World Resources Institute Senior Associate - International Financial Flows and Environment (IFFE) Project Job Vacancy in Washington, USA

Overview:

The World Resources Institute ( www.wri.org) is seeking a Senior Associate to lead its work on emerging actors in development finance within its International Financial Flows and Environment Project (IFFE). Through research, analysis and advocacy, the IFFE project seeks to direct international financial flows towards more environmentally and socially sustainable investments. The IFFE project is housed in WRI’s Institutions and Governance Program, which works with partners in civil society and government to improve the transparency and accountability of institutions entrusted with environmental decision-making.

The IFFE project focuses on those international financial institutions (IFIs) that have been particularly influential in shaping international capital flows in environmentally and socially sensitive sectors. These have traditionally included Multilateral Development Banks, such as the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and large private financial institutions, including those that have adopted the Equator Principles. However, major emerging economies, such as China and Brazil are increasingly influencing the landscape of international investments by providing funding for high impact projects in environmentally and socially sensitive sectors. IFFE’s research, analysis and outreach strategies prompt MDBs and IFIs to more systematically incorporate environmental and social standards and climate change considerations into their mainstream lending practices. IFFE seeks to ensure that leading IFIs contribute to global climate mitigation while continuing to apply strong environmental and social safeguard policies in each investment.

Responsibilities:

The Senior Associate will lead IFFE’s work on emerging actors in development finance. He/she will advance and further develop IFFE’s project level strategies and WRI’s institute wide strategies on how to shift international financial flows to support sustainable development. The Senior Associate will be responsible for leading research and analysis focused on international lending institutions in China and Brazil. 

Specific responsibilities include:

• Author and publish new research on the impact of Chinese and Brazilian overseas investments
• Conduct outreach and coordinate research to influence debates on environmental and social standards at Chinese and Brazilian IFIs
• Lead the work around case studies that explore on-the-ground impacts of investment projects in target countries
• Develop working relationships with NGOs and civil society in both lending and recipient countries
• Identify opportunities and implement influence strategies for improving standards and safeguards at these relevant financial institutions
• Provide leadership, creative direction and oversight to project researcher/s and interns
• Collaborate with staff within the Institutions and Governance Program, in other WRI programs, and in the WRI Beijing office
• Serve as the expert on emerging actors in development finance for other WRI projects and staff
• Represent the project at high level external events
• Fundraise for project

Qualifications:

A successful candidate will demonstrate excellent research and writing skills in English and the ability to work effectively in teams. Required qualifications include:

• Graduate degree in a relevant discipline, such as development economics, Chinese or Brazilian studies, international finance, public policy, or environmental law or policy
• 5-7 years relevant work experience
• Proficiency (fluency preferred) in Mandarin and/or Portuguese preferred
• Excellent writing and research skills
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office and internet research
• Supervisory experience
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with teams of individuals and colleagues
• Willingness to travel

Professional and/or research experience in one or more of the following topic areas is essential:

• Finance and Investment, particularly in terms of national financial institutions;
• Extensive experience and knowledge of China and/or Brazil preferred
• Environmental and social policies and practice of one or more of the above mentioned IFIs, including Multilateral Development Bank safeguard policies, including the World Bank, International Financial Corporation, ADB and IDB, and the Equator Principles

Additionally, the candidate will report to the IFFE Project Manager.

“Please submit application materials online. For questions, contact Emily Norford at enorford@wri.org.

Application will remain open until March 23, 2012.”