OPEN POSITION ANNOUNCMENT:
Water For People is an unconventional, progressive nonprofit organization that believes that the
global water and sanitation crisis can be solved with boldness, ambition, honesty and transparency.
We are an organization of field workers who have grown tired of the stale rhetoric and complacent
programming that dominates the sector. We are looking for new ways to transform lives around the
world through innovative approaches that lead to lasting and meaningful change.
Water For People seeks a dynamic, motivated and creative Vice President of Operations to be part
of, contribute to and enhance our work worldwide.
Position Summary:
The Vice President of Operations leads the integration of the core departments of our
Denver-based operations, including the functions of Marketing, Communications, Finance,
Administration, Business Development, Human Resources, and Risk/Compliance. This position will
ensure that all these departments excel and help our Denver Headquarters play its essential role in
the fulfillment of our Everyone Forever model worldwide to end water poverty. The VP of
Operations will help translate vision into strategy and action, setting priorities and ensuring delivery
within and across departments. This leader will embrace the opportunity to bring alignment,
cohesion and clarity to the mission, strategy and operational management of a global driven
nonprofit.
The Vice President of Operations is based in Denver, CO, reports to the CEO and is part of a
3-person Strategy Team including the CEO and VP of International Programs. The Strategy Team sits
on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.
Personal Characteristics:
 Thrives on creating order and direction in rapidly changing environments
 Naturally suited to setting priorities, solving conflicts, removing obstacles, getting the
company from point A to point B
 Enjoys working with teams and organizations to lead them through periods of
transformation and change
 Is a filter for all visionary ideas and helps remove obstacles and barriers
 Innate ability to negotiate win-win scenarios
 Confidence to exert independence of thought and principle, along with the skills to
collaborate effectively with a broad range of stakeholders
 Comfortable in a fast-paced environment with candor and debate
 Demonstrates strength of conviction and integrity
 Has stamina and patience
 Understands how to influence change in a professional environment
 Has a personal style that emphasizes openness, visibility and approachability
 Is comfortable making hard decisions
 Possesses strong commitment to a team approach and professionalism
 Thinks and acts in a facilitative and supportive fashion
Responsibilities:
 Will support individual departments to excel and will integrate and streamline the activities
of multiple departments for greater impact
 Is the tie-breaker for the leadership council, is the glue for the organization, holds everything
together, beats the drum (provides cadence), is accountable for executing the business plan,
and is a steady force in the organization
 Is responsible for leading headquarters through periods of transformation and change
 Will work with the Strategy Team to help the organization reach the next phase of its
organizational evolution and design to achieve its mission
 Strategic thinker and creative problem solver; highly analytical; uses data to support
decisions
 Is responsible for establishing clear articulation and communication between departments
on strategy, goals, and activities
 Will synthesize data, insights and input from staff to chart a clear course forward for the
organization’s next phase and hold senior leaders, and themselves, accountable for
organizational performance
 Is responsible for building a culture of support and understanding across different
departments with a focus on helping those departments collectively drive towards
addressing complex challenges
 Will manage complex, charged situations with decisive, yet respectful understanding of
organizational dynamics and culture
 Will create open lines of communication to share progress. Expects mature, honest,
solution-oriented approach to problems
Duties:
 Facilitates annual headquarters reflection period using a model unique to Water For People
called Re-imagining Reporting
 Reviews standard operating procedures and policies and revises as necessary to achieve
consistency
 Responsible for building and integrating Denver-based departments
 Facilitates headquarters Leadership Council meetings
 Is responsible for implementing annual employee engagement survey process and
coordinate regularly with the employee engagement committee to achieve ongoing
improvement and transparency in headquarters culture
 Participates in the Board of Directors and Executive Committee Meetings
 Has numerous reports, including Marketing/Communication, Business Development,
Finance and Administration, Human Resources, and Risk/Compliance
 Organizes Strategy Team meetings and retreats that result in strong understanding of
progress, plus addresses strategic and operational issues moving forward
 Creates a partnership with Strategy Team and demonstrates credibility as the go-to in
Denver for issue identification and problem resolution
Qualifications:
 Strong conceptual skills coupled with excellent financial acumen
 Proven track record of creating a productive atmosphere of trust, transparency, and passion
 Must have well-developed written, oral, interpersonal, negotiation and communication
skills, with a high level of sensitivity for propriety and confidentiality
 Highly numerate with the ability to interpret data
 Thinks conceptually with the ability to approach problems from a holistic perspective; sees
connections, linkages, and interdependencies
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Conversant in the principles of marketing/communications, sales/fundraising, information
systems/technology management, human resources, financial management/accounting
Familiarity with emerging trends and developments in communication and social media
Self-motivated, hard worker who holds people accountable while encouraging creativity and
the free exchange of new ideas
Strong follow through; makes timely decisions and meets deadlines using sound and
accurate judgment
Can prioritize well; has a sense of urgency and can initiate action. Results focused; expects
similar behavior from others
Measure of Success:
 Enhanced understanding and appreciation within headquarters of what each department
does to achieve Water For People’s mission
 HQ provides the vital role they need to play to achieve Everyone Forever
 Clear evidence of positive movement in employee engagement in Denver
 Productivity has increased because organization priorities and plans are clear and employees
are pushed to achieve their greatest success but are not stretched beyond reasonable limits
Education/Formal Training and Experience:
 At least 10 years of management experience with at least 5 years as a COO or in a similar
executive leadership position
 Bachelor’s degree is required Master’s degree in business or management is preferred.
Substantial professional experience will be taken into consideration in lieu of the specific
advanced degrees/certifications
Location: Denver, Colorado
Note: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications
associated with the job
Contact and Further Information:
It is an exciting time to be a part of a fast paced, innovative organization who’s Changing the Game.
If you are both qualified and Water For People and the global water and sanitation challenge interests you, please
send us your resume and cover letter that introduces you to us, and provides insights into both your experiences and
new ideas you may want to implement at Water For People. Resumes can be sent to careers@waterforpeople.org;
please put the job title in the subject line. Deadline for submitting your application is 5 pm, Tuesday, October 21st.
Water For People offers a competitive salary and benefits package.
Reminder: Water For People cannot sponsor individuals for immigration benefits in this position.