* Full-time
Company Description
Vitol has a long history of charitable giving, making its first charitable grant in 2002. The Vitol Foundation was established in 2006, registered in Switzerland and operating independently from Vitol’s business interests. Since then, the Vitol Foundation has funded over 2000 projects in more than 120 countries around the world.
The Vitol Foundation aims to make a difference in the lives of people around the world trapped in poverty. They are passionate about supporting organisations and programmes that can take children and their families in the poorest of countries across the world out of the vicious cycle of multi-dimensional poverty.
Their work is focused on a few core areas: education, health, humanitarian relief and emergencies, water, sanitation and hygiene and local giving through Vitol’s offices worldwide.
By providing different types of financing to non-governmental organisations and social enterprises, the Vitol Foundation aims to:
* Fund transformational, efficient, sustainable, scalable and replicable solutions
* Support and strengthen government, private sector and community systems to provide sustainable services that align with the foundation’s strategic focus
* Address the systemic issues that make humanitarian crises more acute, by funding response and resilience in addition to recovery
* Share models of evidence-based best practice that can be scaled by government, private sector and/or communities
* Act responsibly with diverse partners with sensitivity to their circumstances and cultural contexts
* Increase engagement and leverage the knowledge base of the Vitol Group worldwide
We are seeking a highly skilled and visionary Head of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Investments to lead and drive the foundation’s efforts in advancing sustainable water and sanitation solutions. This senior leadership role will oversee both grant making and for-profit investments, with a focus on innovative solutions that improve access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene in the Global South. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in the water and sanitation sector, a proven track record of developing and executing impactful strategies, and the ability to leverage both philanthropic and market-based financial models to drive systemic change. This person will be seen as a global expert in the field, capable of influencing policy, building cross-sector partnerships, and leading high-impact investments.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Vision:
* Lead the review, development and execution of the foundation’s water, sanitation and hygiene strategy, aligning with the broader organizational goals and addressing urgent water and sanitation challenges, in low- and middle-income countries with a focus on the foundation’s priority countries.
* Provide thought leadership on innovative and scalable water, sanitation and hygiene solutions, staying at the forefront of global trends, technologies, and policies in the sector.
* Create a cohesive strategy that integrates grant making, impact investing, and blended finance models to maximize the social, environmental, and financial impact of water and sanitation programs.
* Act as the foundation’s lead expert in water, sanitation and hygiene, advocating for global and regional policy reforms and increased funding in this critical sector.
* Oversee the foundation’s portfolio of investments, combining philanthropic grants with for-profit investments that drive sustainable strategy aligned solutions.
* Identify, assess, and manage high-impact for-profit investments in water, sanitation and hygiene solutions, technology, and services that have the potential to scale in the Global South.
* Collaborate with external partners to explore blended finance models that combine grants with market-driven capital to de-risk investments and catalyze private sector engagement in water, sanitation and hygiene.
* Provide oversight and support to investees, ensuring that both financial and social impact targets are met. Track and report on investment performance, ensuring that the foundation’s investments align with long-term sustainability goals.
* Develop and manage a robust portfolio of grant making programs focused on strategy aligned hygiene innovations, community-driven solutions, and policy advocacy.
* Cultivate and manage relationships with key stakeholders, including governments, multi-lateral organizations (e.g., World Bank, UNICEF), bi-lateral donors (e.g., USAID, DFID), NGOs, and private sector actors, to ensure alignment and collaboration on water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives.
* Drive partnerships that combine financial and technical expertise, facilitating collaboration across sectors to address complex sector challenges.
* Identify and support organizations and initiatives that focus on the intersection of water, sanitation, hygiene and climate change, health, and gender equality.
Global Advocacy & Thought Leadership:
* Serve as a thought leader and spokesperson for the foundation in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector, representing the foundation at international forums, conferences, and policy dialogues.
* Lead efforts to shape global water, sanitation and hygiene policy, advocating for stronger investment, regulatory frameworks, and cross-sector partnerships to accelerate access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene worldwide.
* Contribute to global discussions on sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene management and equity, working closely with international agencies, governments, and the private sector to influence change.
* Lead, shape and participate in donor collaboratives like the WASH Funders Group.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning:
* Ensure that all water, sanitation and hygiene programs—whether through grants or investments—are rigorously monitored, evaluated, and assessed for both social impact and financial sustainability.
* Develop and implement robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks for the water, sanitation and hygiene portfolio to measure success and inform future strategies.
* Capture and disseminate lessons learned, case studies, and best practices to ensure continuous improvement across the portfolio and within the broader sector.
* Lead, mentor, and collaborate with a high-performing, diverse team of professionals across development sectors, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and impact.
* Promote professional development within the team, ensuring staff are equipped with the skills and knowledge to execute high-impact projects and navigate complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
Qualifications
Qualifications
* Educational Background: Advanced degree in Water Resource Management, Environmental Engineering, International Development, Public Policy, or a related field preferred.
* Experience: 12+ years of proven experience in managing or operating both for-profit investments and philanthropic grants within the water, sanitation and hygiene space.
* Strategic Insight and Analytical Rigor: Expertise in for-profit impact investing and blended finance, with the ability to structure investments that balance social impact with financial return.
* Facilitation and Communication: Exceptional communication and facilitation skills, with experience representing an organization in global settings and advocating for policy and investment change.
Project Management and Adaptability: Track record of developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with governments, multi-laterals, the private sector, and other key stakeholders.
Additional Information
* Vitol is an international company with offices across all continents
* You will work in a flat and approachable organization
* We are a great place to work. We have an excellent working atmosphere and we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package
* Staff are required to work at least 4 days per week in the office in London Victoria.
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