Colombia Partnerships Officer

The fact that 1 in 4 people in the world today don’t have clean water is unacceptable, and we need your help to change that.

We’re the #1 international non-profit exclusively focused on bringing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education (WASH) to the children and families who need it most. These people are the 2.2 billion reasons we do what we do. Our global WASH programs, led and maintained by the communities where we work, aren’t a quick fix. We strive for long-term access to WASH that truly transforms people’s lives.

WaterAid America is looking for a fundraising professional based in either the US or in Colombia to build a pipeline of support to fuel and sustain WaterAid’s mission impact in Colombia.

In Colombia, WaterAid is addressing the countries’ most pressing issues on communities' lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Our work focuses on responding to the lack of access to water in rural areas in La Guajira, ensuring that indigenous communities are the main project participants and recipients.

As part of an ambitious fundraising team, the successful candidate is someone who can develop a deep understanding of WaterAid programs and projects in Colombia, develop compelling cases for support, and engage donors and prospects to raise critical funds for WaterAid's work in Colombia. To be successful, the Officer must possess strong bilingual (Spanish, English) communication and interpersonal skills and build relationships with colleagues across our organization.

The role

• Reporting to the Managing Director, Partnerships and sitting on the US-based DevComms team, specific responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
• Identify funding priorities; develop a deep understanding of the context, challenges and opportunities in close collaboration with WaterAid Development & Communications Team, Colombia SMT and program leads.
• Collaborate with the Prospect Researcher to identify leads and build a sufficient pipeline of leads and prospects that position WaterAid Colombia for continued growth.
• Lead on the development of high-quality, compelling assets for proposals, stewardship, cultivation, and solicitation; coordinate with colleagues across the Development & Communications or Programs, Awards & Compliance teams as needed and adhering to each grant-making organization’s guidelines.
• Support WaterAid Colombia and/or directly manage a portfolio of awards across the project lifecycle, from start-up to implementation to project close-out; deliver those awards in line with requirements and to the delight of donors to ensure continued support.
• Conduct outreach and donor stewardship, writing, producing, and submitting tailored progress reports to funders and ensuring follow-up is completed in timely and strategically.
• Collaborate across teams (such as Finance, Region, and Country Program, etc.) to support Colombia team to monitor project expenditures against established allocations; proactively identify and address or escalate issues potentially affecting project delivery and/or donor relations (such as programmatic delays, over or under-spend).
• Communicate and facilitate understanding of project agreements, reporting, budget management, project schedule, etc. to ensure compliance and delivery; keep relevant stakeholders informed, provide updates and, as necessary, identify and escalate risks.
• Personally manage a portfolio of donors and support colleagues across the DevComms team and WA federation to support WaterAid Colombia and deliver high-quality donor stewardship, including presentations, program reports, case studies and country briefings within a variety of formats in collaboration with communications teams.

Skills and experience

Essential skills and qualifications

• Undergraduate degree, preferably in relevant field of study (international relations or development).
• Minimum of 5+ years' work experience in fundraising and/or program or award management (or relevant combination of both).
• Bilingual communication (Spanish/ English), speaking/ writing; commitment to working productively and positively in a team environment, to achieve shared goals.
• Demonstrated track record of building and navigating relationships confidently with private donors, key stakeholders, and groups at all levels.
• Ability to balance active, deep listening with speaking speak passionately when discussing WaterAid its work and mission; comfortable with public speaking and presenting to stakeholders.
• Project management skills: strong attention to detail, creative approach to problem-solving; ability to prioritize, manage and execute numerous projects simultaneously.
• Analytical skills, high degree of proficiency in MS Office (especially Excel, Sharepoint, etc.) with an appetite to continually learn new tools and commitment to professional growth.
• Commitment to WaterAid’s values of respect, collaboration, accountability, innovation, courage, and integrity and a working style that reflects these.
• Professional manner and emotional maturity when navigating obstacles; adaptability and resilience in dynamic, stressful circumstances while maintaining a positive and flexible approach to collaborating across teams and functions towards shared goals.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, flexibility to work across time zones (with varied work hours) and maturity to achieve and maintain work/ life balance.

Desired skills and qualifications

• Demonstrated success raising and managing 4-5 figure grants from foundation, institutional, corporate donors and/or other government donors.
• Knowledge of issues relating to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
• Professional experience living/ working internationally in a region or country in which WaterAid currently operates and/or the Global South.
• Graduate-level degree, preferably in a relevant field of study (international relations or development).

Employment & Benefits

WaterAid America's US workforce is currently 65% remote and 35% hybrid, with a physical office in New York, NY. In Colombia, WaterAid's team is based in Riohacha, Colombia.

WaterAid offers a generous vacation and benefits package to its full-time employees:

• Health (medical) insurance: If in US, WAA offers several options, ranging from 70-100% employer-paid for you and your dependents), dental & vision insurance (100% employer-paid for you and your dependents), and pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for childcare, medical and commuter expenses.
• Retirement: If in US, participation in WaterAid’s 403(b) deferred contribution plan (after 1 year of service, personal contributions are matched, up to 5% of gross annual salary).
• Paid time off (PTO): If in US, PTO includes: 12-13 public holidays (depending upon the calendar year) + a ‘floating’ holiday to be used at your discretion; 120+ hours of PTO upon hire (with new and increased hours awarded annually), 3 paid days for volunteering, and additional PTO available for "Summer Fridays" and office closures, such as between the Christmas and New Year's holidays.
• Additional support: If in US, Employee Assistance Program includes Health Advocate, OneMedical, TalkSpace, Peloton discount, and other services

For US-based candidates inside major metropolitan areas, such as New York, NY or Washington, DC, the minimum salary for this position is $70,000 USD. For US-based candidates outside of major metropolitan areas, such as New York, NY or Washington, DC, the minimum salary for this position is $80,500 USD. Actual compensation is based on multiple factors that are unique to each candidate, including and not limited to level of relevant experience, skill set, and specific work location. Salary ranges for positions based in other locations may differ based on the cost of labor in that location.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We celebrate, support, and thrive on diversity and difference for the benefit of our employees, our mission, and the communities we serve. WaterAid is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. We value diverse experiences and will also consider qualified applications from those who have had prior contact with the criminal legal system in accordance with the NYC Commission on Human Rights’ Guidance on the Fair Chance Act.

WaterAid is committed to the safeguarding and wellbeing of all individuals, including the people in communities in which we work, staff, volunteers, contractors, and partners. Any form of abuse is not tolerated.