Application Guide

How to Apply for WASH Program Manager, Middle East

at Samaritan's Purse

🏢 About Samaritan's Purse

Samaritan's Purse is a Christian humanitarian organization that combines spiritual ministry with practical aid, operating in over 100 countries. Working here means you can directly impact lives in crisis zones while integrating your faith with professional skills. The organization is known for its rapid response and long-term development projects in some of the world's most challenging environments.

About This Role

As WASH Program Manager for the Middle East, you will lead water, sanitation, and hygiene projects in conflict-affected areas, managing everything from borehole rehabilitation to community training. This role is impactful because it addresses basic needs in a region where water scarcity and poor sanitation are critical issues, directly improving health and dignity for vulnerable populations.

💡 A Day in the Life

You'll start your day with a virtual check-in with field staff in the Middle East, reviewing progress on borehole rehabilitation or sanitation construction. Mornings might involve budget tracking and donor reporting, while afternoons are spent coordinating with technical advisors or conducting remote hygiene training sessions. Evenings could include prayer meetings or devotions with your team, balancing program management with spiritual support.

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🎯 Who Samaritan's Purse Is Looking For

  • An engineer or public health professional with at least 2 years of WASH experience, ideally in Middle Eastern or similar contexts, who can manage complex projects from design to budget oversight.
  • A proven leader who can recruit, mentor, and spiritually guide a diverse team, aligning with the organization's Christian ethos while respecting local cultures.
  • A resilient problem-solver comfortable with remote management, able to coordinate with support departments and technical advisors across time zones.
  • Someone with cross-cultural adaptability, preferably Arabic-speaking, who understands the nuances of working in Muslim-majority contexts and can build trust with local communities.

📝 Tips for Applying to Samaritan's Purse

1

Highlight your experience with borehole rehabilitation and sanitation construction, using specific metrics (e.g., number of boreholes, people reached).

2

Explicitly mention your Christian faith and how it integrates with your professional work, as Samaritan's Purse is explicitly evangelical.

3

Showcase any Middle East experience, even short-term, and explain how you navigated cultural or security challenges.

4

Demonstrate budget management skills by detailing how you managed project finances, including donor reporting.

5

Tailor your resume to emphasize leadership of cross-cultural teams and your ability to train local staff in hygiene promotion.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Express your personal alignment with the organization's mission to provide spiritual and physical aid, citing specific examples of your faith in action.", 'Detail your WASH technical expertise, especially in emergency or conflict settings, and how it applies to the Middle East.', 'Highlight your management experience, including recruiting and developing staff, and your commitment to spiritual leadership.', 'Mention any Arabic language skills or cultural training, and your willingness to work remotely with frequent travel to the field.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read Samaritan's Purse's Statement of Faith to ensure alignment with their doctrinal positions.
  • → Review their current projects in the Middle East (e.g., Iraq, Syria, Lebanon) to understand the operational context.
  • → Study the organization's approach to WASH, including their technical standards and partnership models.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the security situation in the region and the organization's security protocols.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you managed a WASH project in a complex or insecure environment; what were the challenges and outcomes?
2 How do you integrate Christian principles into your management style while respecting local religious contexts?
3 How would you handle a situation where a local partner or staff member does not share your faith?
4 Explain your approach to budget management for a multi-donor project with strict compliance requirements.
5 What strategies would you use to ensure community ownership and sustainability of WASH facilities in a Middle Eastern context?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Avoid submitting a generic cover letter without explicitly addressing the Christian mission and your personal faith.
  • Do not downplay the need for spiritual leadership; this is a core requirement, not an afterthought.
  • Avoid overstating your language skills; if you don't speak Arabic, be honest and emphasize your willingness to learn.

📅 Application Timeline

⏰ Deadline: August 9, 2026

We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Samaritan's Purse!

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