The Organization
Water at Work Ministry is a Christian nonprofit dedicated to providing clean water and sharing the Living Water of Jesus Christ in the Dominican Republic. Founded in 2012, their mission combines advanced water purification technology with local church partnerships to create sustainable, community-driven solutions to provide clean, safe water. They currently operate six water plants, with the seventh opening this year, generating more than 150,000 gallons of clean water per month.
Water at Work raises nearly $800,000 dollars each year with the goal to empower local churches in the Dominican Republic. They aim to provide sustainable business development employing locals through the power of clean water and the love of Jesus. They envision water at work for the gospel of Jesus Christ!
The Opportunity
Water at Work is seeking a passionate and experienced Executive Director to lead the organization in bringing both clean water and the gospel message to communities in need. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be responsible for. the successful management and growth of Water at Work Ministry, overseeing all aspects of operations, fundraising, and program implementation both in the United States and the Dominican Republic.
The ideal candidate will combine a passion for the mission with strong nonprofit management skills and a vision for expanding their impact. This individual will have the opportunity to professionalize a highly connected “family-style” operation to the next level of operational excellence and impact. They will be comfortable working in both the U.S. and Dominican contexts. Most of the Board and current staff live in the Atlanta, GA metro area, so priority will be given to candidates with easy access to that region.
THEIR STORY
In 2006, founder Tom Flaim, a career civil engineer, visited the Dominican Republic for the first time on a short-term mission trip. He brought a portable filtration unit with him, just in case. Tom used the unit to purify water at a cistern full of collected rainwater (presumably, a host of waterborne diseases). Soon, local women and children were lined up at the cistern with any vessel they could find, desperate for clean water.
After witnessing this great need firsthand, Tom felt God call him to use his training and resources to help bring clean water to these vulnerable communities. At the time, Tom owned First Water, a company producing emergency water systems for disaster relief for hospitals, fire departments, FEMA, and more. He began by bringing their simple, wall-mounted, water purification units with him on subsequent trips to the Dominican to install at local churches.
After a few years, he realized there needed to be a more sustainable mechanism for maintaining the water systems that could be done locally and generate revenue. Thus, the idea for Water at Work Ministry’s business model was born.
The model has moved from a limited, exploratory phase (especially sensitive to the nuances of the Dominican Republic) into a now proven, reliable, and scalable one. Water at Work Ministry Inc. was incorporated in Georgia in 2012. Then, two years later, their partnering in-country nonprofit organization, Fundación Water Work, was established in 2014.
WHAT THEY DO
Water at Work establishes sustainable, profitable water businesses in cooperation with Dominican churches and ministries to empower them to meet the need for clean, safe water and share the gospel in their communities.
Mission:
To transform the lives of one million of the poorest people in the Dominican Republic through clean water distribution plants, business development, and access to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Core Values:
Technological excellence
Local leadership and empowerment
Economic sustainability
Financially Trustworthy
Faith-driven mission
They accomplish this by building commercial-scale water purification plants in cooperation with local churches. The water plants meet all government standards and receive certification from the Ministry of Public Health. The church or ministry owns and operates the water business, working to serve their communities. Profits from the water business are used to increase their outreach in their community, from evangelism, food distribution, children’s programs, and community-wide hygiene education programs.
Their goal is sustainable community development through clean water distribution, capacity creation through business education, and creation of employment (6-8 jobs per plant), to ultimately empower the local church.
Fundación Water Work assists with site selection, oversees construction, equipment purchasing, staff training, water quality testing, and community development.
Selected Program Highlights
Seven in-country water plants purify an average of 21,815 gallons of water every operating month. Water plant businesses are efficient and sustainable solutions that provide affordable clean water to thousands of people.
Five hundred individuals were served at three dental clinics hosted by Dr. Rosmery Vilorio and her team. Each mobile dental care clinic provided WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) educational programs.
In 2024, the Fundacion built a completely new, state-of-the-art, water plant for House of Light- an orphanage/residence for disabled children on the east side of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic to supply water for the orphans and water for sale in the surrounding community. By December 2024, water production had grown to 6,703 bottles, and a net profit of $2,043 was realized in its first year of operation.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Title: Executive Director
Classification: Exempt
Reports to: Board of Directors
Travel: As needed to Atlanta & Dominican Republic
Location: Atlanta, GA or Remote
SUMMARY
Water at Work is seeking a passionate and experienced Executive Director to lead the organization in its mission to bring clean water and the gospel to communities in need. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be responsible for the successful management and growth of Water at Work Ministry, overseeing all operations, fundraising, and program implementation in the United States and the Dominican Republic.
The ideal candidate will combine a passion for the mission with strong nonprofit management skills and a vision for expanding impact. They will be comfortable working in both the U.S. and Dominican contexts and understand both the unique challenges and opportunities of our water plant business model. This position is Atlanta-based, but they are open to a remote position if the candidate can travel to Atlanta as needed.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Key duties and responsibilities would include:
Strategic Leadership and Organizational Management
Collaborate with the Board to execute the strategic plan and achieve the organization's vision of expanding our impact in the Dominican Republic.
