Back Grants and Finance Specialist

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You can be based in our office in Washington DC 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. To be eligible for this position, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

About the Program:

The Clean Air Catalyst (CAC) is a flagship program launched by The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), World Resources Institute (WRI) and Environmental Defence Fund (EDF) to accelerate clean air solutions by working with communities around the world to identify and raise awareness of local pollution sources and build focused, robust coalitions to deliver interventions that lead to cleaner, healthier air. The project is working in three initial pilot cities: Indore, India, Jakarta, Indonesia, and Nairobi, Kenya. Through these pilots, the project will not only generate new, societally relevant scientific findings, but will also create a practical, field-tested playbook for convening collaboration among key stakeholders, identifying and building awareness of air quality priorities, and leveraging USAID missions’ strengths to deliver and sustain cleaner air.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to Trace Carlson, Operations Manager, Air Quality Program, you will support the Clean Air Catalyst project and may support other air quality projects within the air quality program at the Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, if budget allows, by providing project management, financial, contractual, and administrative support. You will be working on budgets, subgrants, and contracts for a USAID-funded project and may help on other air quality projects if funding allows, so we are looking for a detail-oriented individual with an ability to manage multiple tasks.

You will be supported by the Operations Manager, Project Manager, and the Chief of Party to carry out this role to provide a direct impact on the project. You will be responsible for integrating equity into your work

What will you do:

Financial Management (50%):

• Budget Management – Learn how to update and maintain single project budget utilizing WRI’s budgeting and forecasting software (TM1)
• Proposal Budget Development – Learn how to develop proposal budgets and assist in the collection and submission of formal proposals for team fundraising efforts
• Fiscal Year Cost Planning – Assists project team in preparations for and implementation of the annual Cost Planning process
• Revenue Management & Financial Reporting – Prepares and assists on financial reports to donors, under supervision
• Financial Transactions – Regularly reviews, updates, and monitors all transactions, commitments, and revenue prospects for designated team projects including monthly-close, revenue allocations, partner/grant invoices, subgrant reporting and request for payments. Helps track revenue commitments, under supervision
• Monthly Financial Reviews – Coordinates and assists team monthly on budget management and supplies financial review template(s) for review with workstream director(s) and operations staff, under supervision
• Institutional Policy Alignment – Follows WRI’s internal processes and deadlines related to funding and expenses, including preparations for quarterly reviews, monthly & annual closeouts, and fiscal year forecasting

  📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

  ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

  Project, Grant, and Contract Management (40%): -

  • Grant, Contract, Subgrant, and Procurement Initiation and Drafting – Learn how to process the documentation for project commitments (agreements, contracts, subgrants, work authorizations, procurements, and purchase orders) and draft the agreements, under supervision
  • Partner Compliance – Informs project management team on guidance for partner organizations and consultants by providing documentation for them to review to help them understand and comply with subgrant and contract requirements in accordance with funder policies
  • Salesforce Updates – Learn how to support donor and grants management by keeping database software (Salesforce) and SharePoint folders up to date, including proposal fundraising opportunities
  • Reporting Support – Assists project managers to understand reporting requirements required by donors

    Administration and Operations (10%): -

    • Staff Count – Update and maintain new hire staffing information with operations
    • Timesheet Guidance – Provide timesheet guidance to team members on a bi-weekly basis
    • Financial Event Logistics – Assist in financial management of conference and event logistics as needed, including participant travel. Financial management includes processing invoices and event contracts through ECM system
    • Document Organization – Complete various program, department, and organizational trackers to provide monthly updates for review with Program Directors and operations staff
    • Project Closeout – Support senior financial staff in their role supporting project teams with closeout process, including turnover documentation and financial reconciliation

      What will you need:

      • Education: You have completed a bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, accounting, business, public policy, political science, non-profit management, international affairs. Relevant work experience in lieu of degree is accepted
      • Experience: You have a minimum of 2 years of work experience preferably in financial management, budgeting, administration, or nonprofit operations
      • Keen interest in the mission and work of the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
      • Proven experience managing budgeting structures
      • You are a detail-oriented, highly organized individual with experience and interest in program management, financial management, budgeting, and writing
      • Must be adaptable to rapidly changing priorities and can manage multiple projects with varying deadlines
      • Strong process orientation with sensitivity to quality, timelines, and organizational systems
      • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
      • Strong writing, database management, and proofreading skills
      • Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook), especially Excel
      • Budgeting experience with Excel, or other budgeting software is highly desirable
      • Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to work well in a team and with international colleagues
      • Languages: Fluent in English, with additional languages skills are a plus
      • Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

        Potential Salary: US salary range is between 57,000 and 64,000 USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

        How to Apply: Please submit a resume with a required cover letter by the date of 12 November 2024. 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 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