Budget Development & Proposal Risk Associate

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You will be based in our office in Washington DC. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. To be eligible for this position, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

About the Program:

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities is dedicated to shaping a future where cities work better for everyone. We focus on integrated solutions to long-standing urban challenges. We work on Urban Development, Urban Mobility, Urban Efficiency and Climate, and Air Quality. Through innovative research, deep engagement, and global partnerships, our network of local and international experts partner with cities to help chart and navigate a path towards more sustainable and equitable urban development. We catalyze and accelerate transformative urban initiatives that turn cities into thriving, resilient, low-carbon places that are good for people and the planet. The Cities Global Operations team is responsible for financial planning and reporting, grants and contracts management, budget oversight, staff wellbeing and program capacity. The Cities Global Development team coordinates all fundraising opportunities, guides proposal development, and implements the fundraising strategy for the WRI Ross Center.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the Operations & Finance Senior Manager, Cities Program, you will be responsible for coordinating proper proposal budgets, co-leading complex proposal due diligence, developing and delivering trainings, developing reports and analysis on the program’s funding pipeline and supporting the Cities Global Operations and Development teams in preparing for reviews with WRI management. We require a highly organized, detail-oriented, and independent individual to fill this role. This position is best suited for someone with experience in nonprofit grants, contracts, finance, and/or administration with the desire to be a part of an environmental research and analysis organization lauded for its subject matter expertise and operational transparency. You will be working with teams across the entire Cities program, with other WRI programs and departments, and will be part of a growing team of operations and grants and finance professionals within the WRI Ross Center of Sustainable Cities; one of the largest and highly matrixed programs at WRI.

You will occupy a key role in the Cities Global Operations and Development teams, enhancing the program’s ability to manage financial risk, carefully steward donor funds, and support a high level of collaboration across the WRI across all offices. The role will provide quality assurance and alignment with institutional standards through careful review of proposals, provide guidance to project team Grants & Finance Specialists on complex budgets, and will work in close collaboration with WRI’s Cost and Pricing team.

What will you do:

Proposal Budgets and Quality Control (60%):

• Review funder financial requirements to ensure compliance in budget preparation. Co-lead financial risk assessment process for proposals $1M+
• Provide guidance to Cities Grants and Finance staff on proper budget preparation and presentation, mapping from internal to external budget templates, communication with funders, and more
• Create and maintain budget proposal guidance and provide quality control of Program budget development standards and institutional policies
• Coordinate closely with the Finance department’s Cost and Pricing team to ensure timely reviews of proposal budgets and consistency with institutional policies and best practices
• Manage the collection and review of funder due diligence information and respond to funder financial and operational questions
• Ensure program adoption and consistent use of budget checklists, funder operating briefs, and other tools and best practices in budget development
• Engage and educate Grants and Finance staff, Development leads, and project managers on institutional proposal budget policies and practices

Funding Opportunity Tracking (25%):

• Participate in workstream financial reviews with program teams, taking note of new funding opportunities and proposals and/or donor stewardship concerns and presenting the pipeline to Directors
• Supervise in the tracking of due dates for financial reports
• Ensure all new opportunities and proposals are properly captured and updated in Salesforce
• Maintain Salesforce documentation accuracy with grants and finance specialists
• Support preparations for the quarterly review meetings with WRI management and support the Development Director with presentations to the Cities Executive team and fundraising committee by preparing and analyzing reports on the Program’s funding pipeline.

Operational Support & Training (15%):

• Conduct quarterly training sessions on a range of topics including due diligence and proposal budgeting, and support onboarding of new program operations staff
• Coordinate with WRI’s CRM operations staff to ensure proper Program training on Salesforce and SharePoint documentation
• Manage and maintain the budget proposal template for Program teams to properly estimate costs of potential opportunities
• Support transition to new Workday enterprise management software for proposal development

What will you need:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with 2 years of additional work experience (Maters preferred)
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of previous work experience in development, financial management, and operations, preferably in a non-profit setting
• Experience working in larger, complex organizations is a plus
• Confident, detail-oriented, and highly organized individual with a strong interest in program operations, systems, and processes
• Self-motivated with an ability to juggle multiple priorities, handle assignments independently, and work under tight deadlines
• Demonstrated capacity to work well under pressure with competing demands
• Strong process orientation with sensitivity to quality and consistency
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Strong writing, database management, and proofreading skills
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to work well in a team
• Strong computer skills including high level of comfort with Microsoft Office (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI, Visio etc.), web-based communications (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc.), and Internet research
• Familiarity with database software and management (such as Salesforce, Concur, IBM Cognos tools, etc.)
• Prior experience working in international environments, with demonstrable ability to work closely with offices based in different countries
• Commitment to WRI’s mission, values, and approach
• Languages: Fluency in English

Potential Salary: US salary range is between 84,000 and 92,000 USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with a required cover letter. 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:

• 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
• Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, Vision Coverage, retirement plan access and employer contribution, Paid Time Off

About Us:

Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence and Respect.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment; we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.