Executive Assistant, Secretariat of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature & People

This position will be based out of Washington DC and will be a hybrid model of remote and required in-office work 2-4 days a week. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission. WRI is unable to sponsor visa work authorization for this position.  

About the Program: 

The High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC) (www.hacfornatureandpeople.org/home) is an intergovernmental group of more than 100 countries—co-chaired by Costa Rica and France, with the United Kingdom as Ocean co-chair— championing a global deal for nature and people with the central goal of protecting at least 30 percent of the world’s land and ocean area by 2030. The 30x30 target is a global target which aims to halt the accelerating loss of species and protect vital ecosystems that are the source of our economic security.  

Job Highlight: 

As the Executive Assistant, you will facilitate the operations of the HAC Secretariat by providing administrative support to the Secretariat Director. Working in close coordination with the Director, you will help prepare travel, event, and meeting materials. You will be the primary contact for internal stakeholders and play an important coordination role. Employed by the World Resources Institute (WRI), you will be based at the offices of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Washington, DC. The HAC Secretariat is co-hosted by WRI and the GEF.  You will report to the Secretariat Director.   

What you will do: 
Administrative support (40%) 

• Manage all travel bookings including securing travel visas and advising on travel immunizations as needed 
• Prepare and monitor expense reports and timesheets 
• Help organize meetings, including supporting creation of agendas  
• Undertake special projects in consultation with the Director 

Operations (30%) 

• Maintain email lists and manage software accounts (Salesforce, Slack, Monday, etc.) 
• Ensure content is up to date on the initiative’s wiki site and intranet page 
• Support other operations activities when staff are backlogged by processing sub-agreement requests, payment requests, invoices, etc. 
• Serve as a trusted ‘go-to’ person for advice on internal processes 

Meeting and event coordination (30%) 

• Help organize meetings and events 
• Ensure smooth execution of HAC-related events through planning, logistics, outreach and preparation of background material 
• Provide technical, AV support for both in-person and online meetings 
• Participate in meetings by recording decisions and next steps, distributing notes to participants, and following up to ensure next steps are taken. 

 What you will need: 

• Education: You have completed a bachelor’s degree 
• Experience:  
• You have 3+ year’s relevant experience in an Executive Assistant position or in administrative support 
• You have experience working with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and web-based communications (e.g., Zoom, Teams) 
• You have experience working with internationally dispersed teams 
• You have experience providing administrative support, including scheduling and facilitating meetings  
• Languages: you are proficient in written and spoken English. Additional language skills in French or Spanish are desirable.  

 Potential salary:  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 a cover letter. 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 United States. 
• 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. 
• Long-term 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 been awarded EDGE certification.  

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications. 

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