WaterAid
Associate Director - Investment Development
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Associate Director, Investment Development
Contract type: 2-year fixed-term contract with potential to renew – Full-time, 35 hours per week
Location: London, United Kingdom
UK hybrid working – up to 40% of working time is spent face-to-face (London office, external meetings or travel). 60/40 hybrid working at WaterAid means roughly three days wherever you work best and two days together in person.
Salary: £71,481 - £82,059 per year with excellent benefits
About Resilient Water Accelerator (RWA)
The Resilient Water Accelerator (RWA) envisions a future where water security and climate resilience enable people, nature, and economies to thrive. We are a non-profit company that catalyses capital by transforming investment landscapes and scaling financing solutions for water security and climate resilience. RWA is a subsidiary of WaterAid and was launched by the former Prince of Wales in 2021.
About the team
The Resilient Water Accelerator (RWA) is a non-profit subsidiary of WaterAid, launched by the former Prince of Wales in 2021. We catalyse capital by transforming investment landscapes and scaling financing solutions for water security and climate resilience — acting as both market shaper and deal driver, with specialist teams and partners in Nigeria (Lagos), Bangladesh, Morocco, Brazil and South Africa. This role reports to the Senior Director, Programmes & Investment Development.
About the role
As our Associate Director, Investment Development, you will design, structure and scale blended and private/commercial finance solutions for water and water-related investments — water for cities, water for industries and water for nature — and work closely with our CEO, Chief Investment Officer, in-country teams, investors, DFIs and programme partners to drive sustainable change.
In this role, you will:
- Support the structuring of commercially viable investments in water-saving technologies and process improvements for the textiles wet-processing industry in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and scale this work to other garment clusters, countries and industries.
- Lead the provision of advisory services supporting the evaluation, negotiation and implementation of mini- and mega PPP/concession investments in water supply and sanitation in Lagos, Nigeria.
- Originate, structure and develop opportunities for private investment in water supply and sanitation across RWA's target expansion markets.
- Work with consortium partners in the FCDO-funded Just Transitions for Water Security (JTWS) programme to mobilise public and private finance for climate resilience interventions set out in National Adaptation Plans and other partner engagements.
- Support the scaling of finance mobilisation under the Water Forward initiative launched by the World Bank Group and eight partner multilateral development banks: Water for People, Water for Food and Water for the Planet.
- Lead the conceptualisation and scaling of innovative financing instruments — including blue and nature-linked outcomes-based bonds, blended finance facilities and guarantees — and newly structured services such as Wastewater as a Service, leasing models and vendor financing.
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To be successful, you will need:
- A graduate degree in economics, business administration, finance, engineering or a related field — or a first degree in one of these fields combined with specialised experience in project development or within a financial institution.
- At least 10 years' professional experience, including substantial transactional experience gained with a developer, within a financial institution, or in transaction advisory.
- At least five years' experience in the financing of private sector infrastructure (project finance, PPPs) and/or the financing of corporate water stewardship investments.
- Ability to investigate complex problems and propose innovative financing solutions, adapting structures thoughtfully to a wide range of country contexts.
- Experience leading teams and managing consultants, developing collaborative relationships and mentoring others with a high degree of cultural sensitivity.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with strong presentation skills across audiences ranging from funders to in-country partners.
- A self-starter who manages projects and deliverables to a high standard, working to deadlines and under frequently changing circumstances.
Although not essential, we’d prefer you to have:
- Experience in blended finance, particularly successfully financed transactions incorporating viability gap financing or other concessional or grant components.
- Experience in climate finance, especially developing successfully funded proposals to the Green Climate Fund or other grant-making climate financiers.
- A recognised investment, finance or PPP qualification — for example CFA, FRM, CAIA, ACCA, ICAEW, CPA or CP3P.
- Experience in the water and sanitation sector, and/or foreign language skills relevant to RWA's current portfolio and target expansion markets.
View the full job description here
Application process
Closing date: Applications close 11:59 PM (UK time) on Monday, 7th September 2026. Interviews are expected to take place the week commencing Monday 14 September.
How to apply: Click Apply to upload your CV and Cover Letter.
Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application?
At RWA, 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 RWA’s Safer Recruitment policy. All UK-based roles require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
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Benefits
- 36 days’ holiday (including 8 Bank Holidays)
- Option to buy an extra 5 days’ annual leave
- Employer pension contribution up to 10%
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
- Season ticket loan
- Free annual eye tests
- ‘Give as you Earn’ charitable giving scheme
- Enhanced parental leave (maternity, adoption/surrogacy, shared parental and paternity)
- Sabbaticals
- One paid volunteer day each year
As part of our annual leave policy, all employees receive three additional days of annual leave on top of their standard allocation of 25 days. These days are designated to cover the period when our UK office closes between Christmas and New Year, allowing all employees to take a well-deserved break.
These days are automatically scheduled and cannot be changed or moved. Annual leave is accrued based on your start date. If sufficient leave has not been accrued by the time of the closure, the 3 days will be taken as unpaid leave or pro-rated, depending on your circumstances.
Our Commitment
Our People Promise
We will work with passion and focus to make sure everyone everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. RWA and WaterAid are places 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.
Join us and be part of the change!
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