Job Description
About Water.org
1 in 10 people around the world lack access to safe water and 1 in 4 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 empower a bright future that we can all share, 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 Partnership Associate, in the Global Impact Department, is a force-multiplier and key resource to provide data-driven insights and seamless coordination of multiple priorities within the region’s business lines. This individual will be responsible for supporting the business line’s objectives and consistent delivery to account priorities via research, analysis, business and/or account administration.
The Partnership Associate will be comfortable with ambiguity, solutions-focused and with excellent communications skills and commercial acumen. This is a unique role with huge learning potential and a real opportunity to drive impact.
Key Responsibilities
Business Operations Support and Analysis (60%)
Provide project coordination and day-to-day support within the region’s business operations, ranging from managing internal communications, events, and meetings relevant to the effective functioning of the business line(s), including, but not limited to:
- In collaboration with the Regional Business - Lead, create comprehensive view of partner account plans and progress against milestones and targets; contribute to high-level analysis, reports, and presentations for business leadership (e.g., regular partnership/business reviews, monthly operating reviews, and other senior management meetings).
- Support partnership resource development and internal communication efforts, such as support materials and guidance documents for colleagues in partnership-facing functions.
- As assigned, support project execution for business line initiatives in coordination with relevant stakeholders.
- Coordination of regular business line steering and status review meetings, agenda preparation, documentation and managing actions through to completion.
- Prepare briefing materials, background notes and presentations for high-level engagements with partners and other stakeholders and participation in external events.
Business Development Support (20%)
As directed or assigned, support business development efforts, helping to build data-driven insights that provide a commercial perspective and strategic positioning of Water.org’s unique value, including, but not limited to:
- Use data to enhance our prospecting approach to support new business development efforts, enhance sales pitches, and present a strong sales narrative for new and existing partnerships.
- Support partner discovery and lead generation processes by identifying best practices within and outside of the Water Supply and Sanitation space to create company profiles and case studies.
- Collaborate with Regional Business Leads, Insights, and Award Management/Grant Specialists to support revenue generation and drive impactful storytelling.
- Enhance commercial partnership storytelling efforts by enabling data-driven narratives to live across all sales materials from one-sheeters and decks to case studies.
- Support market and trend data research and related studies, helping to translate key insights and recommendations for the business line(s) to adapt and improve strategy.
Account Management Support (20%)
Act as associate account manager for allocated partnership(s), which may include one or more of the following responsibilities:
- Representing Partnership Management in internal forums, drafting of status updates normally prepared by the Sr/Partnership Account Manager, and being the partner’s first point of contact in the S/PAM’s absence.
- Ownership of day-to-day partnership activities, including managing issues, chasing updates, and ensuring processes such as workplan updates and reviews happen in a timely manner.
- Managing and owning aspects of the relationship and being the partner’s key contact for areas of the partnership, such as workplan management and/or coordination of cross-functional support for key partner deliverables.
- Analysis to support business decisions, for delivery scheduling or resolving issues, with support from the Sr/Partnership Account Manager.
- Creation of meeting packs or reports for internal project team meetings, working with internal colleagues to ensure all required information is included and agreed ahead of the meeting taking place.
- Support with general planning and administration, including partner payment preparation, agreement documentation, invoices, field monitoring planning, partner visits, etc.
Management Responsibility:
- Individual contributor with no subordinates.
This description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of scope, stakeholders and linkages for every project, duty or responsibility but is intended to highlight internal or external processes, functions, and jobs/roles that are expected to regularly interact with this position to deliver work. Scope may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Skills and Competencies
- Customer Focus – Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
- Communicates Effectively – Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
- Drives Results – Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
- Collaborates – Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
- Optimize Work Processes – Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
- Manages Ambiguity – Manages ambiguity by operating effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent related working experience in the finance sector.
- At least 3 years of progressive experience working with financial products and services including:
- Foundational knowledge of financial institution operations, product design and/or business analytics.
- Demonstrated understanding of project management methods and tools, with an emphasis on technical assistance and/or capacity building programs.
- Proactive mind‐set oriented toward constructive problem‐solving and collaboration with stakeholders from various sectors.
- Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, resourcefulness, and ability to multi‐task and adjust to changing priorities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 software and related applications. Advanced proficiency with data manipulation and visualization in Excel and Powerpoint.
- Believes in our mission and will do the work required to advance the enterprise.
- Language(s): Proficient (written and verbal) in English and Spanish.
Preferred:
- Masters degree.
- Experience in product development and Human-Centered Design (HCD) strongly preferred.
- Experience in training staff or implementing training programs strongly preferred.
- Previous with the inclusive finance sector and/or Water Supply and Sanitation sector.
- Familiarity with the activities required for loan product development and scaling.
- Experience with international development initiatives.
- Experience with market research and analysis.
- Language(s): Fluency (oral and written) in Portuguese is a plus.
Travel Requirement
Up to 30% of domestic and global travel.
Being authorized to work in the country posted is a precondition of employment.
Salary and Benefits
This position offers country-specific benefits and market-based, competitive salary; as well as 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. We believe social change happens when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with a common purpose. We strive to build and maintain a diverse team that will advance our mission and work and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
