COUNTRY DIRECTOR

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT@ SPLASH INTERNATIONAL

POSITION: COUNTRY DIRECTOR

Location: Lilongwe

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https://ats.rippling.com/en-GB/splash-international/jobs/a8011a4a-b426-480b-b520-24ddacac561c

About Splash
Splash is an international development organization founded in 2007 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, USA. In 15 years, we have reached nearly 1,000,000 children in cities around the world. In 2019, we embarked on an exciting, five-year initiative, Project WISE (WASH in Schools for Everyone), focused on serving over 800,000 children in three major growth cities – Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar, Ethiopia and Kolkata, India – with improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, WASH behavior change programs, and strengthened school-based menstrual health programs. This is an exciting time for Splash as we pivot to new ways of working and aim to expand our impact to new cities across 3-5 countries.

Splash supports local leaders, institutions, and partners to drive lasting change on the ground. We believe that local capacity to solve problems at scale exists, and our job is to strategically support and magnify the impact of local governments, nonprofit and for-profit actors for the good of children and families across the cities in which we work.

Our core values guide everything we do, including every hiring decision we make. They are:

People – People first. People second. People third.
Quality – Beautiful products that function and last.
Honesty – No drama, no surprises, no BS.
Joy – Kids at heart, seeing potential everywhere.
Mistakes – Make them, don’t repeat them.
Splash values the unique skills and experiences everyone brings to the organization, and we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment. To learn more, please visit www.splash.org.

The Job

Job title: Country Director- Malawi

Line Manger: Executive Director, Splash Africa
Functional Reporting: Chief Impact Officer, Global Director Infrastructure, Senior Director of Programs and collaborating closely with the Regional and Global teams

Location: Lilongwe, Malawi

Level of Effort: Full time and office based

Position Overview

The Country Director – Malawi will serve as Splash International’s senior representative in Malawi. This role provides strategic leadership, manages government and partner relationships, and ensures the successful delivery of Project WISE II. You will lead a growing country team and partnerships, ensuring high-quality implementation, accountability, and alignment with both Splash’s global strategy and Malawi ‘s national priorities.

Roles & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Oversight

Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for Splash Malawi
Align program design and implementation with national priorities and Splash’s global strategy
Lead annual planning, budgeting, and reporting
Ensure timelines, quality standards, and impact targets are consistently met
Government, Donor & Partner Engagement

Serve as Splash’s lead representative to the Government of Malawi, ministries, and agencies
Build and maintain trusted relationships with national and district authorities
Cultivate partnerships with donors, implementers, and peer organizations
Manage donor engagement, site visits, and transparent communication on progress
Convene and guide project steering committees for alignment and accountability
Represent Splash in national and regional WASH sector forums
Ensure government financial and operational commitments to sustainability
Program Delivery & Quality Assurance

Oversee implementation of Project WISE II through local partners and subcontractors
Ensure activities meet Splash’s standards and shared goals
Maintain systems for partner performance, quality assurance, and learning
Ensure robust monitoring, evaluation, and reporting for all projects
Foster a culture of data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement
Team Management & Development

Lead and mentor the Malawi team to deliver excellence and innovation
Build a strong culture rooted in accountability, collaboration, and joy
Ensure compliance with Splash’s global policies and local labor laws
Support professional development and succession planning for national leadership
Operations, Finance & Compliance

Oversee country operations, resources, and compliance with national regulations
Manage budgets and financial systems to ensure fiscal responsibility
Oversee partner contracts, procurement, and due diligence
Ensure operational alignment with Splash’s standards for transparency and accountability
Qualifications

Master’s degree in international development, public administration, education, public health, or related field (or equivalent experience)
10+ years of progressive leadership experience in development, government, or education sectors
Proven ability to lead multi-million-dollar programs and teams
Strong experience managing partnerships and navigating complex government systems
Demonstrated success in managing donor relationships and compliance
Experience in WASH, education, or public health (preferred)
Fluent in English; knowledge of local languages is an advantage
Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
Nationals of Malawi or residents are strongly encouraged to apply
Core Competencies

Strategic and analytical thinker
Politically astute and diplomatic
Results-driven and highly organized
Emotionally intelligent and people-centered
Collaborative, inclusive, and values-driven
Committed to child dignity and sustainable impact
The Ideal Candidate

A deep commitment to the overall mission of the organization, its programs, and approach consistent with Splash’s values.
Proven sense of professional competence, integrity, honesty, openness, and sound judgment
Experienced in managing multiple (at times conflicting) priorities in a well-organized manner and by working at a fast pace.
Ability to work and collaborate in team environment, including with remote team members
Innovative and creative: seek better ways to accomplish objectives
Compensation & Benefits

At Splash, we prioritize our mission by offering benefits to support our employees and their families.

Splash operates across time zones with flexible work schedules. Team members can set standard hours within their time zone but should be available for occasional time outside of normal business hours. This is balanced by a self-managed schedule allowing personal time.
Benefits include 21 days of paid time off, increasing by 2 days each year up to 28 days, 11 paid holidays, and Wellness Fridays (reduced hours on Fridays).
Additionally, we offer two weeks of paid time off mid-year during July first week and the last week of December .
Medical, dental, vision insurance, and a match contributions towards the National Pension Scheme as required by law.
The benefits are subject to change depending on the local labor law and other guidelines

APPLY NOW
https://ats.rippling.com/en-GB/splash-international/jobs/a8011a4a-b426-480b-b520-24ddacac561c