State Team Lead at RTI International

RTI International in collaboration with Plan International and other partners are implementing a 4-year USAID funded Effective Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (E-WASH) program.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Effective Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Services (E-WASH) Program, implemented by RTI International, is working to improve urban water and sanitation service delivery by strengthening the governance, financial and technical viability of state water boards (SWBs)/corporations in five states in Nigeria. The five states are Abia, Delta, Imo, Niger and Taraba. E-WASH is working towards achieving the following mutually reinforcing objectives:

• Creating professionally managed and commercially oriented SWBs.
• Improving the financial and operational viability of SWBs.
• Strengthening policy, institutional and regulatory frameworks for improved WASH services (including establishing accountability mechanisms).
• Building national and state WASH advocacy, coordination, and communications for reform.
• The overall goal is improvement of urban water and sanitation service delivery.
• RTI International hereby invites applications from highly resourceful, motivated and experienced professionals to fill the position of State Team Lead in Niger State.

State Team Lead- Niger

The State Team Lead (STL) is responsible for the leadership and the overall implementation of E-WASH project activities across sectoral, utility and external relations in Niger state. He/she will be responsible for the building of strong relationships with state-level counterparts particularly within the State Water Board (SWB) to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of reform efforts. He/she will lead efforts for technical assistance to and capacity building of counterparts to deliver high-quality services. He/she will oversee the delivery of services from short-term experts and support the overall harmonization of institutional and community efforts at the state-level. He/she will liaise with security, finance and M&E counterparts to support state-level implementation. He/she will oversee state-level specialists.

Primary responsibilities:

• The STL will lead RTI E-WASH state implementation team in Niger state to support the state, specifically the State Water Board to implement the following project activities:
• Provide technical support/assistance to develop water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) baseline information that will feed into state Service Improvement Plan (SIP).
• Support the creation of a professionally managed, commercially oriented SWB
• Facilitate the increase in political and managerial autonomy of the SWB
• Support strengthening of corporate culture that motivates and inspires staff to excel and achieve its vision, mission, and goal
• Support Human Resources Development within the SWB
• Support the improvement of financial and operational viability of SWB
• Facilitate the improvement of business processes, financial management practices, billing and collection and customer service within SWB
• Assist in the promotion and support the implementation of tariff review and increase
• Support the SWB to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) over a period of specified time
• Facilitate the development of Asset Maintenance Management Systems for SWB
• Facilitate the design and operationalization of a Utility Support Fund for emergency repairs and small-scale improvements to increase operational efficiency
• Support development and implementation of Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Management Strategy for state
• Facilitate the strengthening of policy, institutional, and regulatory frameworks for improved WASH services
• Support and design the implementation of specific policy reforms
• Facilitate the establishment or strengthen regulatory unit or commission
• Support the design and implement a strategy to improve the financing of WASH service delivery expansion and improvements
• Support the enhancement of social accountability and institutional transparency for the WASH sector
• Facilitate mapping and develop plans for public sanitation service improvement
• Build coordination, advocacy, and strategic communications among sector stakeholders
• Support the development and implementation of a Communications for Reform Strategy for the state
• Provide technical support for institutionalization of GIS applications in the SWB
• Perform any other functions as required by the COP

Minimum Required Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, or Business Management or any other engineering field or any other relevant field and 9 years of experience in water utility operations and management and/or WASH, MSC and 12 years or Bachelor’s Degree and 16 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Expertise in performance and process improvement and specific expertise in areas including HR management, strategic planning, training and capacity building, financial management, and/or customer satisfaction and engagement.
• Proven ability to effectively engage with and build capacity of government counterparts.
• Demonstrated strength in diplomacy and consensus building to support reform and institutional change efforts.

Skills & Abilities

•  Strong verbal and written English communication skills
• Strong computer skills: Microsoft Office Applications (MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Ability to multitask
• Possesses leadership and supervisory skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to build effective relationships with all clients, peers, and stakeholders
• Competent in conflict and crisis management
• Demonstrated success managing and leading technical teams
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to obtain proper security clearances as noted by contracts