Senior Data Operations Officer

Contract type: 18 Month Contract – 35 hours per week

Location: UK hybrid working – a minimum of 40% of working time is spent face‑to‑face (London office, external meetings or travel). 60/40 hybrid working at WaterAid means roughly three days wherever you work best and two days together in person.

Salary: £41,325 per year with excellent benefits

Change starts with water. Change starts with you.

Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid exists to change that – for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people’s potential and create a fairer future.

About WaterAid

We’re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.

About the team

The Data Operations Team sits within the wider Supporter Experience and Operations team, within the Mass Engagement Department at WaterAid. The team is responsible for enabling a high-quality supporter experience through best in class data operations, ensuring tasks are effectively managed across the team. This role handles the importing of supplier data, Direct Debit processing and Gift Aid claims, enabling WaterAid UK to maximise its fundraising potential, ensuring compliance with financial and data regulations and maintaining high data quality standards.

About the role

As our Senior Data Operations Officer, you will run accurate & efficient data imports and core income processes such as the Direct Debit & Gift Aid claims. You willwork closely with key stakeholders in Performance, Strategy and Insight, Finance and Mass Engagement to drive sustainable change.

In this role, you will:

• Process the day-to-day data operations (including data imports, Direct Debit submissions, submitting Gift Aid claims to HMRC) within agreed SLAs.
• Identify areas for improvements and rapid problem fixing, particularly in relation to managing data rejects.
• Support system testing as superusers of the CRM & Integration Hub as new functionality is created and released.
• Report into the Data Operations Manager and work closely with the other Senior Data Operations Officer.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and accuracy through automation, process improvements or system enhancements.
• Build strong operational relationships with key stakeholders in the Data Engineering, CRM and Finance teams, as well as with WaterAid’s third party agencies.
• Champion WaterAid’s commitment to equity, inclusion and safeguarding.

To be successful, you will need:

• Excellent problem solving and communication skills.
• High attention to detail with ability to work methodically, ensuring minimal errors.
• Strong experience of using relational database packages.
• Experience of importing and managing large, complex data files.
• Knowledge of BACS, Direct Debit and Gift Aid HMRC regulations.

Although not essential, we’d prefer you to have:

• Good working knowledge of the architecture and functionality of Microsoft Dynamics 365.
• Demonstrable experience in Direct Debit and Gift Aid processing.
• Experience of using SQL.
• Experience using Azure DevOps.
• Experience of the charity sector.

View the full job description here

Closing date: Applications close 12:00 UK time on 19 October 2026. Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 3 November 2026.

How to apply: Click Apply to complete the pre-screening questions and upload your CV and cover letter

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application?

At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well.

Pre‑employment screening

To apply for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre‑employment checks will be carried out according to local law and WaterAid’s Safer Recruitment policy. All UK‑based roles require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Our benefits:

• 36 days’ holiday (including 8 Bank Holidays)
• Option to buy an extra 5 days’ annual leave
• Employer pension contribution up to 10 %
• Flexible and hybrid‑working arrangements
• Season ticket loan
• Free annual eye tests
• ‘Pay As You Give’ charitable‑giving scheme
• Enhanced parental leave (maternity, adoption/surrogacy, shared parental and paternity)
• Paid sabbaticals
• One paid volunteer day each year

Our Commitment

Our People Promise

We will work with passion and focus to make sure everyone everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have. We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.

Safeguarding

We are committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero- tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks).

Together, we’ll change the world through water.

Join us and be part of the change!