Grants & Finance Specialist, Systems Change Lab

This position will be based in WRI Washington DC office. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission. WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

About the Program:

Reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and shifting to nature-positive development, while also building a fairer economy, will require transformational change across all major economic systems—finance, energy, transport, the built environment, agriculture, land use, manufacturing, and consumption. Broader transitions must also occur, such as how we measure progress, deliver basic services, and equitably distribute the costs and benefits of change. As a virtual and dynamic situation room, the Systems Change Lab (SCL) will monitor systems change globally, taking stock of where shifts are accelerating (or stalling), and analyzing what’s working, what isn’t, and why. It will partner with visionary leaders and diverse coalitions, arming them with the evidence they need to mobilize more effective action and cross positive tipping points. The Lab is being housed jointly within World Resources Institute, the Bezos Earth Fund, and the High-Level Climate Champions team, is part of the Global Commons Alliance and is working with a wide consortium of partners, including the University of Tokyo’s Center for Global Commons, and the World Economic Forum.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the Systems Change Lab project specialist in this role, you will support the Systems Change Lab (SCL) and ClimateWatch teams by assisting in the management of budgets, contracts, and sub-contracts for a growing portfolio of grants and partnerships. Together with the SCL Director and project managers, you will develop contracts with partners, manage and update project budgets and expenditures, track project deliverables, execute work orders and payments, prepare financial reports, and support development of grant proposals, strategy documents, and other internal, administrative, or operational tasks as needed. Team meetings, note-taking, event planning, travel coordination, and external communications are also routine aspects of the position. You will be an integral part of SCL’s & ClimateWatch’s multi-faceted team of experts, collaborating with staff across multiple WRI programs and international offices as well as external partners. You will be supported by a team of senior Operations, Development, and Communications staff within the Global Climate Program.

What will you do:

Financial Management (30%):

• Create, monitor and maintain multiple project budgets including cross-team collaborative projects and other complex financial arrangements
• Review and monitor all project transactions, commitments, and revenue prospects, and work with project managers to collect updates and resolve issues
• Monitor overall financial health of SCL portfolio, and advise Director on financial, staffing, and other operational risks and recommend mitigation strategies
• Solicit, review and process invoices and other payments in compliance with WRI policy
• Maintain financial reports, tools, and databases for standard internal reviews and programmatic oversight
• Follow WRI’s internal processes and deadlines related to funding, including quarterly reviews, monthly & annual closeouts, and future fiscal year annual budget submissions

Grants Management (30%):

• Draft grant proposal budgets and assist in the collection & submission of formal proposals for all SCL and ClimateWatch fundraising efforts
• Support project closeouts, including final deliverables, knowledge management, financial reconciliation, and associated reports
• Prepare and ensure timely submission of detailed financial reports to external donors in accordance with grant requirements, including any supplemental documentation, audit, or funder inquiries
• Ensure team compliance with terms and conditions of complex grant and contract agreements
• Maintain timely and accurate information on donor contacts and fundraising efforts, including management of regular updates to donor and grant management databases
• Support proposal documentation and institutional knowledge management for all grants, proposals, and long-term prospects

Contracts & Partner Management (20% time):

• Draft and process documentation for project commitments (i.e., agreements, contracts, work orders) for project manager and Director approval
• Monitor project and partner performance against established workplans and track outcomes for internal reporting
• Support management of contract vendors and subgrant partners by tracking deliverables, reviewing invoices and final reports, and ensuring partners documentation is complete and aligned to donor or institute requirements

Project Support & Event Management (20%):

• Liaise with other SCL-related projects across WRI and peer NGOs to coordinate on staffing, fundraising, and financial management
• Coordinate and schedule team meetings and assist in the coordination of the team’s planning processes
• Coordinates recruitment and manage onboarding of new staff members and interns
• Coordinate conferences, webinars and event logistics for domestic and international meetings and workshops, including venue, catering, equipment, translators, travel, per diem and visa support for WRI staff and event participants

What will you need:

• Education: Bachelor's degree required or sufficient work experience to demonstrate equivalent professional competency
• Experience: You have 3+ years of full-time relevant work experience, in financial, grants, or contracts management, preferably with nonprofit and/or international organizations
• Demonstrated computer skills including high level of comfort with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook), web-based communications (Teams, Zoom), with CRM database (Salesforce) and budgeting preferred
• Detail-oriented and organized thinker with an interest in program operations, grant compliance, and financial management
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, including proactively identifying problems and working with team members to develop solutions
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to work well in and with a diverse and dispersed team
• Strong commitment to WRI’s mission and the values of integrity, innovation and respect that underpin all aspects of our operations
• US work authorization is required for this position

Potential Salary: Salary range is between 69,000 and 78,000 USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with cover letter by the date of July 18, 2023.  You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary
• 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.

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, 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.