Principal Executive Advisor

About the Program: 

The Managing Director (MD) for Partnerships & Africa, Executive Office oversees the development and implementation of an institutional-wide partnerships strategy that is ambitious, aligned, focused, and delivers measurable results in support of WRI’s global people, nature, and climate goals, which we cannot achieve alone.

You will be part of a fast-evolving interdependent team in WRI’s Executive Office, who collectively support a large global organization through turbulent and exciting times that requires full attention, flexibility, an openness to change and a positive and embracing approach.

Job Highlight: 

• You will play a key role in providing strategic support to the MD in the execution of WRI’s global partnerships strategy and organizational goals, and in leading efforts to secure resources for special initiatives, building strong donor relationships, cultivating partnerships to advance WRI’s mission. You will bring expert guidance to strategic initiatives, ensuring that WRI’s goals are advanced through impactful partnerships, innovative resource mobilization, and high-level external engagement. You will integrate equity into your work.
• You will report to the MD for Africa & Global Partnerships at WRI. You will work closely with the Strategic Assistant to the Managing Director, as well as the Partnerships Director.

What you will do: 

Strategic Support and Advisory (50%):

• Strategic Support: Provide expert strategic advice to the MD on engagement and priority setting, advising the MD on critical global trends, opportunities, and risks to inform decision-making and global engagement strategies e.g., the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative
• Oversee and coordinate priority initiatives: Lead on overseeing initiatives initiated or implemented by the Partnerships unit e.g., the Community-Led Forest Economy Movement (CLFE), and the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI), including report writing
• Coordinate regular partnership team gatherings: To ensure the team is achieving the impact on partnership health, inter-country and program collaboration and developing a culture of engagement

Stakeholder Engagement (30%):

• Systematically identify and manage strategic relationships, ensuring alignment, that MD is cultivating them actively, and strengthening partnerships that drive mutual benefit. This includes creating engagement opportunities on the sidelines of existing opportunities
• Evaluate and manage the MD’s engagement opportunities: proactively seeking out key moments for MD appearance and engagement, identifying new types of stakeholders that the MD should engage, while ensuring alignment between executives
• Facilitate effective communication with partners to strengthen collaboration, including documenting, tracking progress, development of quality reports & prep materials, and ensuring all necessary follow-up actions arising from the MD’s engagement are executed in a timely manner

Resource Mobilization & Fundraising (20%):

• Support the MD in resource mobilization efforts for priority initiatives and special projects, including identifying new funding streams and partners. This includes support with briefings and preparatory materials
• Lead the creation of compelling proposals, ensuring that fundraising materials effectively communicate WRI’s strategic vision and impact to potential donors and partners.

What you will need: 

• Education: You have a completed bachelor’s degree in a relevant area. Relevant work experience is accepted in lieu of a degree
• Experience: You have 7+ years full-time relevant work experience in global partnerships, strategic planning, and resource mobilization, with a proven track record of leading high-level external engagement and securing funding for large-scale projects
• Demonstrable understanding of development, sustainability, climate, and environmental issues, with experience in engaging with global institutions and high-level stakeholders
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to think and plan long-term while executing tactical initiatives to achieve global partnership goals
• Global Perspective: Strong understanding of global environmental and sustainability trends and the role of partnerships in achieving impactful solutions
• Relationship Management: Expertise in cultivating and managing high-level relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead complex projects and cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives, and provide strategic guidance to senior leadership
• Resource Mobilization: Experience in fundraising, donor cultivation and relations, and securing partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit organizations that support organizational goals
• Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication and negotiation skills, capable of influencing and representing WRI in high-level discussions and conferences
• Policy and political economy engagement experience a plus
• Languages: Verbal and written proficiency in English, proficiency in French is a plus
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization