Sweden: Director, Water Resources Cooperation Department

Jan 9, 2022 | Stockholm International Water Institute
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SIWI is a policy institute that generates knowledge and informs decision-making towards a water wise world. SIWI conducts research, builds institutional capacity, and provides advisory services to water decision-makers and practitioners in emerging and developing economies. Our expertise relates to multi-level governance of shared water resources and sustainable delivery of water and services. We work on the linkages of water with sectors such as climate, food and energy and at multiple scales in countries, cities, rural communities and along river basins. SIWI organises the World Water Week in Stockholm - the leading annual global meeting place on water and development issues – and hosts the Stockholm Water Prize and the Stockholm Junior Water Prize.

SIWI is looking for a Director of its Water Resources Cooperation Department to assume the direct responsibility of 15 staff members and the financial control, administrative compliance, risk management, programme implementation monitoring, and results reporting functions.

 You will be responsible for steering the implementation of several of SIWIs flagship programmes: the UNDP-SIWI Water Governance Facility, the Source to Sea Programme (including the S2S Platform Secretariat), as well as the Shared Waters Partnership and the SEI/SIPRI/SIWI Climate and Security Hub.

One of your first tasks will be, with your leadership and strategic vision, oversee the merger of two teams into a joined Water Resources Cooperation Department.

In fulfilling this role you will represent the Department on SIWI’s Senior Management Team and work in close cooperation with SIWI’s other operational departments and regional offices, South Africa and Colombia, in identifying opportunities for cross-departmental cooperation in the design and implementation of activities.

 Areas of responsibility:

  • Lead and strategically develop the thematic areas of water resources management, source-to-sea approach and transboundary water cooperation, in line with SIWIs strategy and the department Action Plan.
  • Contribute to the development of SIWIs overarching strategic priorities and direction within water resources cooperation.
  • Overall responsibility for all issues related to staff working within the department, including performance monitoring, goal-setting and team relations.
  • Implementation and management of the department’s projects and programs on time, on budget and at quality, with monitoring and reporting of results.
  • Represent SIWI and the department internally and externally.
  • Ensure adherence to SIWI’s policies and guidelines as well as those of our key financial partners.
  • Champion the department’s contribution to SIWIs cross-cutting issues.
  • Initiate, develop and nurture partnerships to attract finance for the programmes of the department.
  • Responsibility for budgeting and planning of human resources, including developing individual workplans for staff.
  • Responsible for recruitments within the department, after approval by COO and HR dep.

 Reporting responsibility

  • The Director reports to the Chief Operating Officer.

 Your competence

  • Relevant university post-graduate degree
  • Min 10 years management experience with increasing responsibility and staff management
  • Strong team leadership skills
  • Experience in international water development– at global, regional and national levels
  • Fluent in English
  • Other Languages skills such as Spanish and French are a welcomed plus

Personal characteristics

  • Ability to identify and initiate synergies and strong cooperation with peers
  • Demonstrates empathy and a track record of enabling high-performing and diverse teams to thrive and deliver impact and results
  • Stable and confident leader with experience in managing experts and senior professionals internationally
  • Inspiring manager that builds a constructive team-culture built on trust and open communication
  • Strong communicator across multiple formats
  • Structured and able to understand administration, planning, follow-up and budget processes

Duty Station 

The full-time, permanent position will be based at the Stockholm International Water Institute headquarters office in Stockholm. The position requires up to 20% international travel.

How to apply for the position:

Click on the application button, which is located at the bottom of the ad and follow the instructions. All applications should be in English.

Last date for applications will be on the 24th of January, 2022. Please note that interviews will be held on a rolling basis during the application period so please send us your information as soon as possible.

For more information about the position please contact: