WaterAid exists to bring clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene within reach of everyone, everywhere. The Global Executive Director, People is a senior organisational leader who will help shape WaterAid's overall direction and ensure that its people, leadership, culture and organisation are equipped to deliver it. The role combines two mandates: leading the People function for WaterAid UK and shaping a coherent and valued People agenda across the wider WaterAid federation. The post is London-based with some flexible working and regular international travel, reports to the Chief Executive, WaterAid UK (with a dotted line to the Global Director, WaterAid International), sits on the WaterAid Global Executive and WaterAid UK Executive Leadership Team, and carries responsibility for People function budgets of c£6m. Salary: £110,000 per year.
Key responsibilities: Provide mission-focused organisational leadership, contributing to the collective strategy and performance of WaterAid and leading major organisational development and change. Build exceptional leadership and culture: strengthen leadership quality, accountability, succession and talent development; partner with boards and Chief Executives on Board and senior executive recruitment; champion diversity, equity and inclusion and a psychologically safe culture with zero tolerance for abuse, exploitation or harassment. Shape a strong global People agenda and lead high-performing Global and UK People teams covering people planning, recruitment, reward, learning, employee engagement, internal communications, organisational and leadership development and succession; provide executive leadership for safeguarding, health, safety and security across the federation; use evidence, insight and technology to improve decision-making; and partner with the IT Director to deliver WaterAid's AI usage strategy.
Requirements: Significant senior leadership experience in a complex, international organisation; a strong commitment to WaterAid's mission and values; a record of contributing to organisation-wide strategy; exceptional people leadership skills; substantial expertise across organisational development, change and the major people management disciplines; the ability to deliver both UK and federation-wide mandates; credibility to advise and challenge chief executives, boards and senior leaders; strong cultural intelligence and experience influencing across countries and autonomous organisations; and a strong understanding of equity, inclusion and safeguarding. Experience of the international development or non-profit sector, working in a country where WaterAid operates, or working in more than one language would be valuable but is not essential.
Benefits include 36 days' holiday (including bank holidays) with the option to buy 5 more, employer pension contribution up to 10%, flexible and hybrid working, season ticket loan, enhanced parental leave, sabbaticals and one paid volunteer day a year.
Please submit your application by 11:59 pm on Sunday 29th November 2026
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply via the Green Park application link (https://micro.green-park.co.uk/wateraid/) and provide: an up-to-date CV (PDF labelled 'CV' with your name and the role title); a supporting statement (around two pages) outlining your interest in WaterAid and your fit against the essential experience criteria; and a completed diversity monitoring form. For questions about the role or selection process, contact Isabela Betoret Garcia at Green Park Executive Search. Applications close 11:59 pm on Sunday 29th November 2026.