Project Manager, Corporate Relations

Job Summary

In this new position, you will help develop WRI’s capacity on several important fronts. Half of your time will focus on project management for one of WRI’s largest corporate partnerships (ie “Signature Partnership,” below). This partnership focuses on the role of sustainable finance in scaling renewable energy and nature-based solutions globally, with a particular focus in Asia. The other half of your time will support a handful of other strategic corporate partnerships to ensure best practice is used in terms of project and grant management to support successful relationship management.

The opportunity for creating positive impact in this role is huge. Internal visibility will be high, and you’ll quickly develop relationships across WRI’s teams and offices. We’re looking for a dynamic Project Manager who can see the big picture while maintaining incredible attention to detail. Poise and personality are key success factors for this role; experience leading without authority will be critical. The Project Manager will balance an exciting range of responsibilities while working with and learning about cutting-edge corporate sustainability initiatives, not to mention WRI’s most exciting projects. From influencing WRI’s most important relationship management strategies to tracking and reporting on specific project KPIs, this role puts you at the center of WRI’s most exciting work.

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

Signature Partnership Project Management & Coordination (50%)

• Monitor project plans, progress against deliverables, grant reports deadlines, donor-related events, meetings, and external key events related to the grant lifecycle for a portfolio of Corporate donors; proactively identify risks to Director of Corporate Relations
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of grant reports, report quality and coherence, and appropriate internal review across all Signature Relationship -funded projects
• Monitor all Signature Partnership-funded project budgets and financial performance via regular (monthly) check-ins with PMs and/or Ops staff, flagging concerns to Director of Corporate Relations when appropriate
• Coordinate Quarterly review of all Signature Partnership-funded projects to assess performance, financial management, compliance, measurement & evaluation, and other efforts, providing basis for Director of Corporate Relation’s team’s performance updates to the Signature Partner
• Collate past performance and lessons learned from Signature Partner-funded projects to use for correspondence to donor, future proposals
• Ensure strategic partnerships with other grantees are coordinated internally
• Coordinate and schedule meetings with the Signature Partner 
• Implement the broader WRI relationship management plan for the Signature Partner, per Director of Corporate Relation’s guidance
• Partner with program and IOs to implement coordinated relationship strategy

Corporate Relations Project Management (50%)

• Oversee management support for a portfolio of 2-4 corporate donors, working closely with the Director of International Corporate Relations to ensure these partnerships maximize their potential for funding and positive impact
• In close coordination with program staff, oversee and track existing workstreams/projects with these partners; managing the grant reporting and grant renewal process (e.g. grant narrative reports, budget reports, proposal creation, etc.)
• Working closely with the Director of International Corporate Relations, ensure WRI has regular touchpoints with these partners and is embodying best relationship management practices
• Responsible for staying up to date on pertinent news about these partners and major developments in their sustainability programs – using these insights to guide our relationship strategy to grow revenue and positive impact opportunities

Job Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or a Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of additional work experience)
• Minimum of 5 years of full time relevant experience needed
• Familiarity with corporate sustainability initiatives and environmental issues more broadly
• Experience managing projects, project budgets, project reporting; managing teams; leading without authority (aka leading/ managing those who do not report to you)
• Excellent communication skills: you know the best questions to ask, your writing is crisp and clear
• Experience working with minimal oversight in a dynamic, busy work environment, taking ownership of their role
• Great attention to detail. You like the nitty-gritty; spreadsheets and Gannt Charts are your friends
• You enjoy juggling a number of concurrent, fast-paced projects
• A passion for learning. You find WRI’s work and how leading companies seek to hasten systems change exciting
• US work authorization required for this position

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

Potential Salary: $79,000 – $106,000. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

Program Overview

WRI’s Corporate Relations team works with many of the world’s largest companies, connecting them to WRI’s global constellation of experts in pursuit of scaling progress on a wide range of sustainability issues. This team serves as relationship manager to WRI’s deepest corporate partnerships – seeking to create and grow impact with leading multinational corporations. Within WRI, the Corporate Relations team is truly cross-cutting; working across every one of WRI’s programs, centers and International Offices. Externally, we work closely with a wide range of partners, from C-suite execs to marketing leads to technical experts within corporate sustainability teams. Corporate Relations plays a series of important roles in support of WRI’s mission: part relationship manager, part matchmaker, part intra-prenuer, part facilitator, part strategic advisor, part fundraiser. This dynamic team enjoys the high-paced nature of our work and the incredible breadth of partners, initiatives and topics we touch.

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.