Project Manager

Description

• WaterAid is an international not-for-profit, determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation. Since we started in 1981, we’ve remained resolutely focused on tackling these three essentials that transform people’s lives
• Without all three, people can’t live dignified, healthy lives. With all three, they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty, and change their lives for good. Children grow up healthy and strong, women and men get to earn a living, whole communities start to thrive
• WaterAid is fully committed to protecting those with whom it comes into contact. WaterAid is committed to ensuring that wherever we work in the world there is no tolerance for the abuse of power, privilege or trust. WaterAid reinforces a culture of zero tolerance towards any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation of any kind. The safeguarding of the communities in which we work, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf, is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. We are passionately committed to WaterAid being an organisation where everyone is welcome, respected, included and empowered to be their best. We represent and celebrate the diversity of our staff, partners and everyone with whom we work to create a culture where everyone can reach their full potential. All staff and volunteers are required to share in this commitment through our Global Code of Conduct
• We will conduct the most appropriate pre-employment references and checks to ensure high standards are maintained
• WaterAid will carry out disclosure checks for roles that involve direct contact with children and vulnerable adults. Applicants are required to provide details of convictions that, in other circumstances, would be considered spent. For more information about safeguarding at WaterAid, please visit our safeguarding webpage at: https://www.wateraid.org/uk/safeguarding-at-wateraid
• Job purpose: This role exists to provide strategic and operational leadership for the effective delivery of WaterAid Mozambique’s WASH Systems Strengthening Project in Gaza Province, funded under the Multi-stakeholder approach for climate resilience and energy transition (MULTI-CRET) programme
• The Project Manager (Grade E) holds full accountability for project performance, including results delivery, partner management, financial oversight and compliance with donor and WaterAid requirements. The role leads a complex, multi-stakeholder project focused on strengthening institutions, private operators and community accountability mechanisms to deliver reliable, inclusive and climate-resilient WASH services
• Working closely with senior government counterparts, the water regulator, private operators and the implementation partner, the role ensures strong alignment with national sector reform, effective systems strengthening, and sustainable outcomes. The Project Manager contributes to strategic decision-making, risk management and learning at Country Programme level
• Team description: The Programmes Team leads the design, management and delivery of WaterAid Mozambique’s strategic portfolio. The team works across multiple funding streams and partnerships to deliver sustainable WASH outcomes aligned with WaterAid’s Global Strategy and national priorities
• The Project Manager operates with a high degree of autonomy, reporting to the Head of Programmes, and provides leadership across technical, partner and operational teams. The role contributes to broader programme learning, quality assurance and strategic coordination beyond the individual project
• Place of work:  Gaza Province, Mozambique (field-based)
• Pay band:  Grade E
• Contract type:  3 Years Fixed Term
• Reports to:  Programme Manager/head of Programme
• Key Relationships Internal: Country Programme Management Team, Programmes Team, MEAL, Finance and Administration, Technical Advisors
• External: Provincial and District Government Institutions (DPOP, SDPI), AURA (Water Regulatory Authority)
• Implementation Partner (AJOAGO)
• Private Operators, Community Structures and Civil Society Actors
• Budget Responsibility full accountability for project budget management
• Travel:  Regular travel to districts and project sites 60% of the time

Duties

Project Planning, Leadership and Delivery

• Provide overall leadership and accountability for the delivery of project outcomes, ensuring alignment with WaterAid strategy, quality standards and donor requirements
• Lead the inception phase, including strategic planning, validation of assumptions, stakeholder alignment and approval of refined implementation packages (ANO)
• Maintain full responsibility for project planning, delivery, risk management and performance monitoring across all outputs
• Ensure effective sequencing and integration of institutional strengthening, operator performance and community accountability interventions
• Proactively identify strategic, operational and contextual risks and lead mitigation actions
• Lead the preparation and quality assurance of donor narrative and progress reports

Partner Management

• Foster and maintain positive relationships with project partners and relevant stakeholders, including government institutions, NGOs, and community groups
• Establish new partnerships as needed to support project objectives, ensuring adherence to WaterAid’s partnership procedures
• Support partners to implement and monitor activities effectively, strengthening their capacity to achieve project outcomes
• Facilitate inclusive and transparent planning processes that address community needs, focusing on the poor and disadvantaged
• Ensure that partners develop sound financial management systems, with support from the Head of Finance, and submit timely, comprehensive progress and financial reports
• Regularly monitor partners’ project implementation through reports and plans, ensuring targets are met and challenges are addressed

Stakeholder Management and Representation

• Manage and coordinate relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including beneficiaries, contractors, partners, local government, and community organizations
• Sustain engagement and support from key stakeholders, particularly government representatives, through regular advocacy, follow-ups, and oversight
• Monitor and enhance stakeholder coordination mechanisms at provincial, district, and community levels to ensure streamlined project activities
• Maintain professional relationships with government agencies, community leaders, NGOs, and other community-based organizations, such as women's and youth associations and organizations serving people with disabilities
• Actively participate in and contribute to WaterAid’s broader sector engagement efforts, strengthening networks and collaboration in the area

Line Management and Supervision

• Supervise project teams and ensure effective delegation of tasks and responsibilities
• Provide ongoing support and guidance to team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment
• Contribute to staff capacity-building through mentorship and professional development opportunities

Budget Management

• Hold accountability for project budget management, ensuring alignment with planned expenditures and donor requirements
• Oversee procurement and contracting processes in line with delegated authority
• Ensure value-for-money principles are applied across project implementation
• Implement rigorous financial monitoring practices to maintain budget integrity and support the overall financial health of the project

Requisites

• Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Rural Development, Civil Engineering, Water and Sanitation, Environmental Health, Public Administration or related field, or equivalent experience
• Minimum 7 years’ experience managing complex, donor-funded development projects, preferably in WASH or systems-strengthening contexts
• Proven experience providing strategic leadership for multi-stakeholder projects
• Strong experience managing partners, budgets and donor compliance
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with senior government stakeholders
• Strong analytical, planning and decision-making skills
• Excellent written and spoken English; strong working knowledge of Portuguese
• Strong commitment to WaterAid’s values, safeguarding and inclusion principles. project delivery
• Desirable Skills:
• Experience in the WASH sector, specifically sanitation and hygiene initiatives
• Experience with PPP/delegated management models and regulatory or institutional reform
• Strong understanding of GESI, climate resilience and safeguarding in WASH programming
• Experience contributing to learning, influencing or scale-up initiatives

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• Travel Requirements: Commit to spending approximately 60% of time traveling within project areas and attending key stakeholder meetings, ensuring effective on-ground management and relationship-building
• Our People Promise: Everything we do is guided by our values. We want everyone to be treated with dignity and respect, and we champion people’s rights and contributions to achieve a fairer world. We are passionately committed to being an organisation where everyone is welcome, respected, included and empowered to be their best
• We represent and celebrate the diversity of our staff, partners and everyone that we work with to create a culture where everyone can reach their full potential
• 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
• Wherever you work in WaterAid and whatever job you do, you’ll be joining a global network helping people change their own lives with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene

How to Apply

1. Documentation

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae

2. Application

• Send your Documentation to HRCommWAMOZ@wateraid.org with the Subject line “Project Manager”