Operations Manager, West Nile

Water Mission is a Christian engineering nonprofit that builds safe water solutions for people in developing countries, refugee camps, and disaster areas. Since 2001, Water Mission has served more than 8 million people in 60 countries, sharing safe water and the message of God’s love. Working at Water Mission is as much a calling as it is a career, and we are searching for people with the courage, passion, and drive to help us change the world. Read more about our Statement of Faith and Our Christian Mission.

This position is located in West Nile, Uganda. Recruitment efforts are managed through Peake International. We request you submit your interest to Peake International before completing the application. Go to Peake International here: Home | Peake International

What is the opportunity?

Water Mission Uganda has two main focus regions in Uganda: Luuka District and surrounding areas, and refugee zones in northern Uganda (West Nile). All Water Mission Uganda work in Uganda is led by the Country Program Director, whose office is in Jinja, Uganda. Work in West Nile is overseen by the Water Mission Uganda Humanitarian Response Manager (HRM) who reports directly to the Country Program Director.

The Operations Manager’s role is to lead operations of critical WASH activities and systems maintenance to ensure reliable and responsive delivery of safe water and healthy sanitation for 500,000 refugees in Bidibidi, Rhino, and Imvepi refugee settlements. Responsibilities include leading, teaching, mentoring, and managing Water Mission Uganda staff to help ensure adherence to the mission, vision, values, and standards of Water Mission across the Water Mission Uganda’s Humanitarian Response Program in West Nile. Duties include formulating strategy, leading staff in two offices to achieve consistent and reliable levels of excellence in operations, and ensuring all work is conducted in line with Water Mission’s values and standards. The Operations Manager is directly responsible for Water Mission Uganda’s West Nile WASH Team Leaders and, along with the Humanitarian Response Manager, is responsible for the success of the West Nile program.

As a key leader in Water Mission Uganda, the Operations Manager is responsible for leading staff in developing a biblical worldview culture that leads to God-honouring excellence in all their work and reinforcing the following: providing accurate data, empowering staff to have the skills and mindset needed to acknowledge mistakes or problems as opportunities to find appropriate solutions, and empowering staff to consistently work for excellence in solutions that are consistent with Water Mission’s mission, vision, values, and standards.

This position is a full-time, fixed-term contract based in the refugee operation area in northern Uganda in both Arua and Yumbe with frequent travel within the Water Mission Humanitarian Response Program areas (Rhino Camp, Imvepi, and Bidibidi).

A successful Operations Manager will:

• Overseeing the overall day-to-day Humanitarian Response Program implementation to ensure strict compliance with Water Mission and its partner policies and procedures.
• Maintaining a strong Christian witness and model servant leadership to colleagues, partners, the communities we serve, and the public.
• In close collaboration with Team Leads, assess WASH needs, lead design of projects, write proposals, and conduct effective project management. Ensure timely reporting to our partners and Water Mission Management, while meeting objectives, timelines, and budgets.
• Provide technical leadership, strategic direction, and ensure excellence in WASH service delivery.
• Encourage beneficiary (refugee and host communities) participation and liaising with stakeholders.
• Implement appropriate and effective WASH strategies in consultation with other WASH staff and Team leaders.
• Set clear objectives and indicators for WASH activities in collaboration with the team.
• Support for coordination and representation at interagency and WASH sector meetings.
• Monitor and supervise WASH activities, and oversee technical design, execution, and evaluation.
• Contributing to and help lead the spiritual life of the team through leading devotions and prayers. Be a Christlike servant leader and an encourager to staff.
• Ensure all operations are carried on in an appropriate, cost-effective way.
• Improve operational management systems, processes, and best practices.
• Help the organization’s processes remain legally compliant.
• Formulate strategic and operational objectives.
• Evaluate financial data with the goal to improve feasibility efficiency and provide innovative WASH services.
• Perform quality control and monitor production of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Participate in the recruitment, training, mentoring, and supervising of staff.

What is required?

Relationship and Alignment:

• Alignment with Water Mission’s Statement of Faith and core values of Love, Excellence, and Integrity.

Education Qualification and Experience:

• BSc. Degree in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related fields with extensive
• Previous Experience implementing WASH Programs in Humanitarian settings.
• A master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Five plus(5+) years’ experience in WASH implementation with a focus on operational improvement in humanitarian settings with INGOs.
• Self-starter who solves problems and knows when and how to ask for assistance and counsel. Proven work experience as an operations Manager or similar role.
• Passionate desire to serve the most vulnerable people of concern.
• A personal growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Experience living in West Nile a plus.

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of organizational effectiveness and operations management.
• Experience budgeting and forecasting.
• Familiarity with business and financial principles.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Developed leadership ability.
• Good planning and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a high level of integrity.
• Managing teams and performance.
• Ability to make field travels to remote locations within Uganda.