Arghyam, a leading national charitable foundation has dedicated itself to the cause of the poorest citizens through the cause of water. Setup with a private endowment from writer and philanthropist Rohini Nilekani, Arghyam’s mission is “Safe, sustainable water for all”.

For more than 5 years now, Arghyam has been driving and supporting programs in rainwater harvesting, groundwater management, drinking water and sanitation programs, water quality management etc. by working closely with diverse multiple stakeholders, primarily in the civil society and government space.

Some of the key principles which guide our efforts include the recognition of lifeline water as a basic need and right, decentralization, community participation and ownership, an integrated approach to managing water from source to sink, an emphasis on subsidiary (managing water locally) and the effective use of information technology as enabler.

Being small and independent, Arghyam is highly flexible, with an ability to move quickly, absorb risk and support exciting, innovative ideas. More information about Arghyam can be found at our website: http://arghyam.org

Title: Programme Manager (Advocacy)
Duration: Full-time position
Place of work: Bangalore (non-negotiable)
Travel: Requires some local and national travel (3-5 days a month)
Expected joining date: As soon as possible
Salary range: Competitive depending on experience and ability

About the position:

The Programme Manager (Advocacy) is a senior role at Arghyam’s office in Bangalore that will be responsible for formulating and implementing the advocacy strategy and activities at Arghyam. S/he would report to a Director at Arghyam and work closely with the CEO and advisors. S/he would lead a small team of exceptional individuals and draw on external resources and consultants as necessary to execute the plan.

Responsibilities:

The following are the roles and responsibilities for this position:

• Work closely with the Chairperson, CEO and advisors and various teams at Arghyam on water policy, advocacy and related matters
• Lead and manage implementation of Arghyam’s advocacy work, which is primarily evidence-based through the work of our partners on the ground. This involves the creation of advocacy material from the learning’s of Arghyam and its partners and our broader sector understanding, and its dissemination in appropriate forms and fora. The work will involved a high level of coordination with different teams at Arghyam (particularly the grants team), partner organisations whom we financially support or otherwise work with, and stakeholders in the water sector including central and state governments and other agencies and organsations. Report to the Board of Trustees on the advocacy team’s work and impacts
• Analyze lessons learnt from Arghyam projects, develop strategies for advocacy and outreach
• Respond to requests for input from different government departments and other networks and organisations in the domestic water and broader water sector
• Proactively keep abreast of current developments in the sector and assess its impact on Arghyam’s work. Constantly review and analyse sector policies and their implementation, identify areas for advocacy 
• Network to facilitate information exchange and dialogue across different stakeholder groups (government, civil society, research and other institutions) in the sector 
• Based on external advocacy interactions, provide inputs into internal and partner projects 
• As a part of the senior management team for the organisation, be involved and provide input on all key decisions and activities at Arghyam

Requirements: 

• Minimum 10 years of experience in advocacy, networking, and development communications in Non-profit, Research and Multilateral agencies, Government bodies. Capacity to interact effectively with very senior government officials and elected representatives
• Understanding of water & sanitation sector and its policies with demonstrated experience in policy analysis, policy dialogue and advocacy. Strong intellectual ability to study and analyse issues and integrate diverse viewpoints
• Strong project management experience is essential. Excellent interpersonal skills, with proven ability to lead and work in a multi disciplinary, fast-paced team environment are essential. You would be called upon to manage time and resources well and respond quickly to new demands
• Excellent analytical, written and oral communication skills in English required. Knowledge of multiple Indian languages and particularly Hindi is an added advantage
• Degree in water resources, environmental, civil engineering or public policy is desirable
• Strong commitment to Arghyam’s mission and values as described above and at http://arghyam.org
• Ability and willingness to travel as required

Deadline for applications: 25th April 2011

The candidate must share the team’s passion to make a difference and give back to society.

To apply, please send a cover letter and CV to jobs@arghyam.org with the subject line "Application for Programme Manager - Advocacy".