalf in any capacity related to recruitment. We do not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process including application, interview, selection or onboarding. Any communication claiming to offer employment with WaterAid India in exchange for money or through unauthorized channels should be considered fraudulent. WaterAid India will not be responsible for any loss or damage incurred by responding to such unofficial communication.
If you come across any suspicious recruitment posts in our name on social media pages or WhatsApp groups or receive such emails, calls, or messages on any medium, please verify them by writing to us at waindiahr@wateraid.org . We reserve the right to initiate legal action against individuals or entities misrepresenting the organization or engaging in recruitment-related fraud.
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