TERMS OF REFERENCE
IWA Chennai
South Asia Operations Manager
The International Water Association is a worldwide network for water professionals and corporations, with a membership in the fields of water services, infrastructure engineering and consulting. It connects more than 10,000 experts within the international water sector. IWA is a network structured to promote multi-level collaboration among its diverse membership groups, to share the benefit of knowledge on water science, technology and management worldwide.
Each year, IWA organizes and sponsors over 40 specialized conferences and seminars on a wide variety of water and sanitation topics worldwide. Further, IWA develops leading-edge innovations and synthesizes these through the work of 50 IWA Specialist Groups (SGs), 3 Clusters and a set of global programmes such as Cities of the Future, Basins of the Future, Digitalization of Water, and Innovators Platform. IWA has a worldwide staff of approximately 50, with headquarters in London.
IWA Chennai was established in May 2018 as an important office to support the strategies and operations of IWA in India. As an active player in the region, the IWA Chennai office serves as the professional platform to connect IWA members and partners with top talents, pioneering science, innovative technologies, and leading practices in the region and the world. Through a series of projects and events designed to address specific issues and benefit targeted stakeholders, IWA Chennai Office seeks to work together with members and partners to respond to challenges impacting water management, through developing new knowledge, implementing best practices and reporting on outcomes that help the region achieve IWA vision on a water wise world.
Task :
Under the general supervision of the Head – of South Asia, the responsibilities include but are not limited to:
1. IWA programmes coordination in South Asia
- Support the implementation of the IWA global programmes at the country level in South Asia
- Strengthen connections with IWA members and partners (institutions, utilities, NonGovernmental Organizations) in the region, aiming to enable knowledge exchange on advanced technologies and good practices between international stakeholders and South
- Asian utilities through IWA programmes – create strategic partnerships
- Initiate efforts to deepen the region’s engagement with Specialist Groups through the creation of working groups
- Ensuring recruitment of new Governing members in the region
- Engaging high-priority stakeholders like Corporate Strategic Contacts and key researchers to ensure greater engagement with IWA
2. IWA events coordination
- Develop, initiate and organize IWA events throughout South Asia, by engaging with Governing Members, the IWA network and Country Chapters.
- Coordinate the engagement of South Asia regional delegates/sponsors/exhibitors at IWA events in the region and around the globe.
- Help the global operation of IWA event marketing and communications to encourage the participation of South Asian water professionals/utilities in IWA events
3. Young Water Professionals Chapters in South Asia
- Coordinate the organization of YWP Chapters in the countries of South Asia
- Communications with South Asian YWPs through the YWP Country Chapters and related strategic partners
- Facilitate the engagement of South Asian YWPs in various IWA activities
4. Support Global membership analytics
- Interpreting member data, analysing results using statistical techniques
- Developing and implementing data analyses tools, data collection systems and other strategies that optimize statistical efficiency and quality
- Acquiring member data from primary or secondary data sources and maintaining databases
5. Overseeing IWA South Asia Office
- Coordinating with various operations units in the Chennai office and also, supporting in managing these operations
- Coordinating with the Regional Customer Relations Officer reviewing Membership statistics and service delivery
- Overseeing the filings associated with IWA operations in India
Reporting
The coordinator will report directly to the Head – of South Asia of IWA and will provide regular updates on the status of the tasks and actions to be taken, as well as any issues hindering the progress of the assignment regularly.
Qualification :
- Masters/PhD in Environmental or Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Sciences,
- Chemical Engineering, Urban Planning
- Minimum 3 – 5 years of management and supervisory experience in a multicultural environment, with developing countries and/or with an international organisation at the management level. Also, experiences in Operations, Business Development, and Event Management are an added value.
- Experience in liaising with statutory bodies for operating an organization in India is a plus Behavioural Competencies
- Ability to take full ownership of the operation
- Results-oriented and flexible – Be adaptable, and able to meet deadlines
- Acts as a team player – Collaborate and support colleagues
- Ability to communicate effectively and influence effectively with productive, successful relationships with demanding senior stakeholders
- Highly analytical and skilled problem solver, with a strong commercial mindset.
- Detail-Oriented – Ensure that all information is correct and seek further clarification when the information provided is not satisfactory
- Able to work independently and use initiative to investigate problems
- Flexible approach to role responsibilities and ability to manage multiple expectations
- Cross-culturally aware and adaptable
- Acceptance to travel nationally and internationally Knowledge, Skills and Languages
- Knowledge of Water and Environment in a broader context, and experience in practically applying this knowledge to programmes and opinions
- Programme and project management
- Results-oriented and demand-driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations.
- Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilise the talent and experience of team members productively.
- Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive.
- Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, and sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners.
- Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organisation
- Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality
- A high degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels.
- Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.
- Fluently spoken and written English Competencies, Values and Comments
- Values: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability
- Core Competencies: Communication, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision
- Making, National Society & Customer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust
- Managerial Competencies: Managing Staff Performance, Managing Staff Development
- Functional Competencies: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others
Salary offer is 15 – 20 lakhs INR per annum.
How to apply:
Applicants are asked to submit their CV in English and a supporting letter of motivation along with the names and contact details of two referees to Jeyannathann.Karunanithi@iwahq.org
Work percentage: 100% (5 days per week)
Duty station: Chennai, India
Duration: 12 months
Reporting to: Head – South Asia
The above terms of reference contain the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in an organisation such as IWA, collaborators are expected to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that are reasonably allocated to them but which are not part of their regular terms of reference. Where any task becomes a regular part of a collaborator’s responsibilities, the terms of reference will be changed in consultation with the collaborator and the line manager.
IWA is an equal-opportunity employer.
ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.
Job Email id: Jeyannathann.Karunanithi(at)iwahq.org
