This position is remote-eligible and only for consideration within the United States where WRI is state registered. 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:

In collaboration with partners and communities, WRI’s Electric School Bus Initiative aims to build unstoppable momentum toward an equitable transition of the U.S. school bus fleet to electric by 2030, bringing health, climate, and economic benefits to children and families across the country and normalizing electric mobility for an entire generation. Together with partners, WRI is working in six areas of focus, whereby we: Center communities in pursuing school bus electrification and work with community-focused organizations to help provide the tools and resources to make it happen. Support school districts in accelerating the equitable transition to electric school buses. Collaborate with manufacturers across the electric school bus supply chain in preparing for an equitable and sustainable transition. Work with electric utilities to improve interconnection and investments for electric school bus charging infrastructure, including supportive rates and tariffs. Facilitate understanding of electric school bus business models and promote the expansion of funding and finance options in the electric school bus market. Engage policymakers in the federal government, state governments and municipalities to usher in the policy solutions, funding, and financing needed to reduce barriers to equitable school bus electrification.

Job Highlight:

Working in tandem with the Director and as part of the project leadership team, you will help develop strategy, scope and secure funds for new lines of work, ensure impactful project implementation and operations. You will also ensure effective communications, manage and support a growing team, and oversee scrupulous use of donor funds. Your portfolio will focus on implementation and internal team operations, including technical assistance to school districts, contractors and other stakeholders, engagement with the manufacturing, utility and infrastructure industries, and support for internal operations. You will work with the team’s more than two dozen staff to collaborate with stakeholders across the electric school bus supply chain, school districts, electric utilities, policymakers, environmental justice organizations, and communities to support the equitable transition to electric school buses. You will help develop and execute new initiatives in related areas.

What will you do:

Strategic Leadership and Vision (40% time):

Work with the ESBI Director as part of the leadership team, to shape and execute a strategy for the Electric School Bus Initiative U.S. and its $6+ million annual budget to equitably assist the 19,000+ School Districts in the US develop a path to full electrification of over 480,000 buses, leveraging high-quality research and high-impact engagement with stakeholders and decisionmakers Adapt that strategy over time to meet evolving political and economic realities Work with the ESBI Director to identify critical issues where new insights, analyses, and proposals to build coalitions can lead to significant progress in the United States Oversee development of major fundraising proposals for ESBI, working with ESBI, WRI-U.S., WRI Urban Mobility staff and WRI’s Development Office to promote and refine ideas, identify viable funders, and author proposals Work with the ESBI Director and other leads to promote the contributions of ESBI to an equitable transition and environmental justice and help grow a diverse and inclusive team

People and Program Management (40% time):

Serve as leadership team lead on technical assistance and industry engagement portfolio Work with the ESBI Director to guide and monitor the execution of the initiatives strategy by working with the Pillar Leads to oversee the implementation of multiple projects, ensuring the quality of the work and the achievement of project outcomes Manage several direct reports and help the ESBI Director manage a team of more than two dozen, with an emphasis on establishing a sense of teamwork and cooperation, mentoring, and providing staff with the ability to excel and develop Provide day-to-day oversight of technical assistance work across ESBI inclusive of direct engagement with school districts, contractors, manufacturers and infrastructure providers and manage the work of specific projects such as NYSERDA Oversee financial management of the ESBI program and ensure that project finances are managed and within budget according to donor procedures

Communication and Engagement (20% time):

Draft blogs, reports, and other publications to advance WRI’s thought leadership. Help identify opportunities for strategic communications Be an external spokesperson for ESBI’s work and perspectives, leveraging strong speaking skills and experience to engage experts, stakeholders, decisionmakers, and the media through public and private speaking events and interviews Serve as an internal spokesperson for ESBI, communicating program objectives to all levels of staff, partners and donors.

