Back Program Lead, Latin America Clean Energy Coalition

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days/month in the office. You can be based in our office in Brazil or Colombia. 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:

WRI is at the forefront of a global transformation in how people generate and consume energy. Working with influential stakeholders in government, the private sector, and major NGOs around the world, the WRI Energy Program is making the vision of clean, reliable, and affordable energy for all a reality. The Energy Program builds on more than 40 years of WRI’s work as a recognized leader in research that promotes sustainable development. It leverages a global network of staff and partners across 50 countries to accelerate the pace at which the world moves away from fossil fuels, embraces low-carbon energy sources, and ensures that no one gets left behind in this new economy.

The Latin American Clean Energy Coalition (LACEC), a new initiative led by the Global Energy Program, will bring together a coalition of influential renewable energy (RE) buyers in Latin America, in collaboration with sellers and financiers, to drive policy and regulation in key Latin American markets. By marshaling a unified voice, LACEC will help governments implement policy changes to take advantage of the investment, sustainability, and energy security benefits of enabling better regional corporate RE sourcing.

LACEC will be launched by a Secretariat that includes the Climate Group, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) and the World Resources Institute (WRI). The coalition brings expertise, credibility, and independence to enable corporate procurement of renewable energy and accelerate the overall supply of renewable energy across Latin America. LACEC will recruit steering group members comprised of major energy-consuming companies, energy developers, and financiers.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the Deputy Director of WRI’s Global Energy Program, you will be responsible for leading stakeholder engagement, research, and program implementation across Latin America for LACEC. Your leadership will be instrumental in program development and management, strategic partnership engagement, and marketing/media outreach.

As the Program Lead, you will have the opportunity to build a transformational corporate engagement platform in Latin America by 1) building a strong team within the Secretariat, 2) recruiting global and regional-based companies to join the Coalition, and 3) creating a vision for improving policy and regulatory frameworks that facilitate rapid upscale of RE corporate procurement in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. Your role further consolidates programming and strategy to identify additional year-two priority markets in the region.

What will you do:

Strategic Engagement (40%):

• Identify key decision makers, thought leaders, and influencers and cultivate relationships to support policy engagement activities around priority topics, ensuring LACEC gains traction across partner countries and the region
• Build strong relationships with policymakers and partners across the region
• Represent LACEC and WRI at internal and external meetings, advocate for project value, and communicate the strategic approach
• Create and lead a media/press strategy and plan of action in the region

  Program Leadership & Management (30%):

  • Deliver program activities, routinely update the steering group on progress, and inform on any risks associated with the program activities
  • Develop a strategic, sustainable plan for LACEC growth and program implementation in the region
  • Build and manage budgeting for all LACEC activities

    Research & knowledge (20% ):

    • Monitor relevant national and regional policy issues and debates to ensure LACEC partners are appropriately briefed
    • Identify policy influence targets and facilitate strategic stakeholder dialogues, workshops, and webinars to implement influencing strategies
    • Collaborate with WRI’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) colleagues to ensure that research is aligned with institutional goals and program outcomes are monitored

      What will you need:

      Education: You have completed a master’s degree in a related field, or sufficient work experience with clean energy, energy efficiency, low-carbon solutions, etc.

      Experience: You have a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience with a minimum of 3 years of program leadership in a similar role. You have:

      • A strong commitment to WRI’s mission, values, and approach, with demonstrated passion for addressing international, national, and private-sector energy issues.
      • Recognition as a leader in the field with an in-depth understanding of clean energy policy.
      • Experience collaborating with country governments, public and private institutions, and the private sector more broadly and navigating international geopolitics, negotiations, and processes.
      • Demonstrated ability to build strategic alignment and coherence across an international organization to enhance impact, working across different countries and geographies with international and country-based teams.
      • Demonstrated work with research-based policy recommendations and a record of contributing to, reviewing, or participating in high-quality publications.
      • Strong relevant networks in the renewable energy sector in the Latin America region (preferred)
      • Possess local Latin American working rights for the country in which you apply to be based. Sponsorship for employment status is not available for this position.
      • Proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese and ability to clearly communicate in English
      • Ability to work creatively with multicultural audiences and maintain cultural sensitivity
      • Availability to travel regionally and internationally for internal and external meetings, conferences, fundraising etc.
      • Candidate must be located in Brazil, or Colombia, where WRI has an office.
      • 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 13 February 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:

        • 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