Associate, Operations Support, FFWO

Job Summary:

As an integral member of the operations support team for the Food, Forests, Water and Ocean programs (FFWO), you will play an active role in mentoring staff on matters related to grant and sub-award management, budget development and monitoring and other operational functions related to successful project implementation. Reporting directly to the Senior Operations Manager for FFWO, you will work across a portfolio of grants and projects as needed to provide support during times of transition and heavy workloads. In this position, you will work closely with WRI’s grants and contracts team, accounting department, project managers and a growing team of grant and finance specialists within the Food, Forests, Water and Oceans Program.

This position is remote due to Covid-19, but you will be based at WRI’s office in Washington, DC once restrictions have lifted with the possibility to be continued as remote.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide administrative and financial support to various units within the Food, Forests, Water and Ocean programs
• Work closely with Project Managers, Grants and Finance Specialists and others to provide guidance on matters relating to grant and contract administration, budget monitoring and forecasting, risk management, human resources, and other internal policies and procedures
• Assist the Senior Operations and Deputy Operations Managers in the development of operational process and policies to streamline business functions within FFWO
• Develop and create specialized reports and dashboards to help analyze budget and other project information for improved monitoring and decision making
• Prepare detailed financial reports to funders, process invoices, review budget forecasts and plan labor allocations as needed
• Prepare and process contractual documents for approval including sub-awards, memorandums of understanding, procurement documentation and NDAs
• Liaise with WRI’s accounting, grants and contracts and cost and pricing teams to troubleshoot complex financial reporting problems, issues related to grant compliance, etc.
• Work with external partners to help them understand and meet subgrant and contract requirements
• Additional administrative duties as needed

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or relevant work experience in lieu of degree is accepted
• Minimum of 3 years previous work experience in financial management, grant administration and budget monitoring, preferably in a nonprofit setting
• Detail-oriented, highly organized with experience and interest in program operations, grant compliance, financial management, and budgeting
• Strong financial analysis and reporting skills
• Experience with budget development, planning, and monitoring
• Proficiency in MSExcel to prepare and analyze complex financial spreadsheets
• Experience with Power BI or similar tools to analyze complex data
• Adaptable to rapidly changing priorities and ability to manage multiple projects with varying deadlines
• Ability to explain complex grant compliance regulations and financial issues to project managers and partners
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Fluency in English with strong skills in written communication. Additional language skills in Spanish, Chinese or French are a plus
• Experience with USAID and United States government funding is also a plus.
• US work authorization is required

Potential Salary:
$59,600 – $77,500 if based in United States. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with cover letter. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered

Program Overview:

The World Resources Institute’s Food, Forest, Water and Ocean Program (FFWO) is seeking a full-time, independent, well-organized, and detail-oriented Operations Specialist. This is an excellent position for someone seeking to work in financial and project/ program management. FFWO has a combined budget of over $50 million annually and staff located around the world. It is composed of four separate but interrelated programs: Food, which seeks to sustainably feed the planet by reducing food loss and waste, shifting consumers to healthier diets, and restoring agricultural yields on degraded lands. Forests, which seeks to shift the world toward safeguarding and maintaining its natural forests while restoring lost and degraded lands. Water, which works to ensure a water-secure future by addressing water quantity and quality issues and challenges related to water governance. Ocean, which works to facilitate a better future for people and the planet where effective ocean protection, sustainable ocean production and equitable prosperity go hand-in-hand.

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 seven 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, sustainable cities, and the ocean.

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 $150 million. Founded in 1982, WRI has a global staff of 1,000+ people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and the United States as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.  

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.