JOB DESCRIPTION
Title: Operations Manager, Uganda
Reports to: Country Director
Employment Type: Full-time
About Impact Water
Want to help make safe drinking water a reality for every student, everywhere?
Impact Water is a nonprofit that provides point-of-use water treatment systems and safe water education to public schools in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. Today, we support more than 24 million students in over 60,000 schools.
Our model is simple and practical. We install point-of-use water treatment systems in schools, keep them resupplied, and maintain them so they keep working year after year. Our field teams visit schools regularly to train teachers on safe water practices, check that water is actually being treated, and teach students why they should only drink treated water.
We work closely with national and subnational governments, and over the next five years we are supporting them to take greater ownership of safe water in their schools, from budgeting and procurement to delivery and monitoring. Our goal is for every public school in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda to have safe drinking water by 2030, provided as a routine government service.
Position Overview
In Uganda, our programme primarily uses ultraviolet water purification, with more than 2,700 UV systems, alongside a water treatment tablet programme launched with a pilot in 2024 that supplies schools with 100L tanks and water treatment tablets. Both programmes combine systems and supplies with regular school engagement, training and follow-up, free of cost to schools.
We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead our Uganda school programme Operations team, ensuring that water treatment systems function reliably and schools consistently use them to provide safe drinking water. The role oversees more than 2,700 UV systems alongside our water treatment tablet programme, with responsibility for delivering one quality, effective visit annually to each UV school and two to each tablet school through strong operational management, practical Field Agent training and effective supervision.
You will lead Field Coordinators, technical staff and the Field Agent network, setting clear expectations, supporting their development and holding the team accountable for results. Regular time in the field will be essential to coaching teams, strengthening maintenance, following through on improvements and driving consistent usage in schools. Strong training and behaviour-change skills are essential for this role.
This leadership role combines strategic planning with hands-on field management. You will contribute to programme strategy, manage operational plans and budgets, and strengthen district relationships to support greater government ownership and co-financing. We are looking for someone who can develop a capable, accountable team and deliver measurable improvements in system functioning and school usage, with at least six years of relevant operations experience, including two years leading teams and supervising field delivery.
Key Responsibilities
Lead People
Team leadership: Provide strategic and operational leadership to four Field Coordinators, one Lead Technician and a nationwide network of approximately 36 part-time Field Agents, ensuring effective coordination, team performance and alignment towards shared programme objectives
Expectations and feedback: Set clear responsibilities, objectives and performance expectations. Hold regular check-ins, give constructive feedback, recognise strong performance and follow through on agreed improvements
Team culture: Build a team culture of integrity, ownership, practical problem-solving and respectful communication
Recruitment and development: Recruit, onboard and develop Field Coordinators, and oversee Field Agent recruitment and development through the Field Coordinators
Field supervision: Ensure Field Coordinators conduct quality supervision visits, independent quality checks and regular performance reviews
Workload planning: Plan workloads and supervision arrangements to maintain consistent delivery during busy field periods
Escalation: Lead the department with initiative, bringing significant risks and decisions to the attention of the Country Director with clear recommendations
Lead Impact
System functioning and usage: Drive results across the UV and tablet programmes so that every school has functioning systems and consistently uses them to provide safe drinking water. Set targets, track progress and act quickly when schools fall behind. Establish clear follow-up processes, with responsibility and timelines for addressing functioning and drinking issues, and coordinate with the Call Centre so school concerns reach the right person and receive timely follow-up
School visits: Make sure Field Coordinators and Field Agents deliver one quality, effective visit a year to every UV school and two to every tablet school. Set the visit standards (system functioning, correct treatment, treated water available to learners), check quality through spot checks and data, and direct extra support where it's needed
Maintenance: Hold the Lead Technician and field teams accountable for keeping UV systems in working order, through preventive maintenance, repairs and timely replacement of lamps, filters and other components, on agreed timelines
Field Agent training: Own the Field Agent training programme, covering school engagement, behaviour change, correct treatment practices, basic maintenance and accurate reporting. Lead practical training, equip Field Coordinators to coach Field Agents effectively, and use role plays and practical assessments to confirm readiness before deployment
