Western Forests and U.S Project Coordinator - Cities4Forests and Natural Infrastructure Initiative

This position is remote, with a preference for Oregon or Washington, but can include California, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming. 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:

Cities4Forests, an initiative led by the World Resource Institute, is a global alliance of more than 90 cities using nature to enhance the resilience of people nature, and climate. We help to create data-driven policies, deliver capacity and technical support, and facilitate the flow of finance to nature-based projects for the benefit of forests and nature near and far. In the United States, Cities4Forests’ US Lands team provides technical assistance and strategic guidance on innovative conservation finance models; policy enhancement; political engagement; economics and cost-benefit analyses; gender and social equity; mapping and technology; monitoring, evaluation, and learning; and more. The US Lands program works closely with federal, state, and local land management agencies, water and power utilities, public and private financial institutions, Fortune 500 companies, civil society and conservation organizations, and local communities and Indigenous groups.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the WRI’s Environmental Finance Manager, you will support the team in its efforts to identify, design, and implement innovative conservation finance initiatives on National Forest System and adjacent lands. You will work with the US Lands team to advance project development in key Western geographies, which will include activities such as coordinating meetings with partners, tracking reporting and deliverables for projects, and supporting the development of written communication and fundraising materials. In addition to conservation finance support for projects in the Western US, you will lead coordination of the US Lands program’s reporting commitments; monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) practices; and project milestones and deliverables tracking through WRI’s project management software, Asana. The position is fully funded through grant awards.

What will you do:

Western Forests Project Coordination(50%):

• Support conservation finance projects in several National Forests — including but not limited to projects in Mt. Hood, the Willamette, the Fremont-Winema, and the Modoc National Forests — by coordinating meetings, tracking deliverables, and drafting content for outreach, presentations, communications, and reports
• Help facilitate partner, funder, and beneficiary engagement, supporting timely and quality outreach and deliverables
• Contribute to long-term monitoring and evaluation objectives to quantify improved water security and climate resilience, acres restored, communities benefited, and other metrics, because of project interventions
• Assist with conservation finance initiatives in other Western US geographies as needed

US Lands Program Coordination(40%):

• Coordinate deliverables, milestones, and reporting requirements for the US Lands portfolio of projects with the team to prepare, review, and submit narrative and financial reports to funders
• Lead project coordination in Asana to help the US Lands team track milestones, deliverables, and project progress across the portfolio

Fundraising and Operations (10%):

• Assist with proposal development to support fundraising efforts
• Organize internal and external meetings, workshops, and other data-gathering and research dissemination activities
• Liaise with internal staff and project stakeholders to problem solve and generate solutions to project implementation issues

What will you need:

• Education: You have completed a bachelor’s degree in water science, environmental management, natural resource management or similar degree
• Experience: You have minimum of 2 years full-time relevant work experience in water science or environmental or natural resource management
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse teams of individuals and colleagues
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines while setting and delivering on clear priorities
• Ability to work independently and demonstrated strong work ethic. Flexibility to travel
• Familiarity with Western Forests and its ecosystems, including in designing, evaluating, and/or implementing watershed restoration projects, including fuel reduction, forest health treatments, beaver-dam analogs, etc
• Prior demonstrated experience with governmental agreements, fundraising and partnership funded projects
• Experience working with federal, state, utility, and/or non-profit partners
• Understanding of finance and capital markets instruments
• Languages: Fluency in English required; Spanish language skills a plus
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position.WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

Potential Salary: Salary range is between 57,000 and 62,000 USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors. WRI offers a competitive renumeration and benefits package.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with cover letter by the date of 19 March 2024. 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.