About Water.org
1 in 9 people around the world lack access to safe water and 1 in 3 people don’t have access to a toilet. We are working every day to change this. We are Water.org. We’re here to bring water and sanitation to the world. We want to make it safe, accessible and cost-effective because we believe that water is the way to empowering a bright future that we can all share in, worldwide. We are an international nonprofit organization based in Kansas City, Missouri that has positively transformed millions of lives around the world through access to safe water and sanitation. Founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, we pioneer market-driven financial solutions to the global water crisis. For more than 25 years, we’ve been providing women hope, children health and families a future.
Summary
The Insights & Innovations team at Water.org is data and evidence driven and committed to rigorous monitoring and evaluation processes to capture and communicate information and insights. The Insights & Innovation team measures the performance of our work, identifies potential risks, and validates resulting change that often occurs in complex environments. The team collaborates across the Global Impact department and the broader organization to generate a creditable and actionable evidence base to advance insights, inform and guide our work, drive innovation, accelerate learning curve, influence action, and contribute to thought leadership.
The Lead Analyst is primarily responsible for exploring and advancing an evidence base to capture Water.org’s impact in Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia through the completion of the associated grant (approximately two years). Through the compilation and analysis of the evidence base, the Lead Analyst will generate insights on our approaches, channels, and financial mechanisms by synthesizing the evidence base to date for internal and external practitioners to effectively break down systemic barriers between those living in poverty and affordable capital. These insights will also enable Water.org to adapt our strategy to maximize the potential of our work. Furthermore, the Lead Analyst will support Water.org in advancing the case for water and sanitation services (WSS) financing by understanding the degree to which systems changes have occurred and their potential for accelerating progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. Continuation of this position will be reviewed after the completion of the associated grant (approximately two years).
The Lead Analyst will be based in Kansas City, MO.
Key responsibilities
Advance Learnings and Key Insights (55%)
- Coalesce and synthesize the evidence base since 2012 across Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia; inclusive of lessons learned, best practices, insights from Water.org’s approaches, channels, and financial mechanisms.
- Produce compelling and actionable materials for different audiences; including: cross-country comparative analysis report, learning notes, and business case studies.
- Develop charts, figures, and analytical text for briefs, reports of research findings, and presentations for internal and external audiences.
- Design compelling materials that make the evidence base actionable, ranging from technical to high level summaries depending on purpose and audiences, articulating the market and business value propositions of water and sanitation finance to institutions to expand channels and drive capital.
- Identify external stakeholders and collaborators to co-produce external facing information including articles and papers.
- Share and publish learnings and insights via conferences, stakeholder meetings, papers, articles, etc.
- Identify, engage, and manage 3rd parties to support advancing the evidence base.
- Work closely and coordinate with internal staff and identified stakeholders.
Systems Change Evaluation (40%)
- Design and implement a systems change (policy and practice) evaluation across Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia.
- Develop the evaluation’s methodology and tools that involve qualitative and quantitative techniques.
- Conduct research through key informant interviews, partnership mapping, MIS data, and other appropriate documentation.
- Analyze data and synthesize findings.
- Produce written and actionable materials including reports, briefs, recommendations.
- Identify, engage, and manage 3rd parties that would support the evaluation.
- Work closely and coordinate with internal staff and identified stakeholders.
Project Oversight (5%)
- Provide project workplan and budget management for the internal team.
- Oversee project budget to ensure proper reporting and application to appropriate budget categories.
- Coordinate and oversee internal individual contributors’ involvement and deliverables relating to the specific assigned project.
Scope data
- Distill and synthesize learning and insights across teams.
- Disseminate knowledge, learning, and insights to internal and external audiences.
- Coordinate development and refreshing of collateral department-wide.
Skills and competencies
- Communicates Effectively – Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
- Collaborates – Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
- Interpersonal Savvy – Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
- Manages Ambiguity – Manages ambiguity by operating effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear.
- Nimble Learning – Actively learning through experimentation when taking new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.
- Drives Results – Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
- Customer Focus – Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
- Self-development – Actively seeking new ways to grow and be challenged using other formal and informal development channels.
- Optimize Work Processes – Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
- Instills Trust – Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
- Financial Stewardship – Demonstrates fiscally responsible decision making as applicable to one’s role.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in political science, international development, finance, economics, development and communications, or an appropriate related field is preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience with in-depth research, analysis, and writing on policy and practice changes and/or development programs.
- Strong experience with qualitative research, design, methods and analysis; including outcome harvesting or similar methods.
- Knowledgeable with quantitative research, design, methods and analysis
- Demonstrated experience translating complex topics into clear, concise, and compelling content.
- Experience in conducting literature reviews.
- Ability to design learning materials & presentations, as well as developing data and concept visualizations.
- Advanced project management skills required with highly developed ability to research and synthesize results.
- Previous experience coordinating and leading cross-functional meetings.
- Strong knowledge of MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, design software a plus.
- Understanding of international development, with experience in the microfinance and/or water and sanitation sector a significant plus.
Travel requirement
- Up to 15% of domestic and global travel.
Salary and benefits
This position offers full-time benefits, including medical/dental insurance, life and disability insurance, retirement program and periodic review for merit and incentive pay based on organizational and personal achievement.
Water.org is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing an inclusive environment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy status, military and veteran status, genetic information, and any other status protected by law. We provide qualified applicants and employees reasonable accommodation, when necessary, to enable individuals to complete the application process and/or perform the essential functions of the job.
