Head of Water supply & Sanitation Job at WTS Energy

JOB PURPOSE

Lead the planning, development, and execution of new initiatives in the water supply and sanitation and urban/municipal infrastructure development and management, and relevant sector governance reforms across the region. Lead, formulate, and engage in dialogue with the governments and stakeholders concerning water supply and sanitation, and provision of municipal services, urban development issue, including urban planning, urban and municipal infrastructure development and management, and urban environmental management. Lead in identifying, developing, processing, implementing and administering loans, technical assistance (TAs) projects and non-lending products and services (NLPS) in the assigned sector. Work within general policies, principles and goals, working directly with clients.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Policies, Strategy, and Planning

Lead in the water supply and sanitation sector and development of urban sector policy and strategies for urban development, including issues in DMCs, in consultation with relevant government agencies to solutions, including issues related to legal and regulatory framework, in meeting urban development challenges on country, municipal and provincial levels, as well as innovative programs that would accelerate achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Undertake policy dialogue with governments and other donor organizations on water supply and sanitation areas, including in the urban development thematic areas, and promote efficient use of resources and encourage participatory approaches to development planning, financing and sustainability.

Lead and participate in country teams and provide sector inputs for Country Partnership

Strategy (CPS).

Project Processing and Management

Liaise and coordinate with development agencies, lead and support water supply and sanitation and urban development sector operations of the company in upstream portfolio development work, including targeted sector assessments, diagnostics and roadmaps.

Lead in the identification, review and evaluation of water supply and sanitation projects, including urban development, possibly involving moderate to high levels of risk and complexity,

as well as the recommendation of appropriate sector plans and the appropriate loan covenants and action plans.

Ensure key technical, economic, financial, institutional and crosscutting issues are incorporated into projects.

Capacity Building

Lead in conducting capacity building activities in water supply and sanitation sector policies and practices of Executing Agencies (EAs), including urban development.

Knowledge Sharing

Develop and maintain a suitable network in the water supply and sanitation sector to keep abreast of the latest developments and issues.

Substantially contribute to activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building around water supply and sanitation issues.

Develop and maintain a knowledge database on the water sector covering (i) the overall structure of the service, the decentralization process, the role of municipal entities, a list of key service providers and financiers, investment needs over the short, medium and long term, investment trends and key enabling conditions to increase investments in the sector; and (ii) information on best industry practice including the type of technical and operational due diligence needed for project preparation.

Staff Supervision

Take the role of mission leader and supervise the work of mission members and ensure the overall high quality of outputs and reports.

Supervise the performance of reporting staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.

Ensure the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Master’s Degree or post-graduate degree in Engineering, Science, Finance, Economics, Management or related disciplines. A university degree in Water Resources, Hydrology, or Civil Engineering, preferably with complementary training/work experience in other subject areas in water supply and sanitation or other related fields.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

1. At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in urban development, urban sector development issues, or related areas of urban water supply, sanitation and wastewater projects with strong focus on operational and technical matters and in project administration, and relevant experience in design of multi-sector projects, practical knowledge and experience in integration of financial, economic, social, institutional and safeguard requirements and issues in project design.
2. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
3. International experience working in development in several countries, preferably in the East Africa

CORE COMPETENCIES

Application of Technical Knowledge and Skills

1. Regularly shares knowledge on new international best practice trends in comparator situations
2. Proactively applies relevant international best practices to own work
3. Convinces others to adopt international best practice by explaining the situational relevance and benefits

Client Orientation

1. Helps colleagues work effectively with clients in different contexts and from diverse backgrounds and country situations
2. Adapts own approach and style when interacting with clients, as opposed to requiring them to adapt
3. Draws upon international best practice in exploring solutions with clients
4. Confirms the clients’ understanding and agreement before progressing

Achieving Results and Problem Solving

1. Draws on own and others’ multi-country experience to identify viable courses of action when conducting analyses
2. Helps internal and external clients achieve quality results beyond presenting problems and precedent
3. Highlights possible solutions for project issues based on relevant multi-country and/or multi- client experience
4. Regularly contributes insights and experiences to colleagues in the Division to help them achieve quality results
5. Overcomes unexpected difficulties and challenges to produce desired outcomes

Working Together

1. Maintains collaborative relationships within the Department
2. Works effectively with diverse colleagues in own and other Divisions and Departments
3. Flexibly alters positions and adjusts previously stated points of view to support the group consensus
4. Follows through on team priorities in the absence of a team leader

Communication and Knowledge Sharing

1. Checks the audience’s level of understanding and awareness of required follow up actions
2. Consistently seeks and addresses feedback on own performance
3. Creates knowledge products endorsed for wider distribution based on lessons and multi-country experience
4. Independently amends and clarifies messages and documents

Innovation and Change

1. Actively supports work improvement and/or organizational change by work and deed
2. Develops and adopts change plans to support Division initiatives on which one works
3. Considers current and future client needs in proposing ideas
4. Vocalizes early support for change

Recommends inputs to new policies, systems and processes in immediate work area.