Grants and Finance Specialist II, Food Program

Job Summary:

In this role, you will be responsible for grants and contract management for the activities for WRI’s Shifting Diets initiative. Your duties will include developing budgets for new proposals, tracking and updating current project budgets, preparing financial reports, processing invoices, and managing grants, contracts, and sub-awards. You will report directly to the Director of the Shifting Diets team and will work closely with WRI’s global grants and contracts team, accounting department, and other members of the Shifting Diets Team. You will also be part of a growing team of Grants and Finance Specialists within the Food, Forests, Water, and Ocean Programs.

Job Responsibilities:

Financial Management(50%)

• Work with operational staff at WRI Global Office and project managers within the Shifting Diets Initiative to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of grants and contracts
• Prepare the Shifting Diets Initiative annual budget and develop budgets for all new proposals and grants
• Prepare detailed financial reports for funders in accordance with donor and WRI guidelines
• Monitor and manage the Initiative’s budget throughout the year to prepare quarterly projections and reviews in consultation with the Shifting Diets Director and the Senior Operations Manger for the Food, Forests, Water and Ocean Programs
• Review and track monthly expense and staff labor hours
• Work directly with project managers to resolve financial issues and provide guidance and advice
• Instruct project staff on proper execution of expense reports, payment processing, work orders, procurement rules, and other internal processes
• Process invoices and payments for projects in compliance with WRI’s policies (sub-agreements, work orders, honorariums, etc.)

Grant and Subagreement Management (30%)

• Prepare and maintain subgrant and contract agreements with partners and contractors
• Work with partners to ensure they understand all rules and regulations regarding their contracts and grants
• Monitor all partners and contractor deadlines to ensure the timely and accurate submission of progress and financial reports
• Submit and track requests for payment and ensure that payments processed are consistent with WRI’s internal policies and grant requirements
• Provide guidance to team members on issues related to donor compliance and procurement.

Program/Project Administration (20%)

• Monitor project deliverables and prepare project and financial reports. organize and schedule team meetings
• Liaise with internal staff and stakeholders to problem solve and generate solutions to systemic issues and effective ways to complete tasks
• Provide support for external and internal meetings, presentations, and conferences, as needed
• Track program funding opportunities and record information in on-line tracking systems.

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field; relevant work experience in lieu of degree is accepted
• Minimum of 2 years of full-time work experience in financial management and grant administration, preferably in a non-profit setting
• Detail-oriented, highly organized with experience and interest in program operations, grant compliance, financial management, and budgeting
• Adaptable to rapidly changing priorities and able to manage multiple projects with varying deadlines
• Attention to deadlines, particularly with regard to grant compliance and monitoring subgrantees and contractors
• Patience and perseverance in understanding and explaining issues to partners and contractors
• Strong process orientation with sensitivity to quality
• Solid computer skills including high level of comfort with Microsoft Office (especially Excel), and web-based communications (e.g., Zoom, Teams, etc.),
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and demonstrated strong work ethic
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to work well in a team

How to Apply:

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

Program Overview:

WRI’s Food Program provides a menu of solutions to the world’s food production and consumption problems. We develop research, tools, and partnerships to help countries, cities, and businesses measure and reduce their food loss and waste. We analyze strategies to sustainably increase food production, such as by restoring degraded lands back into productivity, increasing pastureland yields, and improving land and water management. We advance methods to reduce food production’s impact on the environment, such as climate-smart agriculture. And through our Shifting Diets initiative, we help dining facilities and others shrink their climate footprints by shifting toward plant-rich foods.

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.