Indian Institute for Human Settlements Looking For Lead – Water and Sanitation, Practice Programme at New Delhi, Delhi, Full Time

About the Practice Programme at IIHS

The IIHS Practice Programme aims to demonstrate capacity for innovation and change in order to influence and enable urban transformation and translate learning from practice into policy as well as research and teaching-learning material. It provides strategic/ policy advisory, implementation support and knowledge management services to national and state governments, public, parastatal and municipal agencies, international development agencies, as well as private firms at the interface of human settlements and urbanisation. This work spans a range of areas including urban governance, water and sanitation, municipal finance, land management, urban infrastructure and services, as well as climate change and risk and resilience.

About Water and Sanitation at IIHS

IIHS’ interdisciplinary and cutting-edge work in water and sanitation spans strategic advisory services on policy, regulatory, capacity building and institutional measures for sustainable water resources management. In developing an extensive portfolio, IIHS has focused on innovation, inclusion and problem solving at scale. IIHS’ significant depth and breadth of experience in the water and sanitation sector is built on working with towns and cities, and local communities.

In the area of water and sanitation service provision to urban populations, IIHS has delved into linkages between groundwater and sanitation including contamination pathways, current construction and management practices, and socio-economic drivers; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) education; Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) as well as the scaling and sustainability of infrastructure and service delivery. IIHS’ research and practice projects inform each other to ensure approaches that are up-to date, inclusive, sustainable, and grounded in the practical realities of urban development.

About the School of Systems and Infrastructure

The School of Systems and Infrastructure (SSI) at IIHS aims at urban transformation with the intention of improving equity and environment outcomes for Indian cities, and its citizens. The School is concerned with key systems that govern the urban such as land and planning, water and sanitation, energy, housing, transportation, IT, and ITES. Across these domains the School aims at addressing cross-cutting themes – including governance and services, inclusion and equity, safety, and financing – and at different geographic scales. SSI will bring together an eclectic set of practitioners, researchers and educators who will work across practice, research, and learning, and seek to redefine practices and knowledge in these domains.

Job Description

The Lead’s position entails a wide range of responsibilities, centered around the development of IIHS’ practice projects portfolio, overseeing project implementation, and fostering a cohesive and high-performing team of water and sanitation professionals. The role requires the formulation and execution of strategies, as well as collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to expand IIHS’s influence in the field of water and sanitation.

Activities and Tasks

Responsibilities would include, but not be limited to, the following:

Portfolio Development:

• Developing and implementing strategic plans to expand the portfolio of water and sanitation practice and research projects in alignment with organisational goals and objectives;
• Collaborating with internal teams and external partners to identify funding opportunities, develop proposals, and engage in fundraising activities to secure resources to sustain and expand the portfolio of practice and research projects;

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with relevant stakeholders including policymakers, partners, and funding organisations;
• Representing IIHS in meetings, conferences, and forums related to water and sanitation to foster networks, promote knowledge sharing and implement joint initiatives;

Project Planning and Implementation:

• Designing, coordinating, and overseeing project execution, ensuring adherence to contracts, budgets, and timelines;
• Developing and managing project budgets, ensuring efficient resource utilisation and compliance with financial guidelines;
• Providing technical expertise to address challenges and assure quality of outputs;
• Engaging with clients to understand needs, offer proactive support and build long-term relationships;
• Promoting knowledge management at the project and institutional level, including developing knowledge products on innovative approaches, good practices, and lessons learned;
• Contributing to teaching water and sanitation-related courses / sessions offered at IIHS, drawing on practical experience;

Team Building:

• Building and leading a team of water and sanitation professionals, providing guidance, support, and mentorship;
• Fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment that promotes teamwork, innovation, and professional growth;
• Setting clear performance expectations, conducting regular performance assessments, and providing feedback to team members;
• Identifying training and capacity-building needs within the team and facilitating relevant learning opportunities;

Others:

• Providing support to other IIHS activities including academics, research, training, practice, operations and others;
• Participating in all activities of Institution-Building at IIHS; carrying out tasks as assigned by IIHS; and traveling on IIHS work within or outside the country as and when needed.

Structure and Reporting

The Lead will report to the Chief – Practice at IIHS or to any other person nominated by the Chief, and will be required to collaborate effectively with a diverse group of internal teams and external individuals/ organisations, and students.

Person Specification

The ideal candidate should have:

• A Master’s Degree in Environmental Science/ Engineering/ Architecture/ Planning/ Development Studies/ Social Sciences/ Public Policy/ Management or other water and sanitation related fields;
• A total of 16-18 years of progressive professional water and sanitation work experience;
• Strong knowledge of water supply and sanitation systems and service delivery, policies, sectoral updates, and challenges;
• Clear understanding of water and sanitation specific institutional frameworks, schemes, and interventions;
• Demonstrable track record of winning funding opportunities, calls for grants and tenders, and successfully delivering practice and research projects in water and sanitation;
• Proven experience in high-level government and client engagement, with ability to build networks and partnerships with government/authorities, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders;
• Excellent communication, relationship management, team-building and interpersonal skills; and an ability to work in inter-disciplinary, cross-sectoral teams;
• Professional to native-level fluency in spoken, written, and reading in English is required, along with a sound knowledge of MS Office packages.

This offer is on an exclusive basis, which implies that other professional assignments (whether compensated or not) that bear a potential conflict of interest with IIHS cannot be undertaken.

The search will remain open until the position is filled.

Location

This position is based in Delhi and may entail travel to other locations in India. Exceptional candidates based in Bangalore might be considered, with proviso of extensive travel to Delhi.

Review and Assessment

The role and performance of the incumbent shall be subject to normal review and assessment systems at IIHS.

Diversity Policy

IIHS is an equal opportunity employer that encourages women, people with disabilities and those from economically and socially excluded communities with the requisite skills and qualifications to apply for positions.

Contact

Please write to us at hr@iihs.co.in if you need any clarifications while filling the online application form.