Project Manager, Priceless Planet Coalition

Job Posting Organization:
The World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent research organization that works to improve people's lives, protect and restore nature, and stabilize the climate. Established with a mission to influence policy and catalyze change across various systems such as food, land and water, energy, and cities, WRI has grown to employ over 2,000 staff members. The organization operates in more than a dozen focus countries and collaborates with partners in over 50 nations, making it a significant player in global environmental initiatives. WRI's core values include Independence, Integrity, Impact, Partnership, and Care, which guide its operations and interactions with stakeholders.

Job Overview:
The Project Manager for the Priceless Planet Coalition (PPC) will play a crucial role in managing the implementation of seven projects aimed at restoring trees to enhance biodiversity, combat climate change, and empower communities. This position requires a proactive approach to project management, ensuring that projects meet their targets and adhere to the program's monitoring, reporting, and verification protocols. The role involves collaborating with various stakeholders, including WRI, Mastercard, and Conservation International, to align restoration priorities and deliverables. The successful candidate will also assist in sourcing additional multimillion-dollar projects to expand the PPC portfolio, thereby contributing to the global restoration economy. This position offers a dynamic opportunity to develop critical project management skills while engaging in impactful restoration projects across developing countries.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The primary duties and responsibilities of the Project Manager include:

• Project Management & Engagement (100%): - Assist the PPC Project Manager in coordinating between WRI, Mastercard, and Conservation International to ensure alignment on restoration priorities and deliverables. - Provide project management support to regional PPC teams, addressing their on-the-ground needs with technical assistance and advice. - Contribute to reporting, storytelling, event preparation, and presentations for Mastercard and other coalition funders. - Support the PPC fundraising strategy, project contracting, and donor progress reports. - Quality assure data submitted by projects and provide technical support as they engage with the PPC. - Assist in the development and maintenance of partner contracts, budgets, and scopes of work. - Develop and improve project management processes, ensuring stakeholder alignment across WRI, Conservation International, and partner organizations. - Organize the delivery of monitoring, reporting, and verification analyses with WRI’s Monitoring team.
• Restoration Economy Playbooks (25%): - Assist the Capacity & Innovation Manager in managing the delivery of “restoration economy playbooks.” - Synthesize lessons learned from PPC, TerraFund, Fundo Flora, and Harit Bharat Fund into online content targeted at fund managers, government agencies, and WRI Country Offices. - Engage with external partners to implement the playbooks and assist the Communications team in preparing materials. - Contribute to data analysis and research products that inform the creation and dissemination of playbooks. - Identify areas of synergy across WRI restoration initiatives in Africa, Brazil, and India, fostering connections across geographies.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a completed bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, business, finance, forestry, agriculture, data science, or a related field. Relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree. Additionally, candidates should have a strong background in financial management and operations administration, with at least 2 years of relevant work experience. Experience in program operations, grants compliance, financial management, and budgeting is essential. Candidates should also have experience supporting non-financial managers through financial planning and forecasting processes, as well as experience working in a detail-oriented environment, particularly regarding grant compliance and financial data. Strong communication skills are necessary for interacting with vendors and subcontractors, tracking vendor payments, and collaborating with a diverse and highly matrixed team across different geographic locations.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a completed bachelor’s degree in fields such as environmental studies, business, finance, forestry, agriculture, data science, or a related discipline. Candidates with relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of formal educational qualifications, emphasizing the importance of practical knowledge and skills in the field.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of work experience in financial management and operations administration. Candidates should have prior experience in technical areas or industries relevant to the role, particularly in program operations, grants compliance, financial management, and budgeting. Experience in supporting non-financial managers through financial planning and forecasting processes is also essential. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of working in detail-oriented environments, especially concerning grant compliance and financial data management, as well as experience in communicating with vendors and subcontractors.

Languages:
Verbal and written proficiency in English is mandatory for this position. While other languages are desirable, they are not required. The ability to communicate effectively in English is crucial for collaboration with diverse teams and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This is a hybrid position that requires 8 days per month in the office, based in Washington DC. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission, as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work authorization for this position. To be eligible for this position in the US, candidates must be residents of DC, Maryland, or Virginia at the start of employment. The potential salary range for this position is between $57,000 and $64,000 USD, commensurate with experience and other compensable factors. The application deadline is July 29, 2025, and candidates must submit a resume along with a cover letter to be considered. WRI offers access to a global network, opportunities for career development, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and a hybrid working model with flexible hours.