Regional Director South Asia

Regional Director - South Asia

Contract: Permanent contract, Full-time,

Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh, Islamabad, Pakistan or Kathmandu, Nepal

The role can be based in any country in the South Asia region where WaterAid has a presence (Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh). Candidate must have the right to work in one of these locations and the ability to travel to any of the three countries in the region at short notice.

Salaries & Benefits: Salaries and benefits will vary by country, depending on the successful candidate's location and experience. See further details below:

Pakistan: PKR 29,373,937 – PKR 38,186,118 per annum, plus 13th month and benefits.

Nepal: NPR 12,249,824 – NPR 17,149,754, plus 13th month and benefits.

Bangladesh: BDT 7,095,357 – BDT 8,869,202 per annum, plus circa 100% of basic pay in benefits added (=House Rent Allowance @50% of basic, Transportation @ 15% of basic, medical allowance, Festival Bonus).

Change starts with water. Change starts with you.

Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid exists to change that – for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people’s potential and create a fairer future.

About WaterAid

We’re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.

About the Team

The South Asia Regional Team comprises a lean but strategically structured group of professionals providing leadership, technical guidance, programme support, and operational oversight across the region. Led by the Regional Director, the team includes dedicated functions covering programme support, business development, learning and strategic support, and finance.

It is further strengthened by embedded and shared technical expertise in areas such as WASH systems, climate resilience, and GEDSI, alongside project-specific roles such as the WS4H coordination unit and the Beacon project management. Several roles are designed as part-time or shared positions, leveraging in-country expertise from Bangladesh and Pakistan to ensure both efficiency and contextual relevance. Though geographically dispersed across Bangladesh, Pakistan, the UK, and India, the team operates as a cohesive and integrated unit—effectively combining strategic leadership with technical depth to support country programmes and advance regional priorities.

About the Role

The Regional Director provides leadership to the South Asia region and contributes to the global leadership of WaterAid. This is achieved by providing strategic direction and guidance to the region’s work, empowering, and developing staff and influencing key stakeholders to maximise the impact that improvement to safe water, sanitation and hygiene can make to the poorest and most excluded people. This leadership is undertaken in line with WaterAid’s values, guiding principles and global strategy.

In this role, you will:

Strategic Leadership for Country Programmes and Region ​ 

•  Support the country team in accelerating the momentum of delivering transformative and influential programmes across the South Asia region in line with WaterAid global, regional, and country strategies.  
• Set the overall strategic direction of programmes in the region and lead South Asia teams to deliver the shifts and ambition within their country strategies. 
• Be effective and influential in the region and elevate the importance of WASH in the agendas of the key stakeholders.    
• Lead donor awareness and strategy-led donor engagement to generate income growth in line with the regional growth ambition and plans. 
• Contribute to the development of a strong WASH sector especially within the region and with relevant global agencies, institutions, and platforms.  Ensuring WaterAid's vision, mission, values, and aims are communicated in a positive and compelling way.  

  Effective Management of Country Programmes and Region 

•  Build, lead and manage high performance in diverse teams by creating an environment that enables staff to maximise their potential. Be an empowering leader and nurture staff wellbeing and safety. Foster a culture of openness, ability to speak up and accountability to all stakeholders. 
• Provide oversight of the successful delivery of multiyear plans through setting realistic targets, monitoring progress and budgets, providing assurance in terms of quality of programme delivery, capacity development, effective learning and knowledge management and programme monitoring and evaluation. 
• Effectively coach and support direct reports in areas such as people development, country programme, advocacy, funding strategies and multiyear plans, budgeting, planning and reporting processes.  
• Provide the direction and prioritisation of resources within the regional team to effectively support the country programmes.  

   Strategic contribution to wider organisation leadership  

• Contribute fully as a member of the departmental Senior Management Team and global leadership team to support organisational effectiveness and development; engage at the global level on various strategic, thematic, and learning priorities as appropriate 
• Represent country programme perspectives to the wider organisation and communicate strategic and operational issues of the region to the wider organisation. 
• Develop a thorough understanding of the external environment in which WaterAid operates, identify opportunities, and manage risk, including ensuring appropriate health and safety and security procedures are in place. 

To be successful, you’ll need:

• Degree, professional qualification in a relevant subject (i.e., development studies, social sciences, public health/health education or civil engineering) or equivalent experience.
• Substantial track record of successfully working and leading teams at a senior level across different contexts with strategic leadership and management responsibilities in international development. 
• In-depth understanding of the South Asian context (social, political, policy and institutional environment).
• Proven track record of building and leading high performing, diverse and virtual teams, skilled in cross cultural management.
• Current experience of development policy and practice with key stakeholders in the region (i.e., governments, donors, regional and continental bodies and networks).
• Track record of policy influencing at regional and/or continental levels.

Although not essential, we’d prefer you to have:

• Post-graduate degree in Development Studies, social sciences or management.
• Experience of working for an international NGO.
• Experience in and understanding of WASH sector will be a strong advantage. 
• Understanding of implementing projects through partner organisations.
• Specific experience in one of WaterAid’s key thematic areas – Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Urban, Sanitation, Human Rights, Gender and Equality, Water Resource Management.
• Experience of institutional strengthening within NGO or government environment.

View Full Job Description here.

Closing date: Applications will close 12:00 PM UK time on 20th April 2026. Availability for the first interview is required week commencing 11th May 2026.

Shortlisting and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis, and the role may close earlier if a suitable candidate is found. We therefore encourage you to apply at an early stage.

How to Apply: Click Apply to answer the pre-screening questions, upload your CV and cover letter.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application?

At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well.

Pre‑employment screening:

To apply for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to local law and WaterAid’s Safer Recruitment policy. All UK based roles require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

As a global organisation, WaterAid is committed to creating an environment where you can thrive and be yourself at your very best. Alongside our inspiring mission and meaningful work, we offer a range of benefits tailored to each country’s context and policies. These will be shared during the process

Our Global Commitment:

Our people promise

We will work with passion and focus to make sure everyone everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have. We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.

Safeguarding

We are committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero- tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks).

Together, we’ll change the world through water.