Project Manager

Position type: Full-time / Local consulting contract 

Duration: 9 months – convertible to a permanent contract

About 1001fontaines

Today, more than 2 billion people in the world drink unsafe water, impacting their health and livelihoods. Conventional solutions focusing on infrastructure tend to address access challenges, but there is still a gap in ensuring a continuous supply of quality water, which is further endangered by the growing threat posed by climate change. We believe that integrating efficient, innovative and sustainable solutions focused solely on safe water for drinking is the answer.

1001fontaines is a mission-driven organization dedicated to creating a world where everyone can access safe and affordable drinking water. We design innovative safe drinking water solutions to serve vulnerable populations and empower local partner organizations to deploy these solutions in Asia and Africa.

Our approach has impact and sustainability at its heart: we build local capabilities, provide technical expertise and ensure our local partners achieve financial viability, thus delivering long-lasting safe drinking water services to vulnerable populations.

For two decades, we have worked to meet the needs of underserved communities through resilient water purification infrastructure and affordable, convenient services, relying on the delivery of 20-liter bottles. We aim to encourage long-term behavior change, with over a million consumers across four countries adopting our safe drinking water solutions as evidence of our impact.

Our 2030 ambition is to extend our impact by becoming the reference solution for safe drinking water in five countries and supporting all our local partners in achieving both sustainability and scale.

The Nepal project

In early 2024, 1001fontaines conducted a feasibility survey in Nepal in order to clarify the situation of safe water access in Madhesh Province and to evaluate the potential of a water kiosk model as a viable safe drinking water solution for vulnerable households. Conducted in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), this study offers new insights into the coverage and quality of current water sources, the drinking water habits of families, and the role of private bottled water providers, highlighting significant unmet needs for safe drinking water among households.

This study convinced 1001fontaines that there is a promising path forward for adapting our historical model, the water kiosk, to the rural realities of Madhesh Province. We strongly believe there is a success story to build in Nepal, in order to design and deploy at scale the reference drinking water solution for vulnerable populations.

Job Overview

We seek a very entrepreneurial, self-starting, and autonomous profile to drive 1001fontaines’ operational expansion in Nepal. The main objective is to transform the feasibility study into an actual new running project, preparing for the launch of the pilot water production and distribution units in the targeted geography. The Project Manager will be trained on 1001fontaines’ method and tools by spending appropriate time in the field in the existing countries of operations, especially in Cambodia.

Ultimately the objective is to successfully establish Nepal as a new country of operations for 1001fontaines by designing an adequate entry strategy and context-adjusted operating model to ensure consumers’ adoption and a long-term presence in the country.

Key Responsibilities

Define the relevant operating model for 1001fontaines in Nepal

• Conduct extensive fieldwork in selected geographies to deeply understand end-users' mindsets, habits, and pain points regarding their current drinking water sources, and identify high-potential locations for alternative safe water supply services,
• Based on a thorough understanding of the local context and the regulatory frameworks in place, suggest and build a proposal for an operating model that includes the technical setup, management structure, value proposition to end-users, and service reach,
• Define a community engagement plan to ensure the project’s local license-to-operate by the local authorities and main local opinion leaders.

Propose an entry strategy to start a pilot phase in 2025

• Define 1001fontaines entry strategy in the country from an administrative and legal perspective building on initial recommendations formulated in the feasibility study,
• In particular, identify potential hosting partners for a pilot phase,
• Refine the potential zones of kiosk implementation at the district level and secure potential land locations of future water kiosks at the municipality level,
• Size the pilot phase: number of kiosks, adequate team to operate, overall timeline and related budget
• Build a comprehensive and compelling case that presents the strategic rationale, operational feasibility, potential social impact, and alignment with 1001fontaines’ strategy to get approval from the 1001fontaines governance to start a pilot phase.

Get ready for the operational launch

• Nurture relationships with key stakeholders of the national Water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH) ecosystem including relevant ministries and departments to ensure institutional support for the project,
• Prepare the operational launch of the pilot with detailed planning management through a GANTT chart with key milestones including water kiosks design, equipment, purchasing, construction, launch, growth...
• Closely work with 1001fontaines’ central team to build and structure the project’s governance including a collaboration framework with hosting partner and development players (e.g., Asian Development Bank),
• Lead the recruitment process for the project team in all its key dimensions (technic and water quality, sales and marketing, production & logistics...) and upon successful completion of this pre-launch phase, transition to country director position.

Qualifications

• ●  Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business, development, engineering, or a related field.

• ●  Minimum of 5 years of experience in project management, business development, or market expansion, preferably in a similar context with a strong capacity to adjust to emerging markets context.

• ●  Strong understanding of the social impact sector, preferably with experience in water access, public health, or rural development. Previous experience working with communities in Terai is a significant plus.

• ●  Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders. Experience in team leadership, recruitment, and management.

• ●  Field-driven, pragmatic, and entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to navigate challenges and seize opportunities in dynamic environments. Demonstrated ability to develop and execute successful business strategies in new markets.

• ●  Fluency in English. Knowledge of Nepali is a strong plus for foreign candidates.

  
  Application Process

  Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume, cover letter, and references to eva.leneveu@1001fontaines.com and am.muret@1001fontaines.com. Please include "Project Manager Nepal Application - [Your Name]" in the subject line of your email.