Development Associate

Job Posting Organization:
The World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent research organization established to improve people's lives, protect and restore nature, and stabilize the climate. With a workforce of over 2,000 employees, WRI operates in more than a dozen focus countries and collaborates with partners in over 50 nations. The organization is committed to leveraging data, expertise, and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across critical systems such as food, land, water, energy, and urban development. WRI's mission emphasizes the importance of living in ways that protect the Earth's environment and its capacity to meet the needs of current and future generations. The organization values independence, integrity, impact, partnership, and care, and is dedicated to advancing gender and social equity in its mission, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of their background.

Job Overview:
As a Development Associate at WRI, you will play a pivotal role in enhancing the fundraising and donor engagement efforts of the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU). This position is crucial for the Coalition as it seeks to diversify its funding base and secure new sources of unrestricted and flexible funding while continuing to grow project funding. You will work closely with the Development Manager to maintain a well-coordinated development function that engages donors and builds high-value funding proposals. This role is ideal for individuals looking to expand their skills in donor engagement, philanthropy, and international development, contributing to the urgent transformation of food and land use systems for a sustainable future.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Your responsibilities will include supporting Platform-Led and Secretariat Fundraising, which comprises 60% of your role. You will assist Country Platforms and FOLU’s Global Platform in developing their fundraising strategies through background research and donor intelligence. Additionally, you will support the FOLU Secretariat with core fundraising activities, draft and refine proposals to enhance positioning with donors, manage donor proposal timelines, and assist in budget preparation. For cross-coalition proposals, you will coordinate inputs from multiple country teams and partners to ensure timely and high-quality submissions. You will also develop and deliver training and resources for the Platforms on donor engagement and proposal development processes. The remaining 40% of your role will focus on knowledge management, donor intelligence, and coordination support. You will enhance the Coalition’s donor intelligence capabilities by leveraging tools to monitor calls for proposals, identify prospective funders, and prepare informative donor profiles. You will strengthen FOLU’s donor intelligence systems by consolidating existing tools into a unified platform and provide logistical support for donor meetings, including scheduling and drafting materials. Furthermore, you will facilitate strategic collaboration across the Coalition to align fundraising activities and support the preparation of materials for Coalition-wide planning and fundraising strategy sessions.

Required Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, you must possess a completed bachelor’s degree in international development, environmental studies, public policy, business administration, or a related field. You should have at least 3 years of experience in fundraising, business development, partnerships, or program support, preferably within a non-profit, think tank, or international organization. Strong English writing, editing, and research skills are essential, along with demonstrable organizational skills and experience with knowledge management. You should be comfortable working with cross-functional and culturally diverse teams and managing multiple priorities simultaneously. Familiarity with CRM systems, particularly Salesforce, and a good understanding of fundraising principles and the donor landscape in the food-land system are also required. Experience in sustainable development, food systems, and climate-related work is desirable, and international work experience is an advantage.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this position is a completed bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as international development, environmental studies, public policy, or business administration. This educational background will provide you with the foundational knowledge necessary to understand the complexities of fundraising and donor engagement in the context of international development and environmental sustainability.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in fundraising, business development, partnerships, or program support. This experience should ideally be within a non-profit, think tank, or international organization, allowing you to develop the necessary skills and understanding of the fundraising landscape and donor engagement strategies.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, with strong writing and editing skills necessary for effective communication with donors and stakeholders. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not explicitly required for this position.

Additional Notes:
This is a hybrid position requiring 8 days per month in the office, based in either London or The Hague. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission, as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. The initial contract for this role will be until 31 December 2027, with the possibility of extension. The potential salary for this position is €45,000 – €57,000 if based in the Netherlands, and £38,000 - £47,000 if based in the UK, with salary commensurate with experience and other compensable factors. WRI offers access to a global network, opportunities for career development, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and generous leave days that increase with tenure.