Project Manager, Electric School Bus Initiative

Job Posting Organization:
The World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization founded in 198

• With a mission to address critical environmental challenges, WRI operates in over 60 countries and employs more than 1,800 staff members. The organization focuses on seven key areas: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI collaborates with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create impactful change. The organization is committed to high-quality research, data analysis, and innovative solutions that promote sustainability and improve human well-being. WRI values integrity, innovation, urgency, independence, and respect, and strives to advance gender and social equity in its mission.

Job Overview:
The Project Manager for the Electric School Bus Initiative will play a crucial role in integrating equity into the transition to an electric school bus fleet. This position involves managing various projects aimed at utilizing electric school buses (ESBs) for resilience and charging reliability, particularly in underserved communities. The Project Manager will lead project management and engagement activities, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned and that project goals are met. The role requires collaboration with school districts, utilities, and other partners to develop solutions that enhance the resilience of communities during emergency situations. The Project Manager will also be responsible for documenting processes and creating blueprints for replicating successful projects in other communities, thereby fostering peer-to-peer learning and knowledge sharing.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Manager will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including:

• Centering equity in all project aspects to ensure underserved communities benefit from project outcomes.
• Leading coordination of projects with grant partners and organizations, ensuring alignment and achievement of goals.
• Tracking and managing project-wide budgets, including leading funding proposals and grant monitoring.
• Identifying, collecting, and analyzing data for timely project reporting.
• Overseeing transitions from construction to commissioning and closeout, resolving field construction problems as necessary.
• Researching and understanding communications protocols for electric vehicle charging and training stakeholders.
• Developing project scopes of work and managing schedules to adhere to timelines and budgets.
• Organizing and leading external events, workshops, and capacity-building activities.
• Representing the Electric School Bus Initiative in communications and meetings. 1
• Supporting project coordination with external research partners and assisting with other projects as needed. 1
• Undertaking project management responsibilities, including preparing work plans and administering subcontracts. 1
• Leading tool and database management, including data collection and tracking. 1
• Delegating tasks and providing guidance to junior staff.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a completed bachelor’s degree in public policy, environmental studies, engineering, construction administration, renewable energy planning, transportation, or a related field. Additionally, candidates should have 5+ years of relevant professional experience in managing projects with multiple stakeholders, particularly in infrastructure planning, outreach campaigns, community engagement, and construction management. Experience in electric vehicle charging infrastructure installation and deployment is required, along with a strong ability to work in cross-functional teams and manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines. Candidates should demonstrate effective communication skills, creative problem-solving abilities, and experience in managing significant initiatives from initiation to scale.

Educational Background:
A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as public policy, environmental studies, engineering, construction administration, renewable energy planning, or transportation is required for this position. This educational background will provide the necessary foundation for understanding the complexities of electric school bus initiatives and the associated infrastructure.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in project management, particularly in roles that involve managing multiple cross-functional stakeholders. Candidates should have experience in electric vehicle charging infrastructure installation and deployment, as well as experience with root cause analysis and lean six sigma methodologies. The ability to manage projects from initiation to scale, make data-driven decisions, and effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders is essential.

Languages:
Verbal and written proficiency in English is mandatory for this position. This proficiency is crucial for effective communication with stakeholders, partners, and team members, as well as for the preparation of reports and documentation.

Additional Notes:
This is a remote position based in Colorado, and existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission, as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work authorization. The potential salary range for this position is between $84,000 and $95,000 USD, commensurate with experience and other compensable factors. The application deadline is May 9, 2025, and candidates must submit a resume along with a cover letter to be considered. WRI offers a hybrid working model with flexible hours, generous leave days, and comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as retirement plan access.