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