Project Operations Manager – Sustainable Investment

Overview

 

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), first announced in 2013, seeks to support the construction of infrastructure worth hundreds of billions of dollars across multiple countries along the Belt and Road.  Ensuring that the BRI channels capital toward low-carbon and environmentally sustainable technologies and projects and avoids locking in high-carbon infrastructure is a top priority for WRI, particularly in relation to WRI’s role in the BRI International Green Development Coalition initiated by the China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

 

To support the above work, we seek a Project Operations Manager to provide project coordination and  management support for the team. We require excellent attention to detail, good understanding of team dynamics, goal-oriented, excellent interpersonal skills and management ability, strong time and priority management abilities, and some understanding of political economy context of the BRI.

 

 

Job Responsibilities

 

 

Fiduciary Management (50% of time required)

 

• Work with WRI Global and China to define a comprehensive, multi-year project operation strategy to maximize WRI impact in Green BRI Initiative at the nexus of energy and finance.
• Participate in project KPI system design and prepare KPI report documents to donors.
• Lead regular reporting to donors on the progress of the technical and financial elements of the project.

• Communicate with team members and partners to document and share updated status of project implementation.
• Ensure project implementation is in line with the work plan approved by the donor and identify any potential risks that may impact deliverables and coordinate within the team to have them resolved beforehand.

 

 

 

 

 

Compliance Control and Financial Management (30% of time required)

 

• Assist Project Director in ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions of complex international and multi-lateral grants and contracts and make sure all financial documents are in line with funder’s requirement.
• Ensure the team complies with funder-specific and WRI financial requirements and best-practices. Oversee the project’s contracts and payments as to comply with all internal WRI budgeting and contract processes and deadlines.

• Lead to prepare and manage BRI project’s annual overall budgets as well funder-specific budgets including monitoring monthly expenses and updating budgets monthly.
• Coordinate and lead monthly, quarterly and annual financial review meetings, and review monthly expenses and staff labor hours.
• Represent BRI project in all finance and operations-related meetings.
• Assist in fundraising tasks, including creating budgets for funding proposals, drafting funder proposals, and donor stewardship.

 

 

Operation (20% of time required)

 

• Serve as head of the BRI project’s operations, proactively coordinate with other functional departments within WRI on budget, financial flow, contract, payment, development, communication and human resources issues, and other WRI international offices, as related to project operation.
• Lead the project in the use of CRM software, Salesforce including rolling out expanded and consistent use across teams.

• Develop and roll-out a standardized project management and reporting system, with support from project leadership.

 

 

 

Job Qualifications

 

• Master’s degree in English, public administration, environmental science and management, or relevant majors
• Minimum of 5 years of full-time work experience in managing/operating projects
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in Chinese and English
• Excellent interpersonal skills and passionate to work with people across all levels and with different cultures
• Prior engagement on environmental and/or international development focus area is a plus
• Strong skills and knowledge of database software and management, such as IBM Planning Analytics (Cognos), TM1, Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce, SharePoint, and other collaborative work platforms
• Ability to think creatively and resolve complex, multi-disciplinary challenges
• Commitment to WRI’s mission and values
• Patience and perseverance in understanding and explaining issues to partners and contractors, particularly with regard to grant compliance and monitoring
• Strong process orientation with sensitivity to quality
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Strong writing, database management, and proofreading skills

 

Position reports to: BRI Project Director

 

Salary and Benefits: Salary is commensurate with experience and skills

 

Duration: Full-time regular

 

Location: Beijing, China

 

Start Date: As soon as possible