Ethiopia- Country Director

About SplashSplash 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 JobJob title: Ethiopia- Country DirectorLine Manager: Executive Director, AfricaLocation: Addis Ababa, EthiopiaThe Job: Full time office-basedPosition OverviewThe Ethiopia- Country Director serves as the most senior representative of Splash International in Ethiopia, providing strategic oversight, managing government and partner relationships, and ensuring the sustainability and long-term impact of Project WISE Phase I.This role will focus on consolidating and sustaining the systems, partnerships, and local capacities established under Project WISE, ensuring integration within government frameworks and long-term functionality of WASH-in-Schools programs.The position requires a collaborative, diplomatic, and strategic leader who can work across ministries, education and health systems, and implementing partners to achieve sustained outcomes in WASH, hygiene, and menstrual health programming.Roles & Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & OversightProvide overall leadership and direction for Splash’s Ethiopia program with a focus on sustainability, systems strengthening, and institutional ownership.Ensure program priorities and activities align with Splash’s global strategy and Ethiopia’s national WASH-in-Schools goals.Lead country-level annual planning, budgeting, and reporting processes focused on long-term program sustainability.Monitor implementation of sustainability and maintenance frameworks to ensure quality, equity, and continued impact. Government, Donor and Partner EngagementServe as the primary representative of Splash to the Government of Ethiopia, including ministries, city authorities, and education/water agencies.Build and maintain trusted relationships with government counterparts to strengthen institutional WASH systems, policy alignment, and accountability.Manage relationships with key donors, implementing partners, and peer organizations to support continued program support and funding transitions.Lead and facilitate project steering committees—both high-level and technical—to coordinate among stakeholders on sustainability outcomes and future program design.Represent Splash in local and regional coordination platforms to share best practices and advocate for the long-term sustainability of WASH-in-Schools initiatives. Program Delivery & Quality AssuranceOversee post-implementation sustainability efforts for Project WISE Phase I in Ethiopia, including systems strengthening, data-driven monitoring, and handover processes. Ensure the continued functionality of WASH facilities, supply chains, and behavior change programming through government partnerships and local capacity building. Support evidence-based program adaptation and policy integration for WASH-in-Schools within government systems. Establish frameworks for continuous learning, accountability, and performance monitoring of partners and schools. Team Management & DevelopmentProvide leadership, mentorship, and oversight to the Ethiopia country team to ensure excellence in program delivery and operations, primarily through collaboration with and management of local implementing partners and sub-contractors.Lead, mentor, and support the Ethiopia team to ensure excellence in program execution, partner coordination, and stakeholder engagement.Foster a collaborative and inclusive culture that emphasizes learning, integrity, and shared ownership.Ensure compliance with Splash’s HR, finance, and operational policies, and adherence to Ethiopian labor and partnership laws.Strengthen staff and partner capacity in sustainability planning, systems integration, and long-term impact monitoring. Operations & Compliance Oversee Splash’s Ethiopia office and operations to ensure compliance with national regulations and Splash’s global policies.Manage country budgets and resources with a focus on cost-effectiveness, accountability, and donor compliance.Oversee agreements with partners and vendors, ensuring due diligence, contract performance, and risk mitigation.Maintain Splash’s registration, reporting, and legal compliance in Ethiopia, including adherence to local NGO regulations.The Ideal CandidateA strong commitment to Splash’s mission, programs, and approach, fully aligned with the organization’s values.Strong track record of navigating government partnerships and advocating for policy or systems-level change in Ethiopia.Proven professional discretion, integrity, and the ability to diplomatically manage complex situations toward effective resolution.Demonstrates unwavering integrity, honesty, openness, and sound judgment.Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to navigate and leverage existing networks within schools in EthiopiaStrong understanding of Ethiopia’s WASH, education, or public health sectors.Strong team collaboration skills, including working effectively with remote teams.A passion for collaboration and a genuine interest in learning from and developing others.Innovative and creative mindset: always looking for better ways to achieve objectives.Critical thinking and demonstrated strong problem-solving abilities.QualificationsMaster’s degree in international development, public administration, education, public health, or a related field (a combination of a bachelor’s degree and substantial relevant experience will also be considered).Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in international development, government relations, education, or related sectors, including significant experience in Ethiopia. Proven track record in managing government relationships and navigating policy, advocacy, and regulatory environments.Strong experience in program management, including planning, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting for multi-year, multi-million USD projects.Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire, and collaborate effectively with diverse teams, including managing work through implementing partners and subcontractors.Experience in WASH, education, or public health programs is highly desirable.Strong understanding of the Ethiopian operational, cultural, and regulatory context.Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with fluency in English (written and verbal) and proficiency in one or more local languages preferred.Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a matrixed organization and across regional and global teams.Highly organized, self-motivated, and adaptable, with a service-oriented and solutions-driven approach.Strategic thinker with strong analytical and decision-making skills, comfortable using data and evidence to inform priorities.Passion for team building, partnership development, and driving collective success.Commitment to maintaining a positive workplace culture that balances professionalism with joy, inclusivity, and learning.Core CompetenciesStrategic thinker with strong problem-solving skills.Politically astute with excellent diplomacy and influencing skills.Results-oriented and highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.Culturally sensitive, value-driven, and committed to child well-being and dignity.Passionate about Splash’s mission to ensure every child has access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in school.Compensation & BenefitsAt Splash, we prioritize our mission by offering benefits to support our employees and their families. Splash operates across time zones with flexible work schedules. Benefits include 21 days of paid time off, increasing by 2 days each year up to 18 days, 11 paid holidays, and Wellness Fridays (reduced hours on Fridays). Additionally, we offer two weeks of paid time off mid-year during the July 4th week and the last week of the year.Medical, dental, vision insurance, and contributions towards the retirement plan.The benefits are subject to change depending on the local labor law and guidelines.How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit their resume and a cover letter outlining their qualifications and experience to Rippling.