Job information

Background:

The Global Water & Sanitation Center (GWSC) was formally established in 2022, a legacy of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the Asian Institute of Technology’s (AIT) partnership to host and mainstream citywide inclusive sanitation (CWIS) and advance the WASH agenda in South and Southeast Asia. The center serves as a platform in bringing together individuals and experts with bright minds to construct innovative solutions and fresh ideas to solve challenges and inequities in the WASH sector. It envisions to accelerate the access to reliable, inclusive, and sustainable WASH in the region by 2030.

GWSC is systematically designed to deliver different services to the government, international financial institutions, and development partners through its seven hubs. The Technical Assistance Hub (TA-Hub) provides technical advisory in planning, designing, scaling, and implementing City-wide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS). The Transformative Technologies Commercialization Hub (TTC-Hub) aims to increase the deployment of transformative technologies, such as Reinvented Toilet and Omni Processor, whenever appropriate. The Data Innovation Hub (DI-Hub) aims at transforming water and sanitation landscape in the region by instilling data-driven evidence-based decision-making such as Integrated Municipal Information System (IMIS) and improvement of the National Sanitation Dashboard (NSD). The Performance and Proficiency Testing Hub (PPT-Hub) offers a range of services, including testing the performance of wastewater treatment products, conducting proficiency testing, and performing wastewater, sludge and fecal sludge analysis. A Climate Adaptive Technology Hub offers support, resources, and guidance on how to design, operate and manage water and sanitation systems and services that are climate adaptive. GWSC also provides support and guidance to our partners and stakeholders on how to integrate GESI into their Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) policies and practices through our GESI-Hub.

The center is inviting applications from the qualified candidates for the position ‘Chief Operating Officer’.

Reporting to: Co-Directors

General Job Description and Responsibilities:

The COO will oversee the day-to-day operations of the entire GWSC, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and operational efficiency. The COO will work closely with the Co-Directors to shape the center’s vision, strategy, and expansion. Key responsibilities include overseeing hub operations, driving stakeholder engagement, fundraising, and ensuring compliance with donor and stakeholder expectations. All staff shall report and work closely with the COO. The responsibilities are as follows:

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership & Organizational Development

• Collaborate with the Directors to set and drive the center's vision and operational strategy.
• Translate strategic goals into actionable steps for all hubs (TA-Hub, TTC-Hub, DI-Hub, PPT-Hub, etc.), ensuring their sustainability and effectiveness.
• Oversee center-wide goal-setting, performance management, and operational planning, ensuring each hub achieves its objectives.
• Build and maintain a high-performance culture, fostering a collaborative, inclusive environment for staff.

2. Operational & Financial Oversight:

• Lead the overall administration, contract management, and financial operations of the center, including budget planning and resource allocation.
• Ensure compliance with grant terms and donor requirements, particularly regarding reporting, budgeting, and deliverables across all hubs.
• Work with the Deputy Chief Operating Officers (D-COOs) to ensure day-to-day hub management, including grant compliance, staff supervision, and timely deliverables.
• Identify and manage risks associated with center operations and projects, implementing corrective actions when necessary.

3. Fundraising & Resource Mobilization:

• Develop and lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy to secure new funding sources and ensure the sustainability of the center beyond existing BMGF grants.
• Identify potential donors, build relationships with stakeholders in the funding landscape, and cultivate partnerships with governments, development partners, and financial institutions.
• Oversee fundraising efforts across all hubs, ensuring alignment with the center’s strategic goals, and support D-COOs in hub-specific resource mobilization.
• Coordinate proposal development, grant applications, and reporting to ensure transparency and donor satisfaction.

4. Stakeholder Engagement & External Representation:

• Represent the center at international forums, conferences, and donor meetings, building global relationships to further GWSC's mission.
• Cultivate partnerships with international organizations, donors, governments, and private sector partners to drive innovation and collaboration in the WASH sector.
• Ensure effective communication of the center’s progress, impact, and innovation with stakeholders, partners, and the broader development community.

5.  Project Management & Hub Coordination:

• Oversee the planning, coordination, and implementation of all projects under the center, ensuring projects meet their objectives and deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Support the D-COOs in managing hub-specific projects and deliverables, ensuring compliance with grant timelines, financials, and reporting.
• Lead the development of cross-functional teams and ensure the effective integration of resources across the center to meet project goals.

 Qualifications and Experience:

• Education: Doctoral degree in a related field, with exposure to management and leadership studies.

• Experience: At least 10 years of professional experience in Asian region executing development projects, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior management role. Experience in Asia and with international organizations is preferred.

• Skills:
  • Strong leadership and organizational development abilities.
  • Proven track record of managing complex, multi-partner projects with external stakeholders, including governments, donors, and international institutions.
  • Demonstrated expertise in fundraising, proposal writing, and resource mobilization.
  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to represent the center at international forums.
  • Experience in managing multidisciplinary teams, operations, and financial oversight.