This position will be based in WRI’s Global Office in Washington, DC in the United States. It will require regular in-person work. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission for the US. WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

About the Program:

The Global Restoration Initiative (GRI) helps catalyze the restoration of forests, farmland and ecosystems. Our goal is to help restore ecosystem function, economic productivity, livelihoods and hope. The GRI is a flagship initiative of the Food, Land and Water program at WRI and works with governments, grassroots community organizations, entrepreneurs and international partners to inspire, enable, and implement restoration on degraded landscapes, returning them to economic and environmental productivity. Alongside partners, WRI has identified more than two billion hectares of cleared and degraded forest and agricultural lands suitable for restoration – an area roughly twice the size of China. Using this data as a foundation, we promote restoration of degraded lands back into natural forests, agroforestry systems, or productive agriculture. Our programmatic work centers on ensuring that restoration practitioners have access to technical assistance, financing, promoting policies and monitoring systems. Embracing forest and landscape restoration will allow for a world in which the amount of forest cover grows while the productivity of existing agricultural land increases.

Job Highlight:

As a Development and Engagement Officer, you will help maintain and expand our relationships with existing donors while actively engaging with prospective donors to fund work in important GRI geographies: Africa, Latin America, India, and Indonesia. You will be supporting the GRI Director to develop and execute a fundraising strategy and grow our network of potential donors. In addition, you will be working with the GRI’s Project Management Office (PMO) and Communication teams to gather information and success stories to share with our donors and other partners. You will be reporting directly to GRI’s Director and work with the Senior Advisor, Impact Philanthropy. This position will be based in the WRI Global office in Washington, DC and will follow a hybrid model of remote and in-office work.

What will you do: Donor engagement and stewardship (60% time):

• Design and implement a donor stewardship program with the GRI Director and WRI Development team, with an initial focus on Restore Local in Africa
• Manage information flow back to WRI staff on about donors’ and partner institutions’ priorities
• Ensure fundraising opportunities are up-to-date in relevant GRI and WRI-wide systems (e.g., Salesforce, Monday.com) and that institutional standards for constituent relationship management are in place
• Oversee efforts across programs and country teams to coordinate implementation of stewardship plans for important donors
• Represent the GRI in important donor meetings
• Collaborate with GRI’s Communications team and PMO team to produce high quality, compelling and timely communication products and progress reports for donors (presentations, reports, updates)
• Co-lead quarterly check-in calls between GRI fundraisers and WRI’s Development team

Fundraising (40% time):

• Work with GRI’s Director and Senior Advisor, Impact Philanthropy to identify new prospects or renewal opportunities and secure funding for priorities projects in the six- and seven-figure range
• Collaborate with GRI’s PMO team to maintain the donor pipeline tracker and other relevant tools for fundraising
• Guide or help develop concept notes, proposals, and budgets with active engagement from relevant GRI staff and country teams
• Lead GRI’s engagement in Large Proposal Review process for new funding opportunities
• Work with program teams to set fundraising priorities, aligned with overall GRI strategy
• Work with operations team to develop proposal budgets aligned with funder expectations
• Coordinate responses to cross-programmatic funding opportunities
• Manage and train team on processes for funding proposals and budgets and donor engagement strategies, ensuring agreement on WRI fundraising processes
• Work with WRI’s Global Development team on funding approaches involving centrally managed institutional donors to guarantee a high level of internal collaboration on fundraising priorities

What will you need:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or relevant professional certification
• Experience: Minimum 7+ years of external fundraising experience, preferably in large, non-profit organizations
• Experience working in non-profit organizations and prior engagement on environmental or international development focus area is desirable
• Documented success personally implementing complex, multi-year fundraising strategies
• Prior experience working with a cross-sector of institutional donors including high net worth individuals, corporations, foundations, philanthropies, and governments (bi-/multi-lateral agencies)
• Exceptional writing and proofreading skills; ability to translate technical information into lay language; experience in developing and organizing complex and detailed proposals for varying audiences
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and collaborative skills; can manage complex situations with tact, respect and diplomacy
• Proven track record of securing 6-figure grants and gifts
• Familiarity with project and program management principles
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage budgets
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment, with a diverse staff, across multiple time zones
• Demonstrated expert ability to be strategic and flexible on changing priorities
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint and CRM systems (preferably Salesforce)
• Languages: Verbal and written proficiency in English required. Fluency in any of WRI’s other languages is a bonus (French, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.).

Potential Salary: Salary range is between 96,000 and 116,000 USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with cover letter by the date of August 25, 2023. You mustapply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary and generous PTO that increase with tenure.
• Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US.
• Opportunity to provide impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
• A workplace that focuses diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work.
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI.
• Long-term commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours.

About Us:

Founded in 1982, 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 to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.

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.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence, Respect.

Our culture:

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. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.