Grants & Finance Specialist, Green Accountability Project

This position is fully remote based either in US Eastern or Central time zone; WRI Global Office (US). 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:

The Green Accountability Project works to strengthen the ability of a diverse range of civil society actors, including in vulnerable communities, to access needed climate policy and finance information, participate in and shape climate-related governance processes and play important roles in influencing climate policy. The Project runs a small grants fund to equip civil society with resources to ensure fruitful engagement with public authorities to improve climate governance. The Project also facilitates a global community of practice to foster peer-to-peer learning, knowledge sharing, and the formation of accountability practices.

Job Highlight:

You will be responsible for budget and operations for the Center for Equitable Development’s Environmental Democracy Practice, specifically a $4.5 million grant funding the Green Accountability Project.

Your specific tasks will include drafting and monitoring contracts and sub grants, coordinating with international sub grantees on grant reporting, tracking spending, processing payments and expense reports, managing team meetings, and other tasks as assigned.

You will report to the Center for Equitable Development Operations Manager, and the Green Accountability Project Director will direct most of your work.

What will you do:

Grant Management (40%):

• Manage project grants and contracts, including ensuring compliance with terms and conditions
• Lead the drafting of financial grant reports
• Coordinate with operations staff across WRI to identify other activities in six target countries where sub granting activities are taking place to ensure coordination, especially concerning government relationships
• Create sub grant and contract agreements with partners and contractors, including processing payments, and amending agreements
• Communicate with sub grantees on financial reporting requirements and required progress reports and facilitate resolution of grantee questions
• Work with international and grassroots partners to build their capacity to understand and meet sub grant requirements

Financial Management (35%):

• Oversee daily financial management of project budget
• Monitor monthly expenses and keep direct project budget up to date in budgeting software
• Provide strategic advice to Project Director on the best use of funds to ensure achievement of deliverables while maximizing financial resources
• Lead project financial closeout and coordinate with project teams in other project closeout processes, including financial reconciliation and reporting
• Prepare proposal budgets and ensure agreement between proposed activities and budgets

Project Management (15%):

• Provide proactive operations advice to Project Director
• Monitor project deliverables to ensure that they are submitted within the period of performance and coordinate the submission of invoices
• Keep track of past performance and lessons learned to use on future project preparation

Administration (10%):

• Lead logistics for internal and external events, workshops, and conferences through A/V and catering preparation or virtual web hosting, including participant and speaker coordination
• Support the accurate submission of expense reports, timesheets, cash advances, and other transactions

What will you need:

• Education: You have a completed bachelor’s degree
• Experience: You have 2+ year of full-time relevant work experience in operations, program coordination
• Detail oriented with sensitivity to quality, timelines, and compliance
• IT skills including high level of comfort with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook), web-based communications (Microsoft Teams), with CRM database (Salesforce) and budgeting (IBM Cognos)
• Experience creating budgets, preparing donor reports, and processing subcontracts
• Languages: English required, fluency in French preferred, Spanish 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.  

How to Apply: 

Please submit a resume with 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 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. 

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