WASH Advisor

Global Water Center; North Charleston (SC); Remote; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Global Water Center is seeking a WASH Advisor to deliver online and in-person training on solar-powered water systems, mentor consultants, and build capacity with learning and technical services clients across diverse contexts.

The role requires a strong engineering background, cross-cultural communication, and the ability to adapt training for varied audiences. Travel up to six international trips annually is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science, or related field.
• Strong facilitation, mentoring, and communication skills.
• At least 5 years of engineering experience.
• Experience in cross-cultural or international settings preferred.
• 2+ years working with solar-powered water systems preferred.
• 3+ years training delivery experience preferred.
• Experience developing technical training materials and curricula.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Strong AI fluency; integrate AI tools into workflows.
• Willingness to travel internationally and across time zones.
• Excellent spoken and written English; French proficiency preferred.
• Ability to learn new skills quickly.

Responsibilities

• Deliver GWC's online courses and in-person training across diverse contexts and regions, focusing on solar-powered water systems.
• Contextualize training content to address audience gaps and needs.
• Contribute to design of capacity development programming and training-of-trainers models.
• Engage with partners after training to reinforce learning and provide guidance.
• Oversee, train, and mentor consultants delivering project outputs.
• Serve as a WASH advisor to partners, providing one-on-one technical guidance.

Skills

Facilitation

Mentoring

Verbal communication

English fluency

French proficiency

Cross-cultural collaboration

Travel readiness

Time zone coordination

AI fluency

WASH systems knowledge

Engineering experience

Training delivery

Technical training

MS Office

Solar-powered water systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/environmental science

Tools

MS Office

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

The WASH Advisor is a full-time position reporting to the Director of Training. This person will serve as a technical resource and trainer on a wide range of water engineering-related topics, applying sound engineering principles, strong facilitation and mentoring skills, and excellent communication skills to build the capacity of learning and technical services clients.
The WASH Advisor will be a versatile engineer who is comfortable building client relationships, providing hands‑on technical support, leading and delivering training to diverse audiences, and supporting training program development.
GWC’s work environment is fast-paced, dynamic, and highly collaborative. Candidates should be comfortable working in an early-stage environment, balancing the need for flexibility, structure, and procedure.

This position is remote. Travel is a part of this role, with six international trips of approximately one to three weeks per year. Some travel in higher-risk countries may be required.

GWC was founded on Biblical principles; its core values are love, excellence, and integrity. There is an expectation that these values are modeled across each and every interaction and relationship.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Training & Capacity Development

• Deliver GWC's online courses and in‑person training across diverse cultural contexts and geographic locations, with a particular focus on solar‑powered water systems (SPWS).
• Contextualize training content and delivery to address the specific gaps, challenges, and needs of each audience and region.
• Contribute subject matter expertise to the design of capacity development programming, including training curricula, technical assistance approaches, and training-of-trainers models.
• Engage with partners and course participants after training concludes to reinforce application of skills, provide follow‑up technical guidance, and support continued learning.
• Oversee, train, and mentor consultants hired to carry out project deliverables.

Technical Advising & Mentorship

• Serve as a WASH advisor and mentor to GWC water sector partners - including NGOs, governments, and utilities - providing one‑on‑one technical guidance on designing, maintaining, and monitoring water systems, including SPWS.
• Where required, draw on specialized expertise in areas such as utility performance, asset management, non‑revenue water management, energy optimization, electromechanical design, remote monitoring, water quality, volumetric water benefit accounting, water stewardship, and groundwater resource management as needed by individual partners.
• Assess partner needs and tailor technical support to the specific challenges and capacity level of each organization.
• Support long‑term technical capacity development within partner organizations through training, technical consulting, and mentorship.
• Stay current on best practices and emerging technologies in solar‑powered and conventional water systems to keep guidance relevant and up to date.

Partnerships

• Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations receiving training and technical support.
• Actively identify and pursue opportunities that support the growth and scale of GWC's learning and technical services work.

General Responsibilities

• Model the GWC’s core values of love, excellence, and integrity to colleagues, partners, prospects, vendors, and the public
• Work within cross‑cultural environments with humility and an intentional focus on overcoming barriers.
• Maintain efficient and effective communication with multiple partner organizations and team members across countries and time zones.
• Represent GWC to external audiences, including partner organizations and training participants.
• Work simultaneously on multiple projects, ensuring work is completed with excellence within an agreed‑upon scope, schedule, and budget.
• Other duties as needed or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, environmental science, or related technical field (strong technical grounding in water systems is essential)
• Excellent facilitation, mentoring, and verbal communication skills with demonstrated experience facilitating training and providing mentoring, ideally in cross‑cultural or international settings
• Minimum 5 years of engineering experience
• 2+ years working in low- and middle-income countries preferred
• 2+ years working with solar‑powered water systems preferred
• A minimum of 3 years of training delivery experience; both in‑person and online delivery experience is an asset
• Experience developing or contributing to technical training development preferred
• Proficiency with office software (such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook);
• Strong AI fluency, with both the mindset and skills to proactively integrate AI tools into daily technical and administrative workflows.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new skills and subject areas quickly
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally
• Ability and willingness to work outside of regular office hours to accommodate communication across multiple time zones
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Fluent in written and spoken English and French required

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Strong relationship‑building skills
• Demonstrated interest in partnership development
• Team player
• High attention to detail and strong analytical skills
• Adaptable, curious, and flexible within dynamic environments
• Takes initiative and has the ability to work independently
• Strategic and professional communication
• Solution‑oriented critical thinking and problem-solving

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to safely lift a minimum of 35 pounds
• Ability to sit for extended periods and perform physical movements including standing, walking, typing, carrying, kneeling, bending, and navigating stairs
• Ability to work primarily indoors with occasional outdoor work in varying weather conditions
• Ability to work outside standard business hours as needed, including occasional evening and weekend work to build relationships