Behaviour change: Strengthen the involvement of teachers, learners and Impact Water Committees in maintaining safe drinking-water practices, and use field observations and monitoring findings to improve training and address barriers to consistent treatment and usage
Government relationships and co-financing: Build effective working relationships with District Education Officers and other relevant local government officials. Ensure districts receive advance notice of school visits, training and tablet distribution, and support joint planning, monitoring and resolution of school-level issues. Contribute to government ownership and co-financing under the District Education Officer's leadership, and identify opportunities to include school drinking water in district plans and budgets
Systems, Data & Finances
Planning and strategy: Turn annual programme objectives into practical plans for school visits, maintenance, resupply and follow-up. Lead annual and termly operational planning, including staffing, training, travel, maintenance and distribution requirements. Contribute to country strategy and prepare operational plans for approved programme growth
Data, reporting and improvement: Use field data and school feedback to track coverage, functioning, usage and unresolved issues. Put checks in place that compare reported results with field observations, investigate discrepancies and confirm follow-up actions are completed. Report clearly on results, challenges, expenditure, risks and corrective actions, and test practical improvements before recommending wider rollout
Inventory and logistics: Forecast requirements for UV parts, treatment tablets, tanks, tools and other programme materials, and coordinate procurement and distribution with the Finance and Administration team so materials reach field teams and schools on time. Make sure records of materials dispatched, received, installed, used and returned are accurate, including stock held by individual Field Agents. Monitor stock levels and expiry dates, reconcile inventory with field activity, and follow up on any discrepancies
Budget, controls and safety: Prepare operational budgets, monitor expenditure and explain significant variances. Make sure expense accountabilities are submitted on time with genuine supporting documentation and written approval for exceptions. Maintain clear controls and follow-up on reporting concerns and field safety issues
Required Qualifications
Experience & Track Record
At least six years of relevant operations or programme-delivery experience, including two years managing teams and supervising fieldwork
Demonstrated success managing delivery across multiple locations while maintaining quality and cost control
Experience managing budgets, inventory and financial accountability
Skills & Competencies
Strong people-management skills, with evidence of coaching supervisors, setting expectations and following through on performance
Strong practical experience designing and delivering training and assessing how learning is applied in the field
Experience applying behaviour-change approaches to improve the consistent use of products or services
Ability to analyse operational data and translate findings into decisions
Ability to contribute to strategy and turn priorities into clear plans, budgets and measurable results
Ability to build productive relationships with district officials around planning, monitoring and government participation
Clear written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate effectively with field teams, school leaders and government officials
Sound judgement, integrity and the ability to take ownership with limited day-to-day supervision
Knowledge & Network
A bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Business Administration, Public Health, Development Studies or a related field
Working knowledge of inventory controls, stock reconciliation and field-expense accountability
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working with schools or delivering public-health programmes
Experience working with district local governments in Uganda
Experience supporting government budgeting, co-financing or joint programme delivery
Familiarity with UV purification, chlorine-based treatment or water-quality monitoring
Experience using Salesforce, SurveyCTO or similar operational data systems
Experience preparing field operations for programme expansion
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive salary, commensurate with experience
Health insurance
21 days of paid time off (PTO)
Career growth and professional development opportunities
Regular performance feedback and learning opportunities
The opportunity to contribute to improving access to safe drinking water for schoolchildren
Location & Travel
This position is based in Kampala, Uganda, with frequent travel to programme districts. Regular field presence is essential to supervise delivery, support staff, assess school conditions and engage district officials. Travel schedules will reflect programme needs and may involve overnight stays and rural road conditions. Target start date: as soon as possible.
Reporting Structure
The Operations Manager reports directly to the Country Director and serves as a member of the Uganda senior leadership team, with substantial interaction with the global and country-level leadership teams. The role directly manages the UV and tablet Field Coordinators and the Lead Technician, with responsibility for the wider Field Agent network through the Field Coordinators. The ability to communicate and coordinate effectively with staff at a variety of levels will be important to the success of this role.
Application Process
To apply, please submit an application here.
Impact Water is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, who meet the requirements.
