STRATEGY DIRECTOR, RESPONSIBLE SUPPLY CHAINS/

This position can be based in any of WRI’s offices (US-DC or where state registered, UK, Hague, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Nairobi, or Addis Ababa). The applicant will be expected to hold existing work authorization for their preferred location at the time application is submitted.

  

About the Program:

WRI’s supply chains hub, anchored in the Forest Program, coordinates efforts across WRI to advance responsible supply chains. The hub seeks to enable responsible production, trade and sourcing of commodities in order to protect human rights, forests and other ecosystems, and reduce GHG emissions from land-use change.

Job Highlight:

You will lead strategy development and alignment within WRI’s growing portfolio of work to advance responsible supply chains. As leader of the supply chains hub, you will guide and supervise staff in your immediate team and empower and persuade, across WRI and externally, to ensure effective pursuit of this objective. You will lead strategic planning, oversee research, and guide WRI’s engagement in external coalitions and processes. You will be a key spokesperson for WRI’s work on supply chains for both internal and external audiences. You will be supported by expert staff in WRI programs and international offices as well as research and product development teams in Global Forest Watch and Land and Carbon Lab. You will report to the Global Director of WRI’s Forest Program.

What will you do

Leadership (40%)

• Leads the refinement, constant evolution and adaptive management of WRI’s strategies and priorities for advancing responsible supply chains
• Convenes and engages representatives of other WRI programs and international offices as needed to ensure alignment and coherence of work across WRI on responsible supply chains.
• Develops, guides and supervises a team of experts working on strategies to advance responsible supply chains
• Represents WRI in strategic coalitions and processes
• Serve as a key WRI spokesperson on responsible supply chains to external audiences, including corporate partners, media, donors, and other NGOs.

Management (30%):

• Oversee responsible supply chain workstreams related to: – Shrinking markets for products from irresponsible supply chains – Creating capacity, funding and incentives within production systems to supply commodities responsibly – Enhancing transparency, monitoring, reporting and verification on progress towards responsible supply chains
• Coordinate teams to deliver workstreams, while providing mentorship and growth opportunities for staff
• Oversee continuous monitoring and evaluation of workstreams, ensuring that outcomes, impacts, and lessons learned are captured to inform future strategy.
• Ensure comprehensive quarterly reporting on workstreams, including for donor reporting purposes.

Program Development (30%):

• Identifies and scopes innovative new ideas and approaches for achieving impact
• Attracts, motivates, and retains world-class team members.
• Identifies and cultivates new fundraising opportunities in the seven to eight figure range annually, including by developing and pitching concept notes and proposals to prospective donors.
• Builds and stewards new partnerships with external stakeholders to advance goals and develop and implement new approaches.
• Leads development of quality knowledge products and opinion-leading pieces and ensures their effective communication to target audiences

What will you need:

• Education: You have a completed advanced degree (masters or equivalent) in a related field.
• Experience: You have 10+ years full-time relevant work experience in sustainability or commodity procurement with 3+ years of experience supervising diverse teams and high-level research, and demonstrated success in fundraising, donor stewardship, building partnerships in a non-profit setting. Prior experience in sustainability for soft commodity sectors an advantage.
• You have presentation and thought leadership skills,
• Experience working within or in close partnership with the private sector on supply chain sustainability issues
• Knowledge of forest-risk commodity sectors and geographies such as soy and beef in Latin America, oil palm and rubber in Southeast Asia, and cocoa in West Africa
• Demonstrated success in fundraising at a seven- to eight-figure level
• Languages: Professional fluency in English required and additional fluency on a language spoken in WRI Offices preferred (e.g. Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese)
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization.

Potential Salary:
Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply: 

Please submit a resume with cover letter by the date of December 30, 2022. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary
• 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 organisation 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.

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, 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 organisational 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. Recognising our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.