WASH Project Management Consultant (Independent Contractor)

M3 Human Capital Management (Pty) Ltd; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

The Waitrose Foundation Southern Africa is implementing a regional Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiative across South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe over a two-year period. The foundation seeks to appoint a WASH Project Management Consultant to provide strategic oversight, technical guidance, coordination support, and project management services for the duration of the programme.

The role emphasises cross-country coordination, donor reporting, risk management, and compliance

Qualifications

• Degree in Environmental Sciences or related field.
• 5-8 years’ experience managing large-scale WASH or infrastructure development projects.
• Strong project management and stakeholder coordination skills.
• Understanding of rural development and community-based implementation.
• Experience with donor-funded programmes and reporting requirements.
• Knowledge of WASH sustainability, governance, and community participation approaches.

Responsibilities

• Project Oversight and Coordination across four countries; conduct site assessments and define project scope.
• Coordinate implementation, timelines, partners, and contractors; monitor milestones, risks, and corrective actions.
• Provide technical advisory support; review implementation and infrastructure plans; ensure alignment with regulations and standards.
• Monitoring, reporting and information consolidation; conduct site visits and provide progress updates.
• Financial, risk and compliance oversight; monitor budgets, expenditure, and cash flow; flag deviations.
• Stakeholder engagement; support country teams and partner communications.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder coordination

Community engagement

Donor-funded reporting

Education

Degree in Environmental Sciences or related field

Job description

The Waitrose Foundation Southern Africa is implementing a regional Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiative across South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe over a two-year period.

The Foundation seeks to appoint a WASH Project Management Consultant to provide strategic oversight, technical guidance, coordination support, and project management services for the duration of the programme.

Key Responsibilities:

• Project Oversight and Coordination: Conduct site assessments and define project scope; Coordinate implementation, timelines, partners, and contractors across four countries; Monitor milestones, risks, and corrective actions; Support statutory approvals, procurement, mobilisation, and engineering coordination.
• Technical Advisory Support: Provide technical coordination and advisory support; Review implementation and infrastructure plans; Advise on community engagement and behaviour change; Ensure alignment with local regulations and standards.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Support project monitoring, tracking, and reporting; Conduct site visits and inspections; Consolidate country updates and progress reports; Highlight key learnings, challenges, and recommendations.
• Financial, Risk and Compliance Oversight: Monitor budgets, expenditure, and cash flow; Support financial, operational, safeguarding, and ESG risk management; Flag significant budget, operational, or compliance deviations.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Participate in key stakeholder engagements; Support country team–Foundation communication; Assist technical partners and service providers as needed.

• Degree in Environmental Sciences or related field;
• 5-8 years’ experience managing large-scale WASH or infrastructure-related development projects;
• Strong project management and stakeholder coordination skills;
• Understanding of rural development and community-based implementation;
• Experience with donor-funded programmes and reporting requirements;
• Knowledge of WASH sustainability, governance, and community participation approaches.