Program Director Living Water International

Job Title: Program Director
Location: Living Water International Zambia, Lusaka
Reports to: Country Director

Job Summary:
Living Water International Zambia is seeking an exceptional, visionary, and results-driven Program Director to provide transformative leadership and strategic oversight for its national Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs. This senior executive role is ideal for a highly experienced and mission-aligned professional who combines deep technical expertise with proven leadership and management acumen to deliver high-impact, scalable, and sustainable development outcomes.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Program Director will lead the design, execution, and continuous improvement of WASH programs, ensuring they are technically sound, cost-effective, and aligned with both national development priorities and Living Water International’s global strategy. This role requires a transformational leader with strong strategic thinking, decision-making, and team development skills—capable of managing complex engineering projects, inspiring high-performing teams, and cultivating strategic partnerships across sectors.

The ideal candidate will have a degree in civil or construction engineering, backed by a master’s in business administration (MBA) or public health. A diploma holder in water engineering with a Master’s degree in Public Health or an MBA will also be considered.

The Program Director will play a pivotal role in driving program innovation, operational excellence, and institutional growth to expand access to safe water, improved sanitation, and hygiene services for vulnerable communities across Zambia.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Program Leadership & Oversight

Demonstrated success managing:

• Multi-million dollar budgets
• Donor compliance and reporting
• Financial risk mitigation to safeguard program delivery and institutional integrity.

Skilled in:

• Strategic oversight and Budgeting, cost-efficiency, and internal controls
• Management and implementation of complex WASH or infrastructure programs with accountability and transparency
• Developing resource mobilisation strategies
• Strengthening internal controls and ensuring compliance with organisational, legal, and regulatory requirements.
• Overseeing program implementation with a focus on quality, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness, ensuring strong alignment between field activities and strategic objectives.
• Institutionalising project management best practices, streamlining workflows, and improving coordination across teams.
• Leading adaptive management processes that translate M&E insights into real-time program improvements.
• Integrating climate-smart and environmentally sound engineering practices across program interventions.
• Provide technical expertise in civil and construction engineering to support WASH infrastructure development, including borehole drilling, water supply systems, and sanitation facilities.
• Lead planning, design, and execution of large-scale water and sanitation projects, ensuring compliance with industry standards, environmental sustainability, and government regulations.

2. Executive Team Leadership & Capacity Development

• Provide visionary leadership to a multidisciplinary team, fostering a shared vision, strong team culture, and high levels of motivation and accountability.
• Cultivate a leadership pipeline by identifying talent, building capacity, and mentoring senior staff to assume increased responsibilities.
• Establish clear performance standards, conduct regular evaluations, and drive continuous learning and staff development initiatives.
• Promote inclusive leadership practices that empower staff, encourage innovation, and support diversity and well-being.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Visioning: Sets and drives long-term impactful strategies that generate transformative impact.
• Influential Leadership: Leads through influence and builds consensus, and inspire diverse teams toward common goals. Must have a track record of leading management teams. Demonstrated excellence leading management-level teams as direct reports and experience in leading remote teams.
• Operational Excellence: Focused on quality, cost-effectiveness, and accountability to optimise program performance, ensuring accountability, and delivering results under pressure.
• Change Management: Comfortable navigating and leading through change. Adept at managing organisational change, fostering innovation, and driving institutional resilience.
• Stakeholder Diplomacy: Strong interpersonal, communication, and representation skills. Strong communicator and negotiator with a proven track record of engaging high-level stakeholders.

3. Qualifications and Experience

• Diploma in Water Engineering or Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering or Environmental Engineering
• Master’s degree in Public Health or Business Administration (MBA
• At least 5 years in senior leadership involving the management of technical teams especially civil and water engineers.
• Experience overseeing large-scale WASH or infrastructure programs

Strong track record in:

• Performance management and staff capacity development
• Leading multidisciplinary teams (including remote leadership)
• Driving organisational change, fostering innovation, and team resilience
• Strategic thinker with the ability to:
• Translate big-picture vision into operational excellence
• Lead adaptive management and evidence-based program improvement

Core Technical Competencies

Strong technical expertise in:

• Civil and construction engineering, especially for WASH infrastructure
• Borehole drilling, water supply systems, and sanitation systems

Ability to:

• Interpret and validate, e.g. Bills of Quantities (BOQs)
• Conduct and oversee feasibility studies, technical assessments, and quality assurance
• Design and manage climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable infrastructure

Solid grasp of:

• Zambian WASH policy and regulatory frameworks
• Project cycle management, monitoring & evaluation, and engineering for development.

4. Stakeholder Engagement & External Relations

Proven ability to:

• Represent programs with donors, governments, and partners
• Influence WASH policy at national or regional platforms
• Mobilise strategic partnerships and community/church engagement
• Diplomatic and persuasive communicator with excellent negotiation skills
• Represent LWI Zambia in key sector platforms, leveraging influence to shape policy and advocate for increased investment in WASH.

5. Personal Attributes

• A practicing Christian, evidenced by supporting documentation from their local church.
• Ethical, accountable, and passionate about servant leadership, as evidenced by service in their local church.
• Mission-driven and resilient with a deep commitment to improve lives through sustainable WASH solutions.
• Experience in mobilising the church and community, and able to provide a positive Christian witness to these key stakeholders.
• Resilient and adaptive leader capable of navigating complexity with confidence and composure.
• Collaborative and self-motivated
• Role model of integrity, excellence, and faith in action