This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days/month in the office. You can be based in any of our offices in Washington DC, Mexico City, London or The Hague. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. To be eligible for this position in US, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.
About the Program:
The MD Global Presence & National Action (GPNA) is WRI’s global executive response for ensuring smooth and effectively leadership and delivery across its globally-coordinated network of 11 Country Offices and 2 Regional Offices. As part of the MD GPNA’s team, you will be part of a fast-evolving, interdependent team including country and regional leaders that is deeply collaborating across WRI’s program and core function teams (including HR, Operations, Development, Governance, Managing for Results, and Strategy).
The Office of the MD GPNA sits within WRI’s Executive Office.
Job Highlight:
WRI’s 2023-27 strategy sets a new level of ambition for capacity to deliver change in priority countries, including scaling programs led by our Country Office teams and scaling programming among multiple countries (e.g., on trade and finance). One part of this strategy is significantly increasing flexible funding for County Offices and their joint efforts.
Reporting to the Global Director, the Senior Program Manager will support the cross-WRI coordination and management of one or more projects dedicated delivered by multiple WRI Regional or Country Offices to ensure alignment to WRI’s Strategic Plan and Results Framework, excellent project execution, and most effective use of the flexible funds. This work will require coordinate with multiple Regional and Country Directors and their teams, and working across WRI’s core functions (including HR, Operations, Development, Governance, Managing for Results, and Strategy).
As the portfolio evolves, the Senior Program Manager will increasingly contribute to the GPNA team and Regional & Country Office strategies, financial management, and staff development and supervision.
You will be responsible for integrating equity into your work
What will you do:
Donor Engagement & Reporting (30%):
- Working with WRI’s Development Team, support maintenance of strong relationships with Enterprise Fund donors and continued fundraising needs
- Manage the collection and review of funder due diligence information and respond to funder financial and operational questions
- Coordinate and support preparation of donor reporting across multiple teams
Project Management (60%):
- Advise project team on budget management. Lead identification and resolution of budgeting and reporting novel problems
- Supervise project financial performance, oversees project closeouts and final reports, and ensures resolution of implementation problems
- In collaboration with Regional and Country Directors and Development teams, develop work plans, ensure timely resources to execute the plan, and facilitate reporting of implementation, in fulfilling the project scope of work, and conceptualizes new strategies to improve performance
- Manage risks across projects and WRI’s matrix, including escalating and supporting the resolution of technical and implementation issues with Regional and Country Directors, the Global Director or Managing Director
- Work closely with cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment with project goals, timelines, and budget constraints
- Ensure project activities are aligned with achieving results WRI’s MEL framework, elevating any deviations for resolution
- With the Global Director, conduct donor and project visits to assess the status of project activities or to participate in technical or evaluation work in the Country Office
- Confer regularly with the Global Director and Country Directors on project direction and strategy to make decisive and timely decisions that positively impact project outcomes
Staff Management (10%):
- Provide dotted line management to program/project coordinators hired to support day-to-day financial management of flexible funds
- Support Project Coordinators and Grants & Finance Specialists with ‘go-to’ problem-solving guidance, mentorship, and career coaching in the areas of grants, budgets, contracts, internal processes, fiscal year close, currency management, and more
- Provide expert backstop for complex projects or entire portfolios when staff are on extended leave or in situations of position turnover
- As the portfolio grows, build and manage a team, as necessary, to support project implementation – with a focus on placing resources and building capacity in WRI Country Offices
What will you need:
- Education: You have completed a Bachelor’s degree in economics, political science, environmental sciences, public administration, natural resource management, rural development, or similar field
- Experience: You have minimum of 10 years of work experience in project management, preferably in a non-profit international development setting
- Experience developing work plans including breaking down complex projects into tasks, processes and timelines including experience with planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning systems to support adaptive management and clear reporting
- Experience in grants management including financial skills, with solid experience in financial planning, budget oversight and grants management
- Experience supporting complex multi-country projects and preparation of donor reporting, including excellent writing skills
- You will have a record of accomplishment of organization and time management skills, with experience managing several projects at different stages simultaneously
- Experience in one of the following areas of expertise: strategy development; planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning; non-profit operations and finances, including resource allocation
- You will have a demonstrated track record of working both independently and in teams
- Experience working across geographies, languages and in multiple timezones
- Languages: Proficiency in verbal and written English is required. Proficiency in additional languages where WRI has offices is beneficial
- Requirements: Existing work authorization is required at the time of application. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization
Potential Salary: US salary range is between 116,000 and 139,000 USD; London: 65,000 to 82,000 Pounds; The Hague: 80,000 to 101,000 Euros. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.
How to Apply: Please submit a resume with a required cover letter by the date of December 16, 2024. We are unable to consider your application without a cover letter. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of qualified applications.
You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.
What we offer:
- Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
- The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
- A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
- The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
- Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
- Generous leave days that increase with tenure
- For US position, we offer: Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, Vision Coverage, retirement plan access and employer contribution
About Us:
Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.
The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.
Our mission and values:
WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.
Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence and Respect.
Our culture:
WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment; we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.
Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.