Administrative Coordinator, Cities

Job Summary

Based in The Hague and reporting to the Director, Urban Development, you will provide administrative support to top management of the Ross Center. Ideally, you will have experience in a multi-cultural environment and will be a detail-oriented and highly organized individual. You will serve as a point of contact for internal and external stakeholders on all matters pertaining to the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities and will be a liaison to Country office Directors, Project Area leaders, and high-level external contacts such as donors and partners.

You will work closely with the Global Director, Administrative Manager, and Senior Management by anticipating needs, proactively resolving issues, assisting in the management of deliverable deadlines and ensuring timely preparation for upcoming events and commitments. Working independently, you will address the administrative needs of the Senior Management. Administrative responsibilities include an emphasis on scheduling and meeting preparation, preparation and monitoring of expense reports, and arrangement of domestic and international travel plans.

You will support internal and external events, help coordinate special projects, and assist with correspondence. 

 Job Responsibilities

The Administrative Assistant’s key responsibilities will include, and are not limited to:

• Provide day-to-day administrative support to Senior Management including scheduling and agenda-setting and engaging with colleagues and partners via email and/or phone.
• Organize internal and external meetings, collect background materials, take minutes, and track follow-up as necessary.
• Support special events and large meetings, which may include material preparation, room set-up, A/V management, and catering coordination
• Support appropriate follow-up to all internal and external engagements.

• Use Concur and Corporate Traveler to arrange international and domestic travel itineraries for Senior Management
• Prepare and monitor expense reports for Senior Management to ensure financial objectives are met. Identify opportunities and execute actions to improve operational efficiency.
• Coordinate across programs at the institute and within the program to contribute to the overall success of WRI Ross Center.

 Job Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required or 4 additional years of work experience
• Minimum 1-2 years full time experience working as a business personal assistant, special assistant, or executive assistant (or similar role).
• Superior organization skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to be flexible and shift priorities as needed depending on the changing Senior Management needs.
• Demonstrates ability to anticipate challenges and ensure productivity.
• Set priorities and solves a range of general problems independently.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Professional demeanor and superior people skills.
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point)
• Ability to learn and use software applications that are used by WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; multiple languages a plus
• Commitment to WRI’s mission and values and interest in environmental issues.

 How to Apply

Please submit a resume with cover letter. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. Deadline for applications 20th July 2021. Start date asap.

Potential Annual Salary: The Hague  €35,000 –  € 43,700 . Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

Program Overview – About WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

The decisions that national leaders, local officials, developers, and planners make today will determine how billions of people in urban centers will thrive over the next century. Already, half the global population resides in cities. That figure is set to increase to 70 percent by 2050.

Traditional models of city development can lock us into congestion, sprawl, and inefficient resource use. However, compact, connected, and efficient growth can help ensure more competitive cities, and provide a better quality of life for citizens. WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities (WRI Ross Center) works to ensure cities drive economic opportunity while sustaining natural resources. We use technical expertise, cutting-edge research, and on-the-ground partnerships to design solutions that enable sustainable city growth.

Our analysis and tools allow cities to effectively manage their natural resources and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Working across our network, we develop and support the implementation of research-based solutions in sustainable mobility, urban development, as well as urban efficiency & climate that reduce pollution, improve health, and create safe, accessible public spaces for all people to thrive.

WRI Ross Center builds on WRI’s global and local experience in urban planning and mobility, and uses proven solutions and action-oriented tools to increase building and energy efficiency, manage water risk, encourage effective governance and make the fast-growing urban environment more resilient to new challenges. Aiming to influence 200 cities with unique research and tools, WRI Ross Center focuses on a deep cross-sector approach in selected megacities on two continents, and targeted assistance to additional 50 urban areas, bringing economic, environmental and social benefits to people in cities around the globe.

This position is based from home due to Covid-19, but you will be based at WRI’s office in The Hague, The Netherlands once restrictions have lifted.

WRI Overview

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 six critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water and sustainable cities.

We are passionate. We value our diversity of interests, skills and backgrounds. We have a flexible work environment. And we share a common goal to catalyze change that will improve the lives of people. Our shared ideals are at the core of our approach. They include: integrity, innovation, urgency, independence and respect.

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.

We have been growing rapidly: our staff has doubled in size over the past 5 years and our operating budget is now $100 million. Founded in 1982, WRI has a global staff of nearly 700 people with work spanning 50 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States.  

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.