What will you need:

Education: You have a completed a Masters degree in relevant discipline Experience: You have a minimum of 12 years’ full-time relevant work experience in Program or project leadership with 3 or more years of supervisory experience Experience working with stakeholders across the electric vehicle supply chain, including school districts, vehicle manufacturers, charging infrastructure providers, and energy storage providers Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to sponsor work visa

Potential Salary: Salary range is between 138,000 USD and 166,000. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter by 22 September 2023. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

A competitive salary 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, 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.

This position can be based in either WRI office in Netherlands or in WRI office in London. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission. WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

This is a limited term position ending October 31, 2024.

About the Program:


Regen10 is a global multi-stakeholder endeavour that sets out to explore the potential of regenerative food systems through a famer-centric, global and inclusive approach.

This work is centred around three strategic priorities:

Establish a Regenerative Outcomes Framework: Through a consultative process, analyse the broad variety of food system assessment tools and frameworks to identify a comprehensive and holistic framework that measures sustainability outcomes at farm and landscape level. The framework will inform agricultural practices, guide incentives, and drive innovation and adaptations that deliver positive outcomes for people and planetThis pillar is led by FOLU, with partners at World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), World Farmers Organization (WFO), Sustainable Food Trust Learning from landscapes: Draw on experience and knowledge from existing initiatives to accelerate landscape-level transitions towards regenerative food systems in a way that’s evidence-based, farmer-centric and deeply inclusive. This pillar is led by Systemiq, with partners at Leaders Quest, IUCN Building global momentum to drive positive change: We are elevating and supporting a broad range of initiatives to identify how policy, business, finance and research can best support regenerative approaches. This pillar is led by Meridian Institute, who is also charged with leading the overall Regen10 Secretariat

Job Highlight:

The Project Coordinator role will sit within the Frameworks Team responsible for delivering on the first strategic priority to develop the regenerative outcomes framework. The Project Coordinator, housed within FOLU and based at the World Resources Institute (one of FOLU’s core partners) will support the Regen10 Project Manager and the wider Frameworks Team to deliver the testing phase of the project. This will involve coordinating a series of on-farm and on-landscape pilots in partnership with third party organizations to test the feasibility and application of the framework. The testing will take place across 15 farm archetypes and 4 landscape archetypes (exact locations to be confirmed) over the course of 2023 –2024. This is a fixed term role for 12 months.

What will you do:

Managing relationships with partner organizations who will be facilitating the pilots. This will involve being the main point of contact and ensuring that the partner organizations deliver on expectations Supporting partner organizations to localize the global framework that has been developed in the first phase of work. This will involve conducting research to identify the suitable indicators and metrics to be used in the different locations Support analyzing the data collected from the pilots and integrate into the draft framework. Prepare materials to share back to farmers and local actors Prepare presentations and briefing materials that will be shared at key events throughout the year to showcase the results from the pilots e.g. COP28

What will you need:

Education: You have a completed Bachelor’s degree in environment studies/science, agriculture/food systems, international development, economics or related area required
Experience: You have a minimum of 3+ years of experience of Project management experience Stakeholder management - own relationship and communications with partners who are testing the Regen10 framework Strong presentation and written communication skills - develop materials for key events to showcase the results from the tests with minimal support Strong analytical skills – confidently and independently use excel to collect and analyse the data from the pilots and integrate into the draft framework Critical thinking - be able to distill insights and data points into useful outputs that can be shared with a wider number of stakeholders High-level organizational and interpersonal skills - work with and manage inputs from multiple stakeholders to deliver high quality work Knowledge of food and land use systems. Specifically, familiarity with topics of regenerative agriculture (including agroecological and sustainable agricultural practices) is a plus Experience working with qualitative and quantitative research methods, and ability to communicate those skills to colleagues and external stakeholders Background in writing and overseeing high-quality research products Experience developing strategies and solving complex strategic and tactical problems as they arise Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with teams of experienced professionals Languages: You have proficiency in written and spoken English; additional language skills are a plus

Potential Salary: Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with cover letter by the date of October 6, 2023. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

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