This position can be based in WRI UK or WRI Netherlands. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission. WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.  


About the Program:

The Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) is a self-governed international coalition of organisations and individuals working collaboratively to achieve a shared objective: the urgent transformation of food and land use systems to deliver a better future for people, nature and climate. FOLU supports science-based solutions and helps to build a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities to unlock collective, ambitious action. FOLU’s Growing Better report recommends an integrated reform agenda along ten important transitions to deliver positive outcomes for environment, health, inclusive development and food security, ensuring food and land use systems support delivery of globally agreed sustainable development, climate and biodiversity goals. FOLU’s light-touch governance and management have enabled the FOLU community to grow and evolve since FOLU’s launch in 2017.

The Coalition’s collective leadership is provided by a Core Partners Group comprised of: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), EAT, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), Systemiq, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), and the World Resources Institute (WRI). Through the Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land Use, and Energy (FABLE) Consortium, FOLU has expert teams and networks in 18 countries, including the European Union. FABLE is a knowledge network that supports countries develop data and modelling infrastructure to promote integrated strategies towards sustainable land use and food systems. FOLU country platforms are operating in: China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Ethiopia and Kenya, with partner networks in Australia, the UK and the Nordic region. FOLU is coordinated by its Global Secretariat housed at WRI’s London office. Other FOLU partners provide human resources that contribute to the Secretariat, including Systemiq and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Job Highlight:

In this role, you will lead major fundraising projects to support a large and growing coalition grant portfolio. You will be directly responsible for Foundation, Corporate, and Individual donor relations managed through FOLU’s broad coalition (including nine global partners and six country platforms). In coordination with FOLU’s Global Secretariat, you will guide engagement with foundations, corporations, and major individual donors to promote our programmatic goals and objectives, and work with core partners, regional coordinators, and country platforms in developing and implementing fundraising strategies both at the global and country level. You will oversee prospect research, donor stewardship, proposal writing, and coalition wide project framing. You will lead/participate in joint fundraising-efforts across the Coalition to produce compelling multi-faceted proposals for major grant awards and enhance development strategies and proposals related to FOLU’s global portfolio. You will matrix into WRI’s Global Development team serve as the program point person to ensure coordination with other WRI Programs, Centers, and International Offices whose work also addresses issues related to Food and Land Use strategies. This is a year-long limited term position, with the possibility to renew. You will report to the Director Impact& Country Coordination, FOLU with a dotted line into the WRI Global Development Team. Some international travel may be required.

What will you do:

Funding Strategy Development & Donor Stewardship (60%):

• Working with FOLU’s Global Knowledge Generation and Engagement and Global Countries and Influence teams, develop and implement strategies to achieve sustainable grant funding that scales to the ambition and opportunities of FOLU’s mission and goals

• Manage a portfolio of high value global prospects including 10+ annual grants, and multi-year and multi-million-dollar awards

• Develop and manage a donor pipeline of prospects and proposals, and fundraising contacts and engagement in Salesforce database

• Support FOLU’s global secretariat in donor cultivation efforts, including: developing contacts and relationships with current and prospective donors, arranging meetings, leading preparation efforts for important meetings, and tracking donor engagement with an emphasis on enhancing relationship-building efforts

• Identify and research new major prospective donors in the six- and seven-figure range

• Participate in direct fundraising and proposal pitches, meetings, and donor cultivation efforts

• Provide advice and assistance, including training and strategy development, to FOLU’s global secretariat, core partners and country platforms

• Coordinate, develop and maintain regular outreach and communications with current and prospective programme donors and partners, including writing and editing of funder reports

• Ensure appropriate follow-up on donor requests

Proposal Development and Internal Coordination (40%):

• Play a leadership role in coordination, writing, and editing of multi-team FOLU proposals in the six- and seven-figure range

• Work with the FOLU directors and managers to develop and secure 3-4 six-figure proposals annually and 1-2 seven-figure proposals annually

• Draft strategic briefs and presentations to inform and guide main interactions and dialogues with prospective donors

• Lend expertise in development training materials and presentations for FOLU coalition partners and country platforms on fundraising best practices, prospect research, proposal development and donor stewardship

• Support annual and multi-year project planning efforts to ensure the development of aligned projects, compelling offers, and early engagement on fundraising priorities and opportunities

• Track the development of proposals in all WRI programmes and centres that address Food and Water issues across the Institute to identify possible synergies and avoid overlaps

• Liaise across coalition partners and peer organisations to identify opportunities, avoid conflicts, and seek best practice guidance

• Maintain up-to-date contacts and engagement tracking in Salesforce to monitor prospect progress, capture synergy opportunities, and avoid any institutional conflicts

• Develop a good understanding of WRI’s cost & pricing principles, process and methodology

What will you need:

• Education: A completed Master's degree (or bachelor’s with two additional years of relevant work experience)

• Experience: You have 10+ years of external fundraising experience in large, international organizations. Experience working in a Non-Governmental Organisation and prior engagement in environmental or international development focus areas is desirable

• Record of securing 6-figure grants from foundations, foreign governments or multi-lateral organisations

• Translate technical information into lay language; experience in developing and organising proposals for varying audiences

• Ability to diplomatically guide peers and directors though strategy conception to concrete proposed deliverables focused on impact at a global scale

• Experience working in an international team environment; must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, with diverse staff, institutional partners, and interests, across multiple time zones, and within tight and often parallel deadlines

• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorise visa work authorization 

Opportunity summary:

Location: WRI London Office or WRI the Hague Office

Start date: Upon mutual agreement with the candidate

Length of Contract: 1 year subject to extension based on availability of funds

Potential Salary: The salary range for this position is £65,000 - £82,000 if filled by a candidate located and legally able to work in the UK. 
The salary range for this position is € 80,000 - € 101,000 if filled by a candidate located and legally able to work in the Netherlands.
Salary is determined by experience and other compensable factors.  

How to Apply:   
 
Please submit a resume with cover letter by March 22, 2023. 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 United States. 
• 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. 
• Long-term 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 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.