Grants & Finance Specialist, Climate Adaptation & Resilience

This position is remote based in a state in the US where WRI is registered. 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:

Climate change is already a reality, and its impacts are getting more severe every year. Global actions to slow climate change are promising, but insufficient. While action to prevent the worst impacts of climate change are important, decision-makers must also invest in a massive effort to adapt to conditions that are now inevitable: higher temperatures, rising seas, fiercer storms, more unpredictable rainfall and more acidic oceans. The Adaptation team in the Climate Program focuses on governance issues related to climate resilience, including the transparency, equity and inclusivity of adaptation planning and implementation processes.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to Deputy Global Operations Manager, you will support the Adaptation team by assisting in the management of budgets, contracts, and sub-contracts for a growing portfolio of grants and partnerships, including a couple of grants from the US government. Together with the Adaptation Lead and project managers, you will develop contracts with partners, manage and update project budgets, 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 the Adaptation’s team 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. Position available for work in the DC office or remote in select states in the US with manager approval.

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 Adaptation portfolio, and advise Adaptation Lead 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 and annual closeouts, and future fiscal year annual budget submissions

Grants Management (30%):-

• Draft grant proposal budgets and help with the collection & submission of formal proposals for the Adaptation team’s 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 following grant requirements, including any supplemental documentation, audit, or funder inquiries
• Ensure team compliance with terms and conditions of complex grant and contract agreements, particularly US government
• 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 (30%):-

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

Project Support & Event Management (10%):-

• Coordinate and schedule team meetings and help coordinate the team’s planning processes
• Coordinate recruitment and manage onboarding of new team 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: You have a Bachelor’s degree in finance, business or public administration, non-profit management, or sufficient work experience to demonstrate equivalent professional competency
• Experience: You have a minimum of 3 years of work experience in financial, grants, or contracts management, preferably with nonprofit and/or international organizations
• Experience with management of US government grants and contracts preferred
• Demonstrated strong 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
• Languages: Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

Potential Salary: Salary range is between 69,000 and 73,000 USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with cover letter by the date of 24 December 2023. 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

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.