Global Lead, Decarbonized Energy Consumption - World Resources Institute (WRI)

About the Organization:

World Resources Institute works to improve people’s lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyse change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.

Job Description:

The WRI Polsky Energy Center’s pragmatic approach includes electrification and decarbonization of industry and bringing the perspective of energy users and their experiences navigating energy technologies and investment to policymakers, financial institutions and supply chain partners. Decarbonization pathways have been a key priority for many countries seeking to reduce fuel vulnerability and price risk, deliver improved local air quality and reduced climate pollution, and create new economic productivity and competitiveness benefits associated with upgrading industrial processes. Voluntary buyer demand has catalyzed dramatic market shifts in environmental performance across supply chains. Elevating the challenges and opportunities facing buyers is core to The WRI Polsky Energy Center’s energy transition strategy. You will support efforts to:

• Align buyer demand to create market signals for power sector upgrades that support power affordability, resiliency and reliability such as storage, flexibility, demand responsiveness.

• Clean electricity and energy services to meet urban and industry park needs such as transportation electrification

• Deliver clean heat and processing for industrial use (energy intensive as well as low temperature manufacturing processes)

• Working with hyperscalers to ensure that massive growth in demand is met with clean electricity sources and strong infrastructure and load management technologies.

Leadership and Team - You will be the strategy lead for a diverse, talented, international team distributed across multiple countries. You will work closely with WRI offices and partner organizations in Africa, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and the United States. You will build and maintain key funder relationships and lead fundraising efforts for cross-cutting activities under the Decarbonization Energy Consumption Pillar. This position has a central goal the ability to link the efforts of multiple country activities and support cross-program impact and learning.

You will be supported by senior researchers worldwide and The WRI Polsky Energy Center leadership. You will report directly to the Global Strategy Director, and work closely with the Global Director of The WRI Polsky Energy Center, as well as with in-country Energy Directors and Global Impact Director. This position requires up to 30% travel.

Job Responsibilities:

Decarbonized Energy Consumption Team Leadership and Delivery (40%)

• Ensure WRI’s Decarbonized Energy Consumption team is achieving outcomes and a positive change in the world by setting clear goals, developing robust strategies, and building a coherent and highly motivated team to achieve results

• Within this strategy, work with country leads and with research, data and strategic communications colleagues to design approaches that ensure the program delivers high-quality research and impactful communications and outreach

• Ensure the pillar has robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning approaches in place and delivers timely reports to donors

• Supervise and support pillar staff to ensure they feel inspired, challenged, and appreciated. Inspire, motivate, and problem-solve to ensure effective program management

• Align, integrate, and find synergies across existing global, country, and human system transition programs and activities, and work with country leads and the Director of Global Impact to develop a future pipeline of larger, longer-term projects to achieve the goals of the pillar and WRI’s overall Energy Program.

• Oversee robust financial management of the pillar aligned to WRI standards and ensure that project finances are managed and within budget according to donor procedures

Fundraising (30%)

• Develop and steward the decarbonization of demand pillar fundraising strategy, pipeline, and intelligence sharing around opportunities for funding and partnership.

• Coordinate with country managers who lead pillar activities in WRI countries to improve alignment and mutual interests in advancing globally relevant, locally resonant work areas.

• Pursue opportunities for joint bids within WRI and with external partners leading to successful 7 figure investments.

• Pursue flexible funding support to support global and country work.

• Work closely with country team members and the Director of Global Impact and the Polsky Energy Center’s Director for Research and Data to expand funding for programming, communications and data visualization.

• Collaborate with WRI's Development team to ensure strong donor relations and expand WRI’s ability to engage high net-worth individuals.

Stakeholder and Partnership Engagement (30%)

• Prioritize across a diverse network of relevant public and private sector actors for a few high priority global strategic partnerships on clean energy supply

• Maintain a strong personal and institutional partnership network and invest in knowledge sharing and energy community support with local and international partners.

• Collaborate closely with the communications team, the Director of Global Impact, and other pillar leads to increase awareness of actions, learnings and build acceptance of decarbonization efforts.

Education Qualification/Required Skills & Experience

• Education: Completed Masters’ Degree in a related field (e.g., energy, policy, international development, climate-related subjects)

• Work Experience: You have 10+ years of relevant work experience with at least 5 years of direct-line management experience

• Prior international development project management experience

• Experience working on energy issues across a range of market types

• Leadership experience in fast-paced, multicultural environments

• Existing network of contacts in government, business, research institutes, NGOs on energy, climate, and development topics in developing and emerging markets

• Experience managing, fundraising for, and overseeing a budget of a minimum of $5M

• A deep understanding of the energy and industrial transition issues.

• Fluent understanding of energy technology and investment issues across Asia, the US, LATAM, and Africa and the regional differences across these markets.

• Experience working across sectors, especially with large buyers concerned about the environmental performance of products and services they purchase.

• A successful track record managing large grants and keeping teams on track to deliver impacts.

• Experience leading global teams and empowering team members to achieve results.

• Demonstrated thought leadership on energy transition from a user perspective, and experience communicating complex topics to technical and non-technical audiences.

• Being adept at managing multiple opportunities with the ability to negotiate and develop complex strategic partnerships to advance the energy transition.

How to apply

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