Head of WASH Strategy, Programme Effectiveness and Learning at WaterAid Nigeria

WaterAid is an international non-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people break free from poverty and disease, unlock their potential and change their lives for good through improved access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid started its operation in Nigeria in 1995. Since then it has successfully executed several intervention programmes as outlined by its objectives and has made impact in the lives of the very poor. WaterAid with the country office in Abuja currently works in Bauchi, Enugu and Plateau States with funding from various donors and partners.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head of WASH Strategy, Programme Effectiveness and Learning

Location: Abuja (FCT)
Pay Band: Grade G1
Contract term: Fixed-term
Job type: Full-time (On-site)
Report to: Country Director
Manages: PMER Manager, PMER officers, SPEL Intern

Job Purpose

• Accountability for effective CP programme monitoring, thematic reviews and assurance oflinkages between strategy and delivery rest with this role. 
• The SPEL Department leads the team responsible for designing and implementing programme performance tracking; learning and adapting; monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management architecture at strategic and programmatic levels. 
• All of these processes anchor and enable the organization’s mono-thematic focus on WASH and its thought leadership’

Accountabilities
Programme Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Ensure the country program meets WaterAid global programme accountability commitments and ensure improved planning, monitoring and evaluation practices as well as data quality and use of data within the CP. 
• As part of this, champion an organizational culture shift from a focus on data being primarily for donor reporting or counting user numbers to using data for learning, programmatic course correction, sector influencing and other strategic decisions
• Ensure the utilization of standard tools for writing analytical reports that will inform decision making and meets all the standard criteria for data quality dimensions.
• Responsible for developing and implementing processes that ensure all CP plans and activities are aligned with the CP strategy and for building effective collaborations with respective thematic leads to ensure that annual plans, sub strategies and other planning documents are developed in full alignment with the CP strategy
• Provide inputs into the design stages of program proposals, budgets, log frames, indicators, and measurement methodologies, plans and tools.
• Accountable for a coordinated monitoring of strategy implementation; conduct of strategy reviews and evaluations (periodic and midterm strategy reviews; Country Programme Evaluations etc.) and for tracking the implementation of actions plans agreed from strategy reviews and evaluations including sustainability actions.
• Ensure Programme Monitoring, evaluation and reporting (PMER) processes and systems are functioning effectively in the CP, advocate and champion full utilization of WaterAid Programme
• System (WAPS) in the CP and support CP colleagues to achieve this. Accountable for the CP fulfilment of all requirements of the PMER core procedures.
• Provide input to International, Regional, National and State level WASH sectoral initiatives as required, emanating from relevant WaterAid’s expertise and experience.
• Identify, monitor and report unmet needs of WANG and partners related to Programme
• Monitoring, evaluation and reporting; Explore the potential of WANG to address those needs within the parameters of the CP strategy, processes and systems

Team, Department and People Leadership:

• Support the recruitment of competent staff and effectively manage the team to deliver high performance; develop team members in order to maximize their contribution to the team and organization.
• Coach, guide, and mentor leaders of sub teams within the department so that they are effective as leaders and managers in managing their teams.
• Create and maintain a positive environment conducive for high performance of the department.
• Accountable for forecasting and developing periodic budgets for the department ; manage day to day expenses in a manner that demonstrates WaterAid value of accountability and provide periodic budget management reports as may be required.
• Responsible for proactively seeking and optimizing opportunities to increase WaterAid’ Nigeria’s image, visibility and profile as a leader in the international NGO and WASH sector.

Research and Knowledge Management:

• Develop the strategic framework for the generation, dissemination and use of research and knowledge products, coordinating the processes that would help identify/generate cross-cutting opportunities for sharing this knowledge and projecting WANG’s niche as a source of leading-edge knowledge and research required to catalyse change in the WASH sector in Nigeria and across the region
• Provide direct leadership to assessments and research aimed at generating strong evidence base for WANG’s programmes, as well as to inform WANG’s influencing and advocacy for WASH sector improvement both in Nigeria and across the region.

Cross Organisation Collaboration:

• Promote a culture for learning and knowledge management across the organization.
• Encourage effective documentation and sharing of learning through workshops, seminars, exposure visits, sharing meetings etc.
• Demonstrate responsibility as an active member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and contribute to strategic direction, wider organisational processes, decision-making, and management of the Country Programme.
• Promote interaction and collaboration between departments
• Represent WANG in different task groups, working committees, networks, alliances, consortia, workshops and meetings as assigned.
• Deliver other cross organizational projects and/or initiatives as may be required by the Country Director.

Requirements

• University / Master’s Degree in International Development / Development Studies, Social Sciences, or other related discipline
• Minimum of Ten (10) years of prior work experience and at least three (4) years should be in senior level position with responsibility for programme monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• At least Ten (10) years’ experience and comprehensive knowledge of the various dimensions of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programming as a multi sectoral issue within the broader development sector.
• Excellent technical understanding of contemporary Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning methods and practices; hands-on experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
• Strong program/technical and budget management skills, demonstrable experience and ability to develop and review complex budgets required.
• Experience in designing projects and delivering activities under tight completion deadlines; conversant with programme accountability principles and their translation into practice.
• Strong analytical writing and presentation skills
• Experience developing donor-specific grant project log frames and reporting tools, and in applying such tools in reviewing, monitoring and reporting against funder contracts
• Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties. 
• Strong ability to communicate information and ideas effectively and to produce high-quality and accurate documentation.
• Experience of working in a matrix management structure, ability to influence others to achieve results and deliver on time.
• At least five (5) years’ experience leading teams of experienced professionals and effectively managing their performance; Ability to effectively support and challenge colleagues and other stakeholders and to effectively plan, prioritise and co-ordinate the work of the own team and collaborate with other teams
• Ability to work autonomously with minimum supervision and under pressure in response to competing demands.
• Ability to resolve conflicts as required and negotiate effectively with others
• Strong initiative, with a willingness to take on new responsibilities and challenges.
• Commitment to WaterAid’s values and a working style that reflects these.

Desirable skills:

• Strong experience in WASH-related research design and management of research study projects.

Salary and Benefits
Competitive salary package with excellent benefits.

Application Closing Date
9th June, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click here for more information (PDF)