Project Lead

Project Lead - National Water Compact Delivery Accelerator

Contract: 18 Months Fixed-term contract, Full-time, contingent upon successfully securing project funding, target start date May 2026.

Location: The role can be based in London (United Kingdom), Accra (Ghana), Dar es Salaam / Dodoma (Tanzania), Lusaka (Zambia), or Lilongwe (Malawi), subject to right to work eligibility in the respective countries.

In the UK, we support and enjoy a hybrid working environment. A minimum of 40% of working time is spent face to face, either in the London office, for coordination, collaboration and connectivity across the team, or as a result of external engagement or travel for WaterAid.

Salaries & Benefits: Salaries and benefits will vary by country, depending on the successful candidate's location and experience. See further details below:

UK: GBP 71,481 per annum with excellent benefits*

Zambia: ZMW 1,373,933 – ZMW 1,919,714 per annum with excellent benefits.

Ghana: GHS 937,208 – GHS 1,310,800 per annum with excellent benefits.

Tanzania: TZS 185,654,036 – TZS 241,350,247 per annum with excellent benefits.

Malawi: MWK 103,443,842 - MWK 152,809,944 per annum with excellent benefits.

*We offer competitive, market-aligned starting salaries. While most roles are offered at the advertised starting salary, we may adjust this in exceptional cases depending on a candidate’s experience, skills, and potential.

Change starts with water. Change starts with you.

Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid exists to change that – for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people’s potential and create a fairer future.

About WaterAid

We’re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.

About the Team

The role will report into the Programme Design and Management Team Lead, located in the Programme Operations Team, one of three support teams within the International Programmes Department of WaterAid UK.

The Programme Operations Team enables the effective management of the International Programmes Department through ensuring IPD Teams have access to robust high quality management policies, systems, process, tools and capabilities that work to support the delivery of programmes, enable the effective management of risk, and ensure strong financial planning and management.

About the Role

The Project Lead will provide overall strategic, technical and delivery leadership for the National Water Compact Delivery Accelerator, a multi‑country initiative supporting governments to translate high‑level political WASH commitments into credible, investable project pipelines.

The role combines senior project leadership with deep expertise in WASH institutional development and financing, ensuring the Accelerator delivers against its staged milestones, meets the expectations of international financing institutions, and positions partner governments to successfully enter formal investment appraisal pathways.

In this role, you will:

1. Strategic leadership and delivery oversight

• Provide overall leadership for the National Water Compact Delivery Accelerator across all participating countries.
• Translate the approved delegated authority, staged approach and theory of change into effective, sequenced delivery.

2. WASH institutional development and financing leadership

• Lead the Accelerator’s approach to institutional strengthening, governance reform and financing readiness.
• Ensure robust diagnostics of sector constraints (institutional, financial, regulatory, macro‑fiscal and political economy).
• Support and guide the establishment or adaptation of the appropriate multistakeholder platforms.

3. Government and senior stakeholder engagement

• Alongside country teams, act as the primary senior interface with ministries responsible for WASH, finance, planning and local government.
• Support and reinforce high‑level political ownership of National Water Compacts and project pipelines.

4. Project governance, quality assurance and risk

• Establish and chair (or participate in) appropriate project governance and decision‑making groups.
• Maintain oversight of delivery quality, ensuring consistency and credibility across countries.

5. Team leadership and coordination

• Lead and manage the core delivery team, including technical specialists and country team embedded roles.
• Provide direction and mentorship to senior technical staff, including the WASH Institutional Management Specialist and the Public-Private Financing Specialist.

6. Learning, replication and strategic positioning

• Oversee synthesis of learning, guidance and tools emerging from the Accelerator.
• Contribute to organisational positioning on WASH financing, national compacts and mission‑oriented delivery.

Requirements

To be successful, you’ll need:

• Substantial senior‑level experience in WASH institutional reform, sector governance and financing.
• Demonstrated track record of leading complex, multi‑country projects involving governments and financing institutions.
• Deep understanding of investment preparation processes, MDB appraisal expectations and blended finance approaches.
• Proven ability to operate credibly with senior government officials, donors and international finance actors.
• Strong strategic judgement, political sensitivity and leadership presence.

Although not essential, we’d prefer you to have:

• Experience leading or supporting national WASH compacts, sector reform programmes or investment accelerators.
• Familiarity with World Bank, African Development Bank or similar MDB processes.
• Experience shaping mission‑oriented or systems‑change programmes.

Closing date: Applications will close 12:00 PM UK time on 10th April 2026. Shortlisting and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis, and the role may close earlier if a suitable candidate is found. We therefore encourage you to apply at an early stage.

How to Apply: Click Apply to answer the pre-screening questions, upload your CV.

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 role, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to local law and WaterAid’s Safer Recruitment policy. All UK based roles require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

Benefits

As a global organisation, WaterAid is committed to creating an environment where you can thrive and be yourself at your very best. Alongside our inspiring mission and meaningful work, we offer a range of benefits tailored to each country’s context and policies. These will be shared during the process

Our Global Commitment:

Our people promise

We will work with passion and focus to make sure everyone everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. 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 be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.

Safeguarding

We are 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 to 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. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks).

Together, we’ll change the world through water.

Join us and be part of the change!