Back Institutional Partnerships Director

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You can be based in our office in Nairobi, Kenya; WRI Kenya. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

About the Program:

The World Resources Institute cannot achieve the changes we seek in the world, alone. This is why we work with partners who complement our perspectives and extend our reach. These partners can be individuals, organizations, multilateral institutions, businesses, academics and governments. We enter partnerships as a way of growing our knowledge base and capacity, and we aim to support our partners with ideas, data and resources. We don’t just seek to make WRI stronger, we want to make the ecosystem better. By doing this, we expand the ecosystem for change

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the Managing Director for Africa and Global Partnerships, you will champion WRI as a trusted partner for change, develop tools and programming to make WRI ‘fit for internal and external partnering’, having in place partnership-supportive systems and processes, guidance, skills and capabilities, and a culture of collaboration. Additionally, working alongside WRI's country and global teams, you will support the design and implementation of tailored partnership plans targeting international, regional, country and grassroot partners.

WRI aims to be a trusted partner for change. In this role, you will steer the implementation of the institutional-wide partnerships strategy in support of WRI’s global people, nature, and climate goals.

What will you do:

Build institutional partnership readiness (30%):

• Identify what it takes for WRI to be ‘fit for partnering’ (systems and processes, guidance and professional development, culture, network and connections)
• Develop roadmap to optimize WRI’s partnership capacity, a 3-5 year implementation plan with M&E framework, KPIs and baseline assessment
• Develop guidelines, tools and incentives for effective partnering across all stakeholder types, while protecting the vision and core principles of value based, innovative partnerships
• Operationalize WRI’s partnership typology, a categorisation of WRI’s partnerships based on our purpose, targets and assessment linked to risk and impact

  Perform partnerships management and governance (50%):

  📚 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!

  • Oversee development, and deployment of the partnerships management system which will streamline, coordinate and provide transparency on external stakeholder engagement at country, regional and international
  • Be a trusted advisor to new and existing partnerships throughout the partnership cycle; from Scoping and Building, Managing and maintaining, Reviewing and revising, and Sustaining outcomes of partnerships
  • Work cross-organizationally to monitor the organization’s partnership portfolio, to identify gaps and potential new opportunities and risks, and to understand those that are delivering significant value to WRI and those that could use some time investment to maximise impact
  • Learn and continuously build understanding and capabilities on effective partnering and proposed adjustments to WRI’s partnering approach, systems and culture, as needed
  • Maintain regular communication with internal partnership focal points to strengthen coordination and collaboration

    Nurture strategic external engagement (20%):

    • Conduct analysis of political and economic trends, policy developments, and regulatory changes that may impact WRI’s country engagements, and provide advisory support to teams
    • Co-create key strategic multi-partner convenings that advance WRI’s global people, nature, and climate goals, with country and global teams
    • Maintain regular communication with external partnership focal points to strengthen coordination and collaboration

      What will you need:

      • Education: You have completed a master’s degree in the field of management, or business administration or another relevant academic discipline
      • Experience: You have a minimum of 12 years of relevant professional experience working in strategy, program management, international development, or related activities with link to climate or broader environmental issues
      • Experience in capacity building in partnership development and growth
      • Experience effectively navigating intricate political and economic contexts are essential
      • Experience working in developing nations and emerging economies is advantageous
      • Ability to be self-directed and work well independently and as part of a geographically and culturally diverse team
      • Extensive experience building, managing and working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders (donors, high-level champions, partners and internal stakeholders) to inclusively achieve objectives
      • Proven ability to lead the coordination and delivery of major events, influence strategies, and international programs
      • Polished and professional communication skills, both written and verbal
      • Experience, effectiveness, and resiliency working in a fast-paced environment
      • Languages: Proficiency in verbal and written English, with French as an added advantage
      • Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

        Potential Salary: 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 11 July 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:

        • 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