Grants & Finance Specialist, Food Program

Job Summary

In this role, you will support program operations. You will support and help coordinate operations for the program in the areas of grants and contracts management, financial management, and program administration. You will provide extensive support to the FOLU Program Director and Operations Associate in delivering timely and high-quality operations management.

This position will be home based  due to Covid-19, but you will be based at WRI’s office in London, UK once restrictions have lifted.

Job Responsibilities

Financial Management Support (65%)

• Enter financial and budget information into WRI finance and budget systems under assigned projects
• Collect, review and file financial and narrative reports from sub-grantees and other beneficiaries under assigned projects
• Prepare budget revisions and monitors budget expenditures in a consistent and highly accurate manner under assigned projects
• Process payments under subgrants, consultancy assignments and services
• Serve as a contact point on financial issues between FOLU team and WRI accounting and finance department under assigned projects
• Support Operations Associate in preparation of financial reports to FOLU donors when requested
• Ensure timely filing of donor reports in WRI systems
• Provide other assistance in financial management of FOLU activities upon request

Grants and Contracts Management (25%)

• Prepare new sub-grant agreements, contracts and amendments in line with WRI procurement rules and grant management policies
• Maintain database of FOLU contracts and sub-grants under assigned projects
• Serve as WRI focal point for FOLU sub-grantees under assigned projects
• Assist Operations Associate in other grants and contracts matters in timely manner
• Ensures timely filing of relevant documents in WRI systems

Administration and Operations (10%)

• Provide administrative assistance to FOLU Program Director and Operations Associate upon request. The above outlined time allocations may vary depending on the needs of the team

Job Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required with preference for degrees in business management, public finance, economics, procurement, or similar field
• Minimum 2 years of proven professional experience within finance, budgets and/or grants coordination function, including 1 year of which should be with a non-profit, donor funded organization
• Experience working with budgeting and costing software, preferably in non-profit environment
• Advanced excel and strong numerical skills and ability to maintain large excel tables and files
• Strong interest in finance, budgeting and reporting function in non-profit environment
• Willingness to work in geographically dispersed team and able to attend occasional meetings outside of regular, local business hours with notice
• Must be adaptable to rapidly changing priorities and have the ability to manage multiple projects with varying deadlines
• Demonstrates patience and perseverance in understanding and explaining issues to partners and contractors
• Strong process orientation with sensitivity to quality
• Commitment to WRI’s mission and institutional values
• General understanding of donor funded project finance and contracts function
• Legal right to work in UK 

Desired qualifications:

• Knowledge or interest in international development or the environment
• Understanding of public procurement function is desirable but not essential. Training will be provided.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with cover letter. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. The deadline for applications is the 5th of May 2021. 

Program Overview

The Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) is a self-governed Coalition of organizations and individuals working collaboratively to achieve a shared objective: the urgent transformation of food and land use systems to deliver a better future for people, nature and climate. FOLU supports science-based solutions and helps to build a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities to unlock collective, ambitious action. FOLU’s Growing Better report recommends an integrated reform agenda along ten critical transitions to deliver positive outcomes for environment, health, inclusive development and food security, ensuring food and land use systems support delivery of globally agreed sustainable development, climate and biodiversity goals. The Coalition’s collective leadership is provided by a Core Partners Group comprised of: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), EAT, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), SYSTEMIQ, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), World Farmers’ Organization (WFO), and the World Resources Institute (WRI). Through the Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land Use, and Energy (FABLE) Consortium, FOLU has expert teams and networks in 18 countries, including the European Union. FABLE is a knowledge network that supports countries develop data and modelling infrastructure to promote ambitious, integrated strategies towards sustainable land use and food systems. FOLU country platforms are operating in: China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Ethiopia and Sub-Saharan Africa, with partner networks in Australia, the UK and the Nordic region.

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.