Associate III, Climate Resilient Development Practice, Washington DC

Overview:

The Associate will be a leading subject matter expert in the Governance Center’s Climate Resilient Development Practice with a track record of successful research, publication and fundraising in climate adaptation and resilience. He/she will facilitate program management and new project development in partnership with WRI’s programs and international offices, and contribute at a senior level to global research for the Practice. The Senior Associate will work closely with the Practice Director in managing the Practice.

WRI’s Climate Resilient Development Practice (CRDP) seeks to help developing country governments develop and implement adaptation policies and practices commensurate with the scale and scope of climate change. Our goal is to help national and sub-national decision makers understand the drivers of climate vulnerability in their countries, engage vulnerable people in adaptation efforts, and access the information, tools, and resources they need to take account of climate change in planning and programs. We collaborate extensively with colleagues across WRI and with partner organizations in India and Africa.

The CRDP was recently established, building from the past work of WRI’s Vulnerability and Adaptation Initiative. The practice is expected to grow significantly over the coming years, and to increasingly intersect with work in WRI’s Food, Forests, Water, Climate, and Cities Programs. The practice currently has 7 core staff members based in the US and India. Africa is anticipated to be an area of growth. We also collaborate closely with colleagues in WRI’s Finance and Economics Centers, and increasingly with colleagues at WRI Brasil.

Responsibilities:

Research & Knowledge (30%)

• Identifies knowledge gaps and influence opportunities where WRI research can produce meaningful improvements in the climate resilience of society, in collaboration with research staff from other programs/centers/international offices (intellectual leadership).
• Identifies the data and methods needed to produce robust, unbiased research that addresses knowledge gaps and informs the program’s influence strategies.
• Authors or co-authors knowledge products (e.g., reports, briefs, data-products).
• Supervises junior researchers.
• Reviews 4-6 knowledge products written by other WRI researchers yearly.

Program/Project Management (40%)

• Provides strategic management for WRI’s new collaboration with the UNCDF Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility, and for additional small and mid-sized projects over time.
• Supports the Practice Director in managing the practice.
• Monitors financial performance and takes appropriate action to ensure key financial objectives are met.
• Takes lead in resolving difficult or sensitive financial issues.
• Assumes responsibility for budget management and takes appropriate steps to correct budget deficits.
• Proactively manages changes in objective scope, identify potential crises, and devises contingency plans.
• Defines project success criteria and disseminates them to involved parties throughout project life cycle.

Program Development (30%)

• Helps the CRDP manage work planning efforts, including the planning and implementation of a major cross-institutional signature initiative on climate resilience.
• Contributes to the CRDP’s strategy development, partnership development, fundraising proposals (presentations, narratives, budgets). The practice’s Africa strategy will be one area of focus.
• Leverages new and maintains existing relationships with foundations, governments and individual donors
• Supports the CRDP’s team members across countries and programs (strategy development, work planning, workshops, internal consultation and communication processes).
• Monitors and helps evaluate program performance.
• Develops communications materials, concept notes, and timely content related to climate resilience trends and solutions.
• Develops, and manages others to develop, presentations for internal and external audiences, including potential donors.
• Contributes to proposals and development efforts consistently at the six figure fundraising level.

Qualifications:

Required qualifications:

• Masters in environmental studies, international development,, or related field.
• Minimum 7-10 years of full-time work experience in a relevant field, with program implementation and project management experience
• Recognized expertise and track record of publication in climate resilience/adaptation in the context of international development.
• Fluency in climate resilience adaptation concepts and terminology.
• Demonstrated ability to connect research results to measurable external change
• Prior supervision and mentorship of one or more junior staff

• Exceptionally good communication and interpersonal skills.

• Strong writing skills, both for technical and general audiences
• Strong analytical research skills.
• Detail-oriented and organized thinker who can juggle multiple, competing priorities
• Ability to travel approximately 20% of time

Preferred qualifications:

• PhD in environmental science, international development or a related field
• Knowledge and experience with monitoring and evaluation methods and techniques
• Familiarity with major climate-related international funding mechanisms
• Experience with media relations and/or donor management.
• Proficiency in French

Final candidates will be required to take a writing test.

They also will be asked to give a presentation to WRI staff.

Salary:

Salary is commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous, comprehensive benefits package.