Principal Executive Advisor - Strategic Support, Stakeholder Engagement & Resource Mobilization

About the role

WRI is looking for a Principal Executive Advisor to support its Managing Director (MD) across three areas: strategic support and advisory (50%), stakeholder engagement (30%) and resource mobilization and fundraising (20%). The role involves advising the MD on global trends, opportunities and risks, coordinating priority initiatives, building high-level partnerships and helping secure funding for priority initiatives.

Key responsibilities

• Provide expert strategic advice to the MD on engagement and priority setting, covering critical global trends, opportunities and risks such as the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative
• Oversee and coordinate priority initiatives led by the Partnerships unit, such as the Community-Led Forest Economy Movement (CLFE) and the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI), including report writing
• Coordinate regular partnership team gatherings to ensure impact on partnership health, inter-country and program collaboration and a culture of engagement
• Identify and manage strategic relationships aligned with the MD's priorities, create engagement opportunities alongside existing ones and evaluate and manage the MD's engagement opportunities
• Facilitate communication with partners, document and track progress, prepare quality reports and follow up on actions arising from the MD's engagements
• Support the MD in resource mobilization for priority initiatives and special projects, including identifying new funding streams and partners, and lead the creation of compelling proposals for donors and partners

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant area, or relevant work experience in lieu of a degree
• 7+ years of full-time relevant experience in global partnerships, strategic planning and resource mobilization, with a 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 engaging global institutions and high-level stakeholders
• Existing work authorization where the position is based; WRI cannot authorize visa work authorization

Required skills

• Strategic thinking: long-term planning combined with tactical execution of partnership goals
• Relationship management: cultivating and managing high-level relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Leadership: leading complex projects and cross-functional teams and providing strategic guidance to senior leadership
• Resource mobilization: fundraising, donor cultivation and relations, and partnerships with public, private and nonprofit organizations
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and negotiation skills, able to represent WRI at high-level discussions and conferences
• English proficiency; French is a plus