About Aguaconsult
Aguaconsult is an Employee-Owned company with an excellent brand and international profile delivering high-quality consulting services for a range of strategic clients in the water and sanitation sector. Building on over 20 years of experience, we are going through a planned growth phase and looking for Juniors to help deliver a pipeline of technically interesting and strategically important assignments.
Aguaconsult specialises in the delivery of advisory services in the water and sanitation sector in developing countries. We support governments, development partners (bi-laterals, multilaterals, and foundations), as well as NGOs and research institutes across the project cycle: from policy development, project design, implementation, and evaluation. Working across the globe, we provide research and advisory support on institutional and financing arrangements, including legal and policy framework, private sector participation and business model support.
About the Position
Aguaconsult is looking for a Junior WASH Specialist/Researcher to join its small team of water and sanitation experts as part of a planned growth phase. The position involves working under the supervision of Aguaconsult staff in business development, project management, as well as direct input in technical and advisory services. Working initially in a support role, depending on experience level and performance, it is expected that the candidate will progress towards more autonomy in their responsibilities over time.
Specific roles and responsibilities are as follows:
- Review potential project opportunities and identify calls for proposals;
- Assist in the preparation or technical and financial proposals;
- Assist with project management: plan and coordinate project activities, sub-contracts drafting, follow-up on project outputs, liaise with clients and associated consultants;
- Documentation review and interviews (remote or in-country where required);
- Data analysis, business and financial modelling;
- Desk research for specific project content involving review of documents and data sets
- Report editing and drafting;
- Written outputs for projects and website.
- Assist with the co-ordination and management of projects;
- Co-ordination of field data collection;
- Assistance with the preparation of other communication materials: PowerPoint presentations, blog posts etc.;
- Attend conference and sector meetings, when required;
- Assist with general administrative and content-related tasks for the company as required.
Profile
The candidate will have a keen interest to work in international development, especially on social and environmental issues. They will be educated to master’s level with relevant degrees and will have some relevant experience working in a consultancy, NGO, government or development agency, or research organisation. They will have good oral communication and an excellent command of written English.
Junior staff will have an opportunity to work on projects over a range of WASH areas (see our website for focal area details), but it is hoped that the successful candidates will also have some experience or an interest in developing their knowledge in one of the three following themes:
- Sanitation and particularly urban sanitation (including City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation).
- Climate change and/or climate resilience for water and sanitation services
- Financing for water and sanitation services.
Summary
| Post: | Junior WASH Specialist/ Researcher |
| Conditions: | Full time (40hrs),Permanent contract or 2-year contract if required by the Graduate work visa (both subject to 3-month probationary period) |
| Location: | Contracted in the UK (UK tax resident).Wivenhoe Office with possibility of hybrid remote working (split between Home and Office as mutually agreed).· We encourage staff choice regarding hybrid work pattern; but with a requirement to spend a period of full-time work in our Essex office during the first term of employment. · Post probation, if you are not based full time in the office, then a hybrid pattern of regular periods working in person with the team will be mutually agreed. E.g. 2 days a week or 1 week in 4 in the office when not travelling. · Up to 12 weeks international travel per year for experienced staff (generally increases with experience – expected 1-2 weeks in the first year) |
| Remuneration: | Salary – Grade B Junior (B.1 to B.6) equates to £25,412 to £33,991 for FY 2024.Starting salary B.1 (but dependent on relevant experience and profile).We offer a comprehensive remuneration package; other benefits include 28 days leave plus 8 days bank holidays; 8% employer pension contribution; annual profit-sharing bonus scheme (qualification after year one of employment and increasing over time with significant uplifts after 4, 7 and 10 years with the company). |
| Aguaconsult as an employee-owned company: | On a day-to-day basis, Aguaconsult is run like any other business. The main differences are:- Aguaconsult is owned by a trust that represents the interests of all current and future staff.- Aguaconsult does not have shareholders; any profit is invested back into the company and an annual profit share payment can be made to current staff depending on financial performance across the whole company. |
| Selection Criteria | Essential | Desirable |
| 1-4 years’ experience in a consultancy, NGO, government or development agency, or research organisation | Yes | |
| Advanced business level language skills in French or Spanish | Yes | |
| Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite programmes | Yes | |
| Experience of living and working in the Global South | Yes | |
| Advanced skill level in data analysis or data analysis programme | Yes | |
| Bachelor’s and master’s degree(example subject areas include – Water & Sanitation, economics, environmental studies, water resource management, climate resilience, international development, or related fields).Or equivalent experience and proof of academic and professional written outputs. | Yes | |
| Able to work from the UK office (CO7 9GS) | Yes | |
| **Have the right to work in the UK with no restrictions | Yes | |
| Willingness to travel to low- and middle- income countries.Have no reason to think you will be denied genuine business travel visa’s globally. | Yes | |
| **We are unable to sponsor candidates for this position, but we do warmly welcome applicants who have the right to work in the UK or are eligible for a 2-year Graduate UK work visa, after which skilled worker sponsorship may be possible (dependant on progression and profile). | ||
Closing date 9am (UK time) 21st October 2024
For further information regarding the company, position and application process please see our website: https://www.aguaconsult.co.uk/post/junior-researcher-positions-available-at-aguaconsult