Develop and implement annual operational plans with corresponding Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of water plant projects in collaboration with Fundación Water Work, our Dominican partner organization by directly managing the Director of Operations.
Seek opportunities for strategic partnerships to further the organization's mission.
Financial Management and Fundraising
Develop and manage the annual budget for both U.S. and Dominican operations.
Lead fundraising initiatives to provide funding for all aspects of Water at Work.
Cultivate relationships with donors, businesses, foundations, and service clubs.
Connect with personal and external networks for fundraising efforts.
Staff Management and Development
Collaborate with Fundación Water Work to ensure effective local leadership and staffing.
Manage U.S.-based staff and provide support to the Dominican team.
Foster a culture that reflects the organization's Christian values and mission Community Relations and Advocacy.
Articulate the organization's mission, impact, and unique approach to diverse audiences.
Represent Water at Work Ministry to external stakeholders, including churches, donors, foundations, and partner organizations.
Direct Reports
Juan Luis Vilorio, Director of Operations (residing in Puerto Rico)
Jennifer Yin, Director of Donor Relations
Audrie Trevino, Director of Communications
QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Experience:
Required:
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience from an accredited institution. Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management, International Development, or related field preferred.
Personal faith in Jesus Christ and alignment with Water at Work Ministry's statement of faith.
Excellent cross-cultural communication and relationship-building skills.
Preferred:
5+ years of nonprofit management experience, preferably in international development or water-related fields.
Experience working with faith-based organizations and churches.
Experience with water purification technologies or public health initiatives.
Some Spanish proficiency.
Experience with CRM software.
Work Environment: The team is all remote at home offices across Atlanta and the Dominican Republic.
Character
Genuine and honest
Heart for Ministry – called to serve
Core Competencies
Visionary leadership.
Demonstrated success in fundraising and donor relations.
Cross-cultural sensitivity and experience in international contexts.
Ability to balance faith-based mission with sustainable business practices.
Excellent verbal communicator with a talent for public speaking.
Strong financial acumen and business model understanding.
Strategic team development and planning abilities.
Chemistry with the Culture
Optimistic and positive about the future.
Versatility - ability to handle many different tasks and roles.
Patient and possessing the ability to persevere despite setbacks.
Selfless and humble leadership marked by generosity and personal investment in the mission of the organization.
Compensation and Benefits Package: Compensation $80,000-$95,000 depending on experience Paid vacation, flexible schedule, and health insurance offered. Business travel is 100% paid for by the ministry.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
Opportunities
Water at Work has a warm and enthusiastic network of supporters and champions in the Atlanta metro area, including large churches. They have benefited from a culture of personal generosity in gifts of time, treasure, and talent to enrich the mission. This will serve as a strong foundation for growth for the next ED.
Both the founder and current Executive Director will remain active in the efforts to bring clean water and the gospel message to communities in need. This will strengthen existing ties to donors and leadership in the Dominican Republic.
Water production in the existing DR plants for 2024 was up by 25% which allowed the ministry to serve 1,400 more people with clean, safe water. Net profits across the businesses were triple what was reported in 2023, indicating great momentum towards the goal of sustainability.
Challenges
The next ED will need to be a “door-opener” to new networks and fresh resources to lift Water at Work to a new level of impact and professionalism.
The five Dominican employees of Fundacion provide the expertise to run the program for Water at Work. The next ED will need to cooperate closely with them to develop distribution strategies for the clean water created in the existing and future plants to maximize the potential of the state-of-the-art water facilities and enhance the benefit to the partner churches.
ATLANTA, GA
Metro Atlanta offers an unparalleled opportunity for business and nonprofit leaders seeking a hometown with charm and explosive potential for growth. This major U.S. metropolis serves as a global gateway, boasting the world's busiest airport with direct connections to major international markets. Atlanta houses the headquarters of numerous Fortune 500 companies across diverse sectors, fostering a rich ecosystem for professional growth and networking—and raising funds for the mission! This executive will have the chance to office from home, so they don’t have to brave the least positive thing about the ATL... the traffic!
According to Rocket Homes, the median sold price for a 3-bedroom home in Peachtree Corners was $482,500 in February 2025, showing a 6.0% increase year-over-year. Many of the staff and Board live in this general area of the ATL metro region and enjoy excellent schools with a national reputation. The area is served by highly-rated public schools within the Norcross and Duluth Clusters, known for strong academic performance. Additionally, there are reputable private schools like Wesleyan School and Cornerstone Christian Academy and Paul Duke STEM High School is the largest STEM-certified high school in Georgia. The area has excellent amenities; residents enjoy access to the Chattahoochee River with multiple parks and a vibrant 20-acre Town Center featuring a community green space, entertainment, and diverse dining options.
If, after prayerfully reviewing this information, you believe this role fits you well, or if you know someone you would like to recommend, please contact:
Dr. Rich Kidd
Managing Partner
mobile :: (757) 642–0622
email :: rich@missionleadership.org