POSITION DESCRIPTION

Introduction

WaterAid’s vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. Our mission is to transform lives by improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in the world’s poorest communities. WaterAid works with partners to maximise its impacts for policy change/influence.

WaterAid has been operating in Papua New Guinea (PNG) since 2004, working with local partners and the government to increase access to gender sensitive, socially inclusive and climate resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. WaterAid PNG’s geographic focus is in the National Capital District, and Central Province in the Southern Region and East Sepik Province.

WaterAid works through supporting local organisations and government authorities to design and demonstrate appropriate and sustainable WASH programs. WaterAid also seeks to influence policy change through government and other key sector actors to secure and protect the right of poor people to safe, affordable water and sanitation services.

Everything we do is shaped by our six values:

• Integrity
• Respect
• Collaboration
• Courage
• Accountability
• Innovation

WaterAid is a child safe organisation. We recognise that we must meet community expectations and the trust placed in our personnel to maintain the highest standards of conduct with children. Therefore, all positions within WaterAid are required to comply with our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.

WaterAid is committed to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse in everything we do. The values and standards we uphold are highlighted in our Global Code of Conduct. All positions within WaterAid are required to comply with our Global Code of Conduct.

WaterAid passionately believes everyone in the organisation has a role to play in innovation, encourages curiosity about the world and empowering everyone to take action. We recognise that both big and small changes can have positive impacts on our roles, our team and our mission.

Position Summary

The People, Culture, and Safeguarding Coordinator plays an essential role in promoting safe and positive team culture and operations at WaterAid Papua New Guinea. Reporting to the Operations Manager, this role ensures systems and processes for people management are fit for purpose and supports staff and managers to effectively complete tasks from recruitment, through leave, growth and performance management, and staff exit. They will manage feedback and complaint mechanisms and support the Senior Management Team to make effective decisions in line with both WaterAid Federation and PNG compliance requirements regarding people & HR. As Safeguarding Lead for WaterAid Papua New Guinea, this role will manage safeguarding training and reporting processes and support all staff to meet PSEAH compliance requirements for a safer working environment for staff as well as those we work with through our projects. The People, Culture, and Safeguarding Officer connects with regional and global WaterAid colleagues for training, support, and collaboration.

Key Accountabilities

Systems, Processes, and Staff Engagement

1. Lead and maintain all people policies, manual, processes and administration in line with current legislation and WaterAid global policies (i.e. recruitment, employment contracts, casuals and consultants contracts, starters, leavers and change processes, org chart, JDs) and standards. Support Managers to deliver these with staff effectively.
2. Ensure all staff information with Nasfund, IRC, NCSL, Medical Insurance and Police Clearance for starters and continuing staff are update to date.
3. Manage processing of all work permits, NID, passports and visa for national, regional and global staff as and when required.
4. Administer the internal web-based People Place HR management system, and support staff and managers to use this effectively.
5. Manage and continuously improve WaterAid PNG reward ensuring an appropriate mix of pay, benefits and non-pay rewards in line with WaterAid’s reward principles and national legislation. Contribute to reward benchmarking and support managers to communicate to employees about total reward. Coordinate with SMT and Global People Team.
6. Foster high levels of employee engagement, including staff participation in the Global Employee Engagement surveys (GEES) and line manager capability, coordinating GEES action plans. Organise Staff Days and Induction sessions.
7. Lead the Country Training and Development Plan and team building activities including Staff Retreats
8. Collate and accurately analyse people data and metrics for use within the Country Program and organisational wide people reporting requirements.
9. Engage with the wider Global People team and build connections to other organisations, accessing appropriate learning and resources for the WAPNG team.

Provide support to the SMT and people managers to enhance our people management processes

1. Embed and role model a strong performance management culture and processes. Advise staff and managers in agreeing appraisal objectives, holding honest conversations, delivering feedback and recognizing success.
2. Advise Operations Manager and Country Director on issues of under-performance, plan and implementing performance improvement plans where required.
3. Ensure new and transitioning employees and volunteers receive a planned, effective and timely induction and exit, and advise managers on their role in delivering this.
4. Work with the Operations Manager and Country Director to build Manager capability and behaviors.
5. Provide specialist advice and instruction to SMT and managers on employee relations issues (i.e. disciplinary, grievance, capability, bullying and harassment) in line with CP policy, Global WaterAid policies and legislation, working with legal providers as needed. Inform Organizational Risk Assessment
6. Give accurate and appropriate advice, training and support to managers to recognize, respect and enable diversity and inclusion.
7. Advise managers to identify employee learning and career aspirations and agree on effective development plans. Recommend suitable learning methods and develop an annual Country Program learning and development plan, supported by learning initiatives from the global people team.
8. Support managers in identifying and maximizing potential and drive development through succession planning and individual development planning to meet our skills and capability needs.

1. Safeguarding Lead

1. Champion safeguarding principles through people and culture activities
2. Act as a Safeguarding focal point, receiving safeguarding reports and processing these in line with WaterAid Policy & processes
3. Revise and maintain policies, processes, and resources related to safeguarding and protection against sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEAH).
4. Deliver training and information to staff, volunteers, and collaborators in line with policy and standard requirements
5. Manage internal and external feedback, complaints, and reporting mechanisms
6. Monitor completion of project risk assessments and application of nominated risk mitigation strategies, report status to Country Director

Qualification, Skills & Attributes (Key Capabilities/Selection Criteria)

Physical Environment and Demands

Ergonomic work stations within an open plan office.

Level of contact with children

The position will be required to maintain WaterAid child safeguarding principles and standards at all times.

To Apply:

Please submit an application to [email protected]

by 14th November 2025.

Applications for this position must include a resume and a cover letter addressing the above Qualification, Skills and Selection Criteria.

Applicants must have the right to work in Papua New Guinea