Principal Manager, State Expansion

This position is with EAII Advisors, Evidence Action's technical partner in India. About EAII  EAII Advisors, Evidence Action’s technical partner in India, supports state governments in delivering evidence-based public health programs, including safe drinking water initiatives and school and Anganwadi-based National Deworming Day and iron and folic acid supplementation. Operating across 10 states, EAII Advisors provides technical assistance to ministries of health, education, water, and women and child development, reducing health burdens in impoverished communities and improving the long-term wellbeing of children and families.  For more information, read about our work here: About Evidence Action and EAII About Evidence Action At Evidence Action, we deliver data-driven interventions that transform lives at an unprecedented scale. We identify neglected global health issues and deploy proven solutions, forging healthier futures for generations. Our model operationalizes leading academic research (including from Nobel-winning economists). We measure progress and outcomes at every stage to ensure we’re making a real impact for people living in poverty and suffering from preventable or treatable health issues. Operating across 9 countries, our team of 800+ has reached over 500 million people, working closely with governments to scale these interventions. Our Deworm the World program has delivered over 2 billion treatments, significantly reducing worm prevalence and generating more than $23 billion in lifetime productivity gains.  Through Safe Water Now, we’ve saved the lives of over 15,000 children.  Our Accelerator explores untapped opportunities in global health, testing low-cost interventions with the greatest potential to save and improve lives.  At Evidence Action, your colleagues are your greatest asset. You'll partner with high-caliber colleagues in an environment blending innovation, autonomy, and teamwork. Our team excels in disruptive thinking and believes in rolling up our sleeves to get things done. If you're looking to work flexibly and with purpose, join a team that delivers measurable change for millions. The Role  The Principal Manager , reporting to the Associate Director, Programs, plays a pivotal leadership role in expanding the India Safe Water (ISW) program into new states through a light-touch Program Management Unit (PMU) model. We are seeking an individual with a strong engineering background in the WASH sector, ideally with experience working within or closely alongside government systems. The role requires the ability to combine technical expertise (water treatment technologies, disinfection systems, IoT/SCADA-based monitoring) with strategic engagement of senior government officials to embed sustainable safe water solutions at scale. This is a senior leadership position with responsibility for setting up and guiding state operations, ensuring impact, efficiency, and alignment with public health priorities. Responsibilities  State Expansion & Technical Leadership Lead ISW’s expansion into new states using the light-touch PMU model. Provide technical expertise on water disinfection (especially chlorination), distribution systems, and water quality monitoring. Assess and advise on integration of digital monitoring solutions (IoT, SCADA, dashboards). Guide limited demonstration pilots, where needed, to build state confidence in safe water technologies. Government Engagement & Advisory Serve as a trusted technical advisor to senior state government officials (ACS, Secretaries, Mission Directors, MD-JJM). Translate complex technical concepts into actionable, policy-relevant recommendations for government partners. Support governments in strengthening institutional capacity and system adoption of safe water interventions. Program Design & Delivery Oversee establishment of lean state PMUs and provide leadership on planning, monitoring, and reporting. Ensure adoption of evidence-based practices in state operations. Anticipate implementation bottlenecks and design adaptive, practical solutions. Team Leadership & Collaboration Mentor state-level technical and program staff, strengthening their ability to engage with government counterparts.Collaborate with cross-functional ISW teams (MLE, communications, technical specialists) to ensure state strategies are well-supported. Promote knowledge-sharing across states to accelerate adoption of best practices. Strategic Representation Represent ISW in sectoral forums, government meetings, and partner engagements, with emphasis on technical credibility. Contribute to refining ISW’s light-touch expansion strategy by bringing state-level insights into central planning. Requirements Essential Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering, Water Resources, or related technical field 12+ years of progressive experience in the WASH sector Prior experience working with or advising government agencies (PHED, JJM, rural development, or public health programs) strongly preferred Strong grounding in water treatment/disinfection, distribution systems, and water quality monitoring Proven leadership in managing teams and multi-stakeholder programs Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills Comfort with ambiguity, rapid problem-solving, and decision-making under uncertainty Willingness to travel extensively across states Good communication skills, both verbal and written, with fluency in English Desirable Experience working with government programs such as Jal Jeevan Mission or other WASH initiatives Experience with IoT/SCADA or data-driven monitoring systems  Prior experience working with NGOs or in the water, sanitation, or public health sector Disclaimer: The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and that additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time. Position Location This position is based in New Delhi, India (with frequent travel to priority ISW states)We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an India  employment visa at this time. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in India for roles based in India. Benefits EAII provides a comprehensive benefits package for employees. Benefits include: Comprehensive health insurance with IPD and OPD provisions, Life and Accidental insurance, PF, ESIC and Gratuity as per statutory requirements Generous leave, Avenues for engagement and recognition. Compensation: Competitive and commensurate with the individual's credentials, experience, and previous pay scale.  All contracting arrangements will be made through EAII Advisors Private Limited. EAII is an equal opportunity employer. Employment at EAII is based solely on an individual's merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. EAII does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, caste, creed, colour, religion, gender, origin, disability, marital status, or any other basis protected by law. All candidates applying for the position should upload a resume along with a cover letter mentioning current and expected fee.  Note : We may end this search process earlier than the specified close date in case of exceptional candidates. Due to resource constraints, we will only be able to contact shortlisted candidates.