Job Description: Policy and Government Partnerships Lead
Mangrove Water is a technical support organization dedicated to increasing access to safely managed drinking water through the optimization and implementation of in-line chlorination (ILC) technologies. Mangrove serves as a bridge between technology and implementation, providing open-source resources and tailored assistance to governments, utilities, and NGOs.
Currently, Mangrove Water is supported by GiveWell to execute a major strategic initiative (2026–2028) aimed at scaling ILC through government programs and utility partnerships across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Because governments and utilities manage the vast majority of water infrastructure and financing globally, this role represents a critical new frontier for our organization’s growth and impact.
- Start Date: Mid-2026, as soon as possible.
- Term: 1-year contract with opportunity for extension.
- Location: Fully remote.
- Objective: The Policy and Government Relations Lead will play a strategic role in the execution of Mangrove Water’s mission to build global capacity for in-line chlorination by building relationships with government and utilities globally. This role will lead the strategic design and execution of a global government Request for Information (RFI), manage in-country policy consultants, map out large-scale infrastructure investments compatible with ILC, and build a standardized training and certification program to professionalize ILC delivery among private utilities.
Core Responsibilities
A. Government Engagement & Policy Strategy (Strategic Lead)
This role is responsible for leading the scoping, outreach, and ongoing relationship management with LMIC government entities to unlock large-scale ILC implementations.
- Government RFI Design & Execution: Lead the launch and management of a targeted RFI directed at governments executing or planning large-scale water projects, focusing on high-burden of disease, cost-effective priority countries.
- Scoping & Partnership Identification: Conduct desk research, review infrastructure data, and interview sector colleagues to target countries with compatible water infrastructure investments.
- In-Country Consultant Management: On-board and partner with in-country policy consultants to collectively facilitate relationship building and navigate regional political dynamics.
- Data Pipeline & Database Management: Build and maintain a comprehensive database tracking government infrastructure plans, decision-making timelines, and partnership opportunities to map out high-priority implementation zones.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Manage the end-to-end execution of the Government RFI, including vetting responses and conducting stakeholder interviews.
- Synthesize findings from desk research and scoping interviews into interim reports.
- Lead the development of country-specific Government Readiness Assessments and co-author joint ILC pilot proposals alongside partner governments.
B. Utility Networking & Capacity Building
This role will aim to expand Mangrove’s footprint within the public and private utility market to support utilities globally as they increasingly face requirements to incorporate water treatment into their existing distribution systems, as well as expand their systems to peri-urban and rural areas.
- Strategic Utility Networking: Identify and build relationships with operators and utility networks managing compatible infrastructure in settings with high-burden of waterborne disease.
- Standardized Training & Certification Program: Support the creation of an ILC training curriculum covering site assessment, technology selection, installation, O&M, and cost forecasting. Develop a standardized needs-assessment tool to help utilities identify and address operational gaps.
- Pilot Program Structuring: Assist partnered utilities in designing financially viable ILC pilot implementation plans, aligning them with existing revenue models (tariffs, performance-based funding, carbon credits).
Specific Responsibilities:
- Develop a professional utility business package showcasing financial sustainability and operational case studies to generate market interest in the training and certification program.
- Coordinate and deliver 2–3 pilot training workshops for selected utility networks, refining the curriculum based on operator feedback.
- Establish an assessment protocol to provide certification after a defined period (e.g., 6-12 months) for vetted and trained utilities demonstrating sustained adherence to best practices and consistent delivery of chlorinated water.
Additional Responsibilities
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Participate in weekly core team meetings to align policy and partnership outreach with Mangrove’s internal technical and engineering capacities.
- Stakeholder Decision Mapping: Conduct structured interviews with government and utility decision-makers to deeply understand the financial and political drivers behind new infrastructure investments.
- Global Event Representation: Represent Mangrove Water at major international WASH conferences and regional symposiums to advocate for policy-driven ILC adoption.
Candidate Profile
Required Qualifications
- Proven experience identifying, navigating, and building relationships with high-level government officials, ministries, or public utility departments.
- Direct experience designing, distributing, and evaluating formal RFPs, RFIs, or grant-making processes.
- A strong background in public policy paired with a solid understanding of rural and government-managed water infrastructure.
- Willingness and ability to travel frequently for international government meetings, site visits, and conferences.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience working with In-Line Chlorination (ILC) or decentralized water treatment technologies. Any other experience with drinking water infrastructure projects is a plus.
- Professional proficiency in French (highly valued for West African engagements) or other languages relevant to target LMIC regions.
- A strong grasp of public and private water financing mechanisms, results-based financing, or cost-recovering and revenue-generating rural water service delivery models.
- Experience managing remote, cross-cultural teams or consultants across multiple time zones.
- An existing professional network within multilateral development banks or regional water networks.
- Strong writing skills, particularly in developing policy briefs or donor-facing materials
Communication and Reporting
- Primary Contacts: Report to Mangrove’s CEO, Megan Lindmark.
- Regular Check-ins: Attendance at weekly all-team meetings, alongside recurring weekly meetings with Mangrove’s CEO to ensure grant objectives remain on schedule and integrated with other Mangrove workflows.
Compensation and Schedule
- Salary: Competitive, based on experience
- Status: Full-time (40 hours per week)
- Location: Remote. Requires frequent international travel to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia based on conference schedules, stakeholder meetings, and field scoping needs.
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit a CV, cover letter, and two writing samples (one programmatic, one analytical or policy-oriented) through this form. You may also reach out to Megan Lindmark, Megan@Mangrovewater.org with any questions.
