This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You will be based in our office in London or The Hague office. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

This is a limited term position for a 6 months maternity cover, with the possibility to extend.

About the Program:

The Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) is a self-governed international coalition of organisations 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 important 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 International Partners comprised of: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), EAT, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), Systemiq, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), and the World Resources Institute (WRI). FOLU Country Platforms are operating in: Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. FOLU is coordinated by its Global Secretariat housed at WRI’s London office. Other FOLU partners provide human resources that contribute to the Secretariat, including Systemiq and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Job Highlight:

In this role, you will lead major resource mobilization projects to support a large and growing coalition grant portfolio. You will be directly responsible for Government and Foundation donor relations and potentially Corporate and Individual donor relations managed through FOLU’s broad coalition (including eight International Partners and seven Country Platforms). In coordination with FOLU’s Global Secretariat, you will guide engagement with governments, foundations and potentially corporations, and major individual donors to promote our programmatic goals and objectives, and work with International Partners, regional coordinators, and Country Platforms in developing and implementing resource mobilization strategies both at the global and country level. You will oversee prospect research, donor stewardship, proposal writing, and coalition wide project framing. You will lead/participate in joint fundraising-efforts across the Coalition to produce compelling multi-faceted proposals for major grant awards and enhance development strategies and proposals related to FOLU’s global portfolio. You will have a direct reporting line to the FOLU Countries and Impact Director with a matrix line into WRI’s Global Development team and serve as the program point person to ensure coordination with other WRI Programs, Centres, and International Offices whose work also addresses issues related to Food and Land Use strategies. Some international travel may be required.

What will you do:

Prospect Engagement and Coalition Wide Coordination (50%)

• Manage a portfolio of high value global prospects (conduct prospect research, open doors, and prepare engagement and follow up)
• Lead on our organization of donor meetings and donor roundtables, setting the agenda and coordinating inputs from many stakeholders to ensure meaningful strategic and technical engagement
• Draft strategic briefs and presentations to inform and guide interactions and dialogues with prospective donors
• Liaise across coalition partners and peer organisations to identify opportunities, avoid competition, and maintain an active coalition wide pipeline of opportunities
• Maintain up-to-date contacts and engagement tracking in Salesforce to monitor prospect progress, capture synergy opportunities, and avoid any institutional conflicts
• Support coalition annual and multi-year project planning efforts to ensure the development of aligned projects, compelling offers, and early engagement on fundraising priorities and opportunities

Proposal Development (30%)

• Play a leadership role in coordination, writing, and editing of multi-team FOLU proposals in the six- and seven-figure range alongside FOLU directors and managers
• Help foster collaboration between FOLU stakeholders in proposal development, where relevant
• Develop a good understanding of WRI’s cost & pricing principles, process and methodology

Support to Country-led and International Partner-led fundraising (20%)

• Support FOLU Country Platforms and International Partners in their fundraising outreach for FOLU through sharing donor intel, providing support for slide decks and proposals
• Provide advice and assistance where needed, including training and support on donor engagement plan development

What will you need:

• Education:You have a completed Master’s degree (or bachelor’s with two additional years of relevant work experience)
• Experience: You have 10+ years, including in resource mobilization or partnerships experience in large, international organizations
• Record of securing 6-figure grants from foundations, foreign governments or multi-lateral organisations
• Demonstrated ability to translate technical information into lay language
• Experience in developing and organising proposals for varying audiences
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex relationships and diplomatically guide peers and directors though strategy to concrete proposed deliverables focused on impact at a global scale
• Experience working in an international and diverse team environment across multiple time zones
• Experience working in the NGO environmental and prior engagement in the fields of environmental or international development is desirable. Experience in a coalition is also desirable
• Knowledge of the food and agriculture sector desirable, especially of donors contributing to this space
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization.

Potential Salary:

£65,000 – £82,000 if based in the UK

€80,000 – €101,000 if based in the Netherlands

Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with a required cover letter by 9 August 2024.

You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

• 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
• The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities. A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
• Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure.

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 and 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.