Senior Manager,Operations & Maintenance & Water Quality - Arghyam

About the Organisation:

Arghyam is a charitable organization set up in 2005 with an endowment from Rohini Nilekani

with the vision of Safe Sustainable Water for All. Over the last 18 years, Arghyam has supported

Govt and civil society organizations in 140 projects in 22 states across the country in diverse

areas of groundwater, springs, water quality and rural sanitation. The work and body of

knowledge generated by partnerships has shaped policy narratives, launched national and state

level programs while directly impacting the lives of over 10 million people. Arghyam also runs

the India Water Portal, an open knowledge bank for the sector with over 8 million readers.

Arghyam’s approach for achieving its vision is to work on strengthening government systems

using technology to implement participatory water security programs at scale.

We are driving a transformative opportunity to create large-scale societal impact by developing

a unified national technology infrastructure for the Government of India’s National Jal Jeevan

Mission. As a recognized Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) partner in the WASH sector,

Arghyam is collaborating with the Government of India to advance digital water governance

through participatory, technology-driven solutions.

By adopting a DPI approach—built on common registries, standards, and open, interoperable

APIs—this initiative fosters innovation while strengthening state institutions and empowering

communities. The focus is on leveraging digital infrastructure to scale participatory models for

sustainable water management, ensuring transparency and inclusivity across all stakeholders,

from local communities to the central government.

About the Position:

Arghyam is seeking a hands-on Senior Manager to tackle India’s pressing water challenges

under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Effective Operations & Maintenance (O&M) of rural water

infrastructure is central to long-term sustainability and essential for overcoming issues such as

leakages, inadequate treatment, and weak community ownership. With over 70% of surface

water contaminated, the public health implications are severe. Achieving reliable, scalable

water service delivery similar to the power sector demands O&M systems that are efficient,

dependable, and well-organized.

A key priority is to strengthen decentralized, participatory governance by advancing

community-led O&M, reducing reliance on external agencies and addressing the country's

urgent water quality concerns. The Senior Manager will work closely with government

stakeholders, civil society partners, technical experts, research institutions, and market players

to identify critical gaps and drive coordinated ecosystem-wide solutions.

Role of Senior Manager - Operations & Maintenance and Water Quality:

The ideal candidate will engage closely with water quality experts, O&M professionals,

government agencies, and key ecosystem players to drive meaningful change, transform the

sector, and safeguard India’s water future. S/he will also be responsible for building and leading

the O&M and Water Quality team.

1. Strategic Leadership for Jal Jeevan Mission

● Develop a strong understanding of water quality and O&M system challenges under

JJM.

● Identify core gaps and bring together government, civil society, and market players to

work on practical solutions.

● Build and maintain partnerships across the ecosystem, including funders, and assess

opportunities that align with Arghyam’s goals.

2. Program Management & Partner Support

● Lead annual planning, budgeting, and implementation of programs in line with

organizational priorities.

● Work closely with partner NGOs to strengthen their programs, support technology

adoption, and build their organizational capacity.

● Oversee monitoring and evaluation to track progress, learn from assessments, and make

timely improvements.

3. Policy Engagement & Sector Leadership

● Engage with policymakers and sector stakeholders to promote sustainable water

management practices.

● Contribute to sector knowledge through publications, presentations, and participation

in key forums.

● Coordinate efforts across programs, including JJM, to support policy improvements.

4. Research, Innovation & Knowledge Sharing

● Stay updated on new trends, tools, and technologies in water management.

● Collaborate with research institutions to design and test innovative pilot projects.

● Lead knowledge-sharing efforts to document learnings and spread successful practices

across partners and stakeholders

Skills and Qualifications:

● Over 15+ years of experience Masters in Environmental Engineering/Sciences,

Chemistry, Water quality or related fields.

● Deep understanding of water quality, water supply systems, government systems and

processes and CSO ecosystem.

● Exposure to the Gram Panchayat processes and to build local governance institutions is

preferred.

● Strong project management skills, including the ability to design for scale

● Foster collaborative culture with strong interpersonal skills and networking

● Attention to detail and the capacity for continuous learning.

● Exposure to leverage digital technology for distributed operational water supply

services.

● Multilingual knowledge is a plus.

Join us in our mission to make a lasting impact on India's water security landscape. Your expertise and

dedication will be pivotal in driving positive change and improving the lives of millions. If you are a

dynamic leader committed to driving transformational change, we encourage you to apply for this

role and be part of our journey towards a water-secure future for all.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Compensation: Competitive and commensurate with experience and abilities.

To apply for this post, please e-mail your updated resume to: jobs@arghyam.org with a

mandatory subject line “Application for the post of Senior Manager-Operations &

Maintenance and Water Quality"