State Program Lead, India Safe Water, Bihar (EAII Advisors)

Role summary

State Program Lead, India Safe Water, Bihar (EAII Advisors) is a full-time role at Evidence Action in Patna, Bihar, India (on-site). Posted 2026-08-11. Experience level: 10+.

Job title

State Program Lead, India Safe Water, Bihar (EAII Advisors)

Company

Evidence Action

Location

Patna, Bihar, India

Work arrangement

on-site

Employment type

full-time

Category

Software Engineering

Experience level

10+

Date posted

2026-08-11

Job description

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 multiple countries, our team 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

You will report to the Associate Director, Programs (India Safe Water). Based in Patna, this role leads the establishment, implementation, and scale-up of the India Safe Water (ISW) program across Bihar, combining strong technical grounding in water treatment and disinfection with senior-level government engagement.

This is a senior leadership position with full accountability for the outcomes of the Safe Water program in Bihar. The individual will own the state program's strategy and delivery, manage a distributed state team, and represent Evidence Action and EAII Advisors to state and district government stakeholders, partners, and communities — ensuring safe, chlorinated water reaches communities across the state while advancing broader organizational and program objectives. As EAII Advisors expands the India Safe Water program to additional states, this role may also contribute to shaping replicable program models and supporting new-state onboarding.

Responsibilities

Program Strategy, Implementation & Technical Leadership

Own and lead the Bihar state program across all phases - from establishment through implementation to scale-up — and are held accountable for its delivery and outcomes.

Provide technical expertise on water disinfection (especially chlorination), distribution systems, and water quality monitoring, including assessment of digital monitoring solutions (IoT, SCADA, dashboards) where relevant.

Ensure effective adoption of the technical and operational model (contractor management, chlorination approach, monitoring systems)

Establish and oversee a state-specific technical assistance program for the government, providing clear direction to the team on objectives, milestones, and execution.

Oversee installation, operation, and maintenance of water treatment devices carried out by contractors and program staff, and guide demonstration pilots where needed to build state confidence in safe water technologies.

Use tactical planning tools to forecast inputs and outputs needed to achieve business objectives for the year ahead, proactively identify risks across the state workstream, and drive continuous improvement in operational and tactical planning.

Hold suppliers and contractors accountable for deliverables, agreements, and warranties.

Own the state program budget, forecasting and tracking expenditure against plan, and ensuring, compliant use of funds across contractors, suppliers, and field operations.

Government & Stakeholder Engagement

Serve as the trusted, senior technical advisor and primary point of contact to senior state government officials (ACS, Secretaries, Mission Directors, MD-JJM) and other state and district stakeholders.

Represent Evidence Action and EAII Advisors in engagements with Jal Jeevan Mission representatives, state water departments, NGO partners, suppliers, manufacturers, and communities.

Translate complex technical concepts into actionable, policy-relevant recommendations for government partners, and support governments in strengthening institutional capacity and system adoption of safe water interventions.

Build and maintain strong relationships with state and district-level government stakeholders to support program delivery and scale-up, representing the organization to high-stakes external partners as needed.

Navigate changes in government counterparts by proactively building institutional relationships, to preserve program continuity and momentum despite personnel changes.

Data, Quality & Continuous Improvement

Manage and facilitate data collection and information management in the state, using data actively to guide decisions and identify the best way forward.

Oversee assessment of program processes, operational feasibility, and efficacy of water treatment across interventi