Grants and Finance Specialist, Global Restoration Initiative

Job Summary:

As the Grants and Finance Specialist, you will be part of a growing team of operational support within the Food, Forests, Water, and Ocean programs, you will provide administrative and financial oversight, along with program operations support across the full team. In this position, the individual will manage grant and contract management, accounts payable, financial management, partner coordination, and event coordination. You will work closely with our core Accounting, Grants and Contracts teams, Communications, Finance and Operations, and project managers within the Forest 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.

Job Responsibilities:

Grant and Sub-agreement Management (50%)

• Process invoices and payments for projects in compliance with WRI’s policies (sub grants, consultancies, work orders, etc.)
• Monitor partners to ensure the timely and accurate submission of progress and financial reports and ensure all paperwork is up to date and properly recorded
• Submit and track requests for payment and ensure that payments processed are consistent with WRI’s internal policies and grant requirements
• Draft and execute new sub grants, contracts, and amendments as needed
• Work directly with funder to request and submit prime award amendments, payment request, and other funder related needs

Financial Management (45%)

• Manage the monthly expense review and tracking of expenses to ensure donor compliance and appropriate spending
• Manage the coordination and preparation of funder financial reports and ensure spending in alignment with funder regulations
• Update and maintain project budgets utilizing WRI’s budgeting and forecasting software, TM1
• Monitor and work with WRI’s accounting team to ensure hedging and proper application of FOREX to all awards
• Support team with financial management for conference and event logistics as needed, including participant travel
• Support team with creation of proposal budgets that adhere to WRI regulations, follow funder instructions and have sign-off from WRI’s Cost & pricing team
• Support Restoration Operations Manager with preparation of quarterly financial reviews

Program Administration and Operations (5%)

• Provide support for external and internal meetings, presentations, and conferences, as needed
• Provide support and coordination to the GRI Director, Project Managers, and Operations Associate as needed

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields; relevant work experience in lieu of degree is accepted
• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in financial management and administration, preferably in a non-profit setting
• Detail-oriented and organized thinker with an interest in program operations, grant compliance, financial management, and budgeting
• Demonstrated judgment and problem-solving skills Strong computer skills including high level of comfort with Microsoft Office (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint, etc.) and web-based communications (e.g., Skype, TEAMS, etc.)
• Must be adaptable to rapidly changing priorities and have the ability to manage multiple projects with varying deadlines
• Patience and perseverance in understanding and explaining issues to partners and contractors
• Strong process orientation with sensitivity to quality
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to work well in a geographically-dispersed team
• Must be willing to attend meetings outside of regular, local business hours with notice to accommodate colleagues in other time zones
• Commitment to WRI’s mission and institutional values
• US work authorization is required for this opportunity.

Preferred

• French or Spanish language skills are a plus,
• Experience with administration of BMU/ZUG or other European bilateral donors is a plus

Potential Salary:

$53,000 – $68,000 Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply:

Candidates should submit a resume and cover letter. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

Program Overview:

The Global Restoration Initiative aims to catalyze a political and social movement to restore vitality to degraded lands. These degraded lands can be restored into healthy mosaics of sustainable agriculture, agroforestry landscapes (or mixed-forest agriculture), and restored forest ecosystems generating economic, ecological, and social benefits to people and planet.

The strategy to build this global restoration movement has three components:
1. Inspire: map opportunities, quantify benefits, conduct awareness campaigns, secure restoration commitments, and build restoration champions at the global, national, subnational and community levels;
2. Enable: address gaps in governance systems and financial institutions that support restoration, e.g. access to information, appropriate policies, participation, processes and institutional capacities, and coherence;
3. Mobilize: ensure sufficient technical knowledge, financing and monitoring systems in place to replicate and scale up restoration activities.

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.

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.