Senior Partnership Account Manager – Financial Institutions

1. POSITION VACANT: Senior Partnership Account Manager – Financial Institutions (Microfinance Focus), New Delhi, Water.org

2. ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Water.org is a global non-profit headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, working to bring water and sanitation to the world. Co-founded by Gary White and Matt Damon in 2009, Water.org helps remove the barriers between people living in poverty and access to the safe water and sanitation solutions they need to survive and thrive. The organization has changed 73 million lives with safe water or sanitation and transformed thousands of communities in Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.

In India, Water.org has empowered over 28 million people with access to water and sanitation through innovative financing models like WaterCredit. By partnering with microfinance institutions (MFIs), self-help group federations, and rural livelihood missions, Water.org has expanded the reach of water and sanitation finance to low-income households across the country.

For more information please visit, https://water.org/.

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Portfolio Lead, the Senior Partnership Account Manager – Financial Institutions (SPAM-FI) shall be responsible for driving the growth and performance of complex and/or strategic partnership accounts, ensuring consistent delivery against account priorities. S/he will serve as technical consultant, business advisor and/or implementer of partner-facing business plans and related programs. The Senior Partnership Account Manager – Financial Institutions (SPAM-FI) is a catalyst for the partner's vision and brings an exceptional customer success mindset to delivering appropriate solutions to assigned partner accounts that leverage Water.org's unique value.

Key Responsibilities:

Job Specific Accountabilities:

(A) Account Management

(1) Serve as the primary relationship owner for assigned financial institution partners, building and maintaining trust-based, strategic relationships that align with partners' goals and Water.org's mission;

(2) Facilitate regular engagement and collaboration with partner teams, ensuring clear communication, mutual accountability, and ongoing alignment with partnership objectives;

(3) Lead the implementation of partner-facing programs, including onboarding, capacity building, product design, marketing support, and impact tracking;

(4) Provide technical guidance and advisory support to partners on inclusive financial products and delivery models, particularly those targeting low-income households for water and sanitation access (or similar impact areas);

(5) Ensure timely and effective issue resolution, performance monitoring, and adaptive management of partnership activities;

(6) Maintain high-quality data on partner activities, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and timely updates in internal systems and dashboards to inform decision-making.

B. Business Development

(1) Actively contribute to the expansion of Water.org's reach by identifying new opportunities within existing partnerships and building strategic relationships with key decision-makers and influencers in the financial services ecosystem;

(2) Collaborate with internal teams to craft tailored value propositions for potential partners, drawing from Water.org's tools, products, research, and success stories;

(3) Stay informed on financial sector trends, regulatory developments, and market opportunities that could influence partner priorities or open new avenues for collaboration;

(4) Represent Water.org at relevant forums, meetings, and industry events to increase visibility and build credibility with potential partners and stakeholders.

C. Business Metrics and Reporting:

(1) Monitor partner performance against agreed milestones, including disbursement targets, outreach goals, and impact metrics (e.g., number of households served, portfolio performance);

(2) Prepare and deliver regular internal and external reports on partnership status, challenges, lessons learned, and contributions to broader organizational goals;

(3) Track and forecast partner-level fund utilization and ensure alignment with grant conditions, donor reporting needs, and impact strategies;

(4) Collaborate with M&E and portfolio teams to interpret results, support learning, and inform improvements in partnership strategies and service delivery.

D. Information & Business Advisory:

(1) Act as a subject matter expert on strategic account management principles, tactics, and partnership/program design;

(2) Provide insights and advisory support to strengthen business decision-making and program outcomes;

(3) Collaborate with cross-functional workgroups, teams, and committees to drive alignment and shared objectives;

(4) Engage effectively with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds, interests, and perspectives to build strong working relationships.

Department Accountabilities:

(1) Impact Strategy Leadership and Execution

(2) Portfolio and Account Management

(3) Business Development

(4) Business Metrics and Data Insights

(5) Pre-Award and Post Award Administration

(6) Project Management

(7) Risk Identification

(8) Advisory and Consulting Services

This description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities required by an incumbent in this job. Some responsibilities, activities, and people who are expected to regularly interact with the incumbent in this job may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualification and Experience:

(1) Applicants must have Bachleor's degree and/or equivalent;

(2) Minimum seven of experience in microfinance, inclusive finance, or rural banking, preferably with exposure to water, sanitation, or housing loan portfolios;

(3) Demonstrated experience managing MFI partnerships and large loan portfolios;

(4) Experience in strategic account management, business development, or credit product innovation in the development finance ecosystem;

(5) Familiarity with MFI operating models, NBFC-MFI regulatory norms, SHG-based finance, and low-income client engagement;

(6) Fluency in English and proficiency in Hindi or other regional language preferred.

Skills and Competencies:

(1) Customer Focus: Builds strong customer relationships and delivers customer-centric solutions.

(2) Optimizes Work Processes: Knows the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.

(3) Communicates Effectively: Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

(4) Values Differences: Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.

(5) Nimble Learning: Learns through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.

Complex Problem-Solving Skills

(1) Ability to manage multiple complex internal and external relationships, requiring application of existing standards and processes related to account management and/or business development;

(2) Functional knowledge of related industry and/or market segments within the assigned portfolio of accounts in one or more of the following partnership areas: public or private enterprises focusing on water and/or sanitation projects/finance and financial institutions;

(3) Broad knowledge of programmatic planning and experience appropriately mitigating and/or escalating risks within the assigned accounts;

5. TRAVEL: Travel up to 25% of the time both domestically and internationally.

6. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

Gross compensation offered for the position is attractive. The offer made to the selected candidate shall be commensurate with qualifications, experience, and salary history.

7. LOCATION: New Delhi.

8. REFERENCE: SPAM-FI -WO

9. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Team SAMS

Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.

1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar

New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025

Phone Nos.: 011- 4081 9900; 4165 3612

10. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in the position are requested to apply using the link https://sams.co.in/jobs/job-description/senior-partnership-account-manager-financial-institutions-microfinance-focus/305 by or before September 20, 2025