Operations Director.

Business Operations
Lilongwe
November 3, 2026
Jobs

Job Description

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Mission and Servant Leadership

  • Maintain a strong Christian witness and model servant leadership to colleagues, partners, communities, and the public.
  • Lead and participate in biblically based staff devotions and prayer before and after team meetinas.
  • Demonstrate and encourage Water Mission’s core values of Love, Excellence, and Integrity in all operational decisions and staff relationships.

2. Operational Planning and Program Delivery

  • Work with the Country Director and functional leaders to develop the annual operations plan, operational budgets, project schedules, and measurable performance targets.
  • Lead implementation of approved WASH projects and operational plans, coordinating staff, equipment, materials, and other resources across project locations.
  • Monitor progress against agreed scope, schedules, budgets, and quality standards; address delivery constraints and escalate significant risks or changes to the Country Director.
  • Coordinate professionalized services, technical staff, construction, community engagement, Evangelism & Discipleship, and MEL activities to ensure effective delivery, commissioning, handover, and sustainable management of safe water solutions and program goals.
  • Conduct regular field visits and operational reviews to verify O&M and implementation quality, resolve challenges, and support field teams.
  • Coordinate with Regional and Headquarters departments/staff to achieve organizational objectives.

3. Financial Stewardship and Operational Support

  • Work with the Project Manager, Finance Manager, and budget holders to prepare project budgets, forecasts, cost estimates, and expenditure reviews, explaining variances, and implementing agreed corrective actions.
  • Oversee assigned procurement, logistics, inventory, fleet, equipment, facilities, and administrative activities in line with approved policies and delegated authority.
  • Ensure project management and enterprise accounting systems accurately reflect operational activities, working with the Project Manager, Finance, and other functional teams to maintain timely, complete records.
  • Maintain effective operational controls and support audits, risk reviews, and timely completion of corrective actions.
  • Implement applicable safety, safeguarding, security, and operational procedures; report incidents and significant concerns through established channels.

4. Staff Leadership and Development

  • Supervise and mentor assigned staff, clarify responsibilities, allocate workloads, review and approve performance goals, and conduct regular coaching and performance reviews.
  • Identify skills gaps and coordinate training, mentoring, recruitment, and succession planning with the Country Director, Human Resources, and other organizational departments/staff as required.
  • Promote staff care, well-being, accountability, and constructive, collaborative resolution of workplace concerns.
  • Collaborate with finance, human resources, and technical staff in accordance with their established direct and matrix reporting relationships

5. Performance Reporting and Partnerships

  • Monitor operational performance against the business plan and agreed indicators, using MEL findings and lessons learned to improve program quality and effectiveness.
  • Provide regular operational reports to the Country Director and agreed updates to the Africa regional dotted-line of staff connections, highlighting progress, budget performance, risks, and decisions needed.
  • Support grant applications, implementation, donor reporting, and fulfilment of project commitments by providing accurate operational plans, budgets, and results.
  • Lead to accomplish project, grant, partnership, etc. goals and collaborate with other country programs to exchange ideas, status, and alignment.
  • Support the Country Director in relationships with government, churches, communities, NGOs, and other partners; represent Water Mission in operational meetings as delegated.
  • Coordinate operational support for Water Mission’s Living Water Strategy in Malawi, working with ministry and program teams.Malawi job board
  • Perform other duties assigned by the Country Director within the scope of the role.

6. Other Duties as Assigned

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Relationship and Alignment

  • A personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
  • Alignment with Water Mission’s Statement of Faith, core values of Love, Excellence, and Integrity, and principles of servant leadership.

Qualifications and Experience

  • A Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Management, Development Studies, Business Administration, Public Health, or a related discipline. A relevant master’s degree is an added advantage.
  • At least eight years of relevant leadership or management experience, including managing multidisciplinary teams and training, mentoring, and developing leaders.
  • Proven experience managing programs or operational budgets exceeding USD 1 million, with responsibility for planning, expenditure control, and performance reporting.
  • Experience or technical knowledge of the WASH sector; construction, engineering project management, or WASH program design experience is preferred.
  • Experience working in Malawi or comparable African development contexts, including field operations and partnerships with government, communities, Christian ministries, NGOs, or development agencies.Malawi job board
  • Leadership experience in Christian ministry, evangelism, or discipleship
  • Fluency in English required. Strong skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft 365, and SharePoint.

Skills, Abilities and Working Conditions

  • Strong planning, problem-solving, financial management, and cross-cultural communication skills. with a commitment to ending the global water crisis.
  • Willingness to establish full-time residence in Lilongwe, work flexible hours when necessary, and travel regularly to field locations in Malawi, including stays of up to one week and occasionally longer.Malawi job board
  • Willingness to undertake international travel and travel to other regional country programs, as may be occasionally required.

Application instructions :

Loading

Location