Back Deputy Director; Ocean Program

This position will be hybrid which requires 8 days/month in Washington DC office. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission. WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. To be eligible for this position in US, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

About the Program:

The ocean is fundamental to the future of people, nature, and climate. More than 3 billion people depend on the ocean for their livelihoods and food, and the ocean provides numerous ecosystem services that benefit humanity. Moreover, ocean-based climate solutions can potentially reduce the “emissions gap” by up to 35% on a 1.5°C trajectory by 2050.

Recognizing this importance, the Ocean Program at the World Resources Institute (WRI) seeks to catalyse a world where effective ocean protection enables sustainable production of what the ocean provides, yielding prosperity for all. In other words, we seek a world where not only Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal14) is met but also many of the other SDGs for which the ocean can provide solutions.

Learn more: Accelerating Ocean Action for a Sustainable Ocean Economy https://www.wri.org/ocean

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the Global Director, you will integrate equity into your work. You will work closely with the Global Director to provide strategic guidance, foster collaboration, and drive innovative initiatives for ocean conservation and sustainable development. You will play a key role in WRI's contributions to global platforms, and provide leadership over key initiatives, including the 100% Alliance for a sustainable ocean economy and the Ocean Finance workstream.

We offer an opportunity to shape global ocean conservation efforts, develop impactful partnerships, and spearhead innovative approaches to advance ocean health and prosperity.

What will you do:

Strategic Leadership and Program Management (60%):

• Collaborate with the Global Director to refine and implement the WRI Ocean Program’s strategic priorities
• Lead the 100% Alliance initiative, overseeing program development, stakeholder engagement, and delivery of measurable outcomes
• Manage the Ocean Finance workstream, ensuring alignment with WRI’s broader sustainable development goals
• Ensure effective planning, coordination, and monitoring of program activities and budgets
• Support the Our Ocean Conference and High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy secretariats, including planning, organizing, and participating in high-impact initiatives

  Partnership Development and Stakeholder Engagement (25%):

  • Build and maintain high-level partnerships with governments, private sector stakeholders, and multilateral organizations to support program objectives
  • Represent the Ocean Program in international forums, conferences such as the UN Ocean Conference, CBD and Climate COPs, and Our Ocean Conference, and bilateral meetings to advance WRI’s ocean agenda
  • Cultivate collaboration with WRI country offices, donors, and partner organizations to drive implementation and scalability
  • Engage with policymakers and global leaders to foster alignment with WRI's ocean agenda

    Team Leadership and Capacity Building (15%):

    • Mentor and manage a team of staff and consultants, fostering a high-performing and inclusive work environment
    • Lead efforts to secure funding for program sustainability, including proposal development and donor stewardship
    • Promote cross-team collaboration within WRI to leverage expertise across disciplines and geographies
    • Develop and implement strategies to enhance team capacity and effectiveness
    • Contribute to recruitment and onboarding processes for new team members

      What will you need:

      • Education: You have completed a bachelor’s degree (or higher) in marine science, environmental policy, international relations, finance, or a related field. Relevant work experience in lieu of degree is accepted
      • Experience: You have minimum of 15 years of work experience in environmental policy, program management, or a related area, with demonstrated success in managing complex initiatives
      • Proven expertise in leading high-profile partnerships and coalitions, particularly at the international level
      • Experience developing and implementing innovative finance solutions for ocean conservation or sustainable development
      • Experience engaging in high-profile global platforms such as the Our Ocean Conference, Climate and CBD COPs and/or UN Ocean Conference
      • Proven expertise in leading partnerships and coalitions, particularly at the international level
      • Strong background in government or policymaking, with experience in influencing policy development and implementation
      • Skilled in fundraising, with experience writing proposals and managing donor relationships
      • Flexible and resilient approach to shifting priorities
      • Languages: Verbal and written English proficiency. Others would be advantageous
      • Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

        Potential Salary: Salary range is between 164,000 and 197,000 USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors. WRI offers a competitive renumeration and benefits package.

        How to Apply: Please submit a resume with cover letter by the date of 16 January 2025. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of qualified applications.

        We are unable to consider your application without a cover letter.

        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