Risk Manager

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You can be based in our office in Washington DC Office. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. To be eligible for this position, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

About the Program:

WRI (World Resources Institute) seeks a detail-oriented, and highly organized Risk Manager to join WRI’s Office of the General Counsel. The Risk Manager will work closely with the General Counsel and the Legal Team to continue the development, implementation and day-to-day management of an institute-wide risk framework and register for WRI. This will involve capturing risks of all types from different teams, consolidating them in an accessible location and ensuring that they are reported up to WRI leadership and WRI’s board as they escalate. The Risk Manager will also work to identify ways to actively manage and mitigate risks and standardize risk management practices including incorporation into decision making across the institute in coordination with the General Counsel. Other duties of this position will include leading special project implementation and change management around compliance processes and policies. This position will report to the General Counsel..

Job Highlight:

Reporting to General Counsel, you will integrate equity into your work. WRI's Executive Office assists our top senior leadership, including the President and CEO, Managing Directors, Chief of Institutional Alignment and General Counsel. We work with leaders in government, business, and the non-profit community to forge alliances that further the Institute's work; with media to spread WRI's messages; and internally with staff on the development of programming and resources. The Office of the General Counsel, located in the Executive Office, is responsible for managing the Institute’s legal matters and advising on legal risks. In addition, the General Counsel provides legal and strategic advisory to WRI’s Management Team and Board of Directors.

What will you do:

Risk, Security & Crisis Management (60%): -

• Lead on updating and implementing a comprehensive institutional risk framework and register, creating new policies, and revising and updating existing ones to fit updated framework
• Identify existing processes where risk management needs to be incorporated. Work closely with owners of these processes to seamlessly integrate into existing workflows
• Work alongside the General Counsel, and other key teams and members of leadership, conduct comprehensive (financial, legal, compliance, security, etc.) risk assessments for presentations to WRI’s global executive team and audit and risk management committee of the Board
• Manage technical maintenance, regular updates, and monitoring of risk registers, including the assessments conducted through the quarterly financial and risk review meetings
• Create a framework for assessments of projects, new offices and geographies, developing security/public health situations that could affect staff. Help staff complete risk assessments as needed for various projects, and/or conduct assessments for institutional level issues
• Develop training material for staff to understand and engage with WRI’s risk register and requirements
• Identify additional checkpoints for risk management throughout the fiscal year and project lifecycle
• Serve as project manager for WRI’s Crisis Management Team
• Serve as safety and security coordinator across WRI network and coordinate with local offices on security issues inclusive of providing travel and safety support for projects and WRI events such as international conferences.
• Manage regular reviews and improvements of safety, security, and risk mitigation plans for all offices relative to local political and social contexts
• Manage WRI’s relationship with risk associated vendors and update the risk framework, procedures, and matrix as necessary. Advise the General Counsel on best use of outsourced work versus retaining inhouse
• Liaise with risk management counterpoints and consultants to ensure WRI follows best risk management practices

Special Projects & Due Diligence Assessments (30%):

• Support institutional efforts to develop an environmental and social safeguarding system through the ESS working group
• Provide support to Development colleagues to answer donor due diligence requests and audit inquiries related to risk management, travel safety and security, and general policy compliance
• Develop new policies and procedures including adjustments to the WRI Risk Register, as needed Review systems and processes/workflows to identify areas for process improvement
• In coordination with General Counsel identify and develop special projects to improve internal operational systems and processes related to compliance and other Legal Department priorities
• Review WRI’s insurance portfolio for appropriate risk transfer management and to provide guidance on overlapping benefits with other policies and services such as healthcare and ISOS.
• Assist with other Legal Department priorities, as requested by the General Counsel

Communications, Training, and Internal Operations Coordination– (10%):

• Support the General Counsel and Executive Office in various ad hoc communications plans, reporting and other presentations
• Facilitate regular group meetings with selected audiences to share important information about institutional changes, process improvement initiatives as needed
• Coordinate and manage cross-core function initiatives on behalf of the Legal Department
• Support the General Counsel with the rollout and implementation of new policies

What will you need:

• Education: You have completed a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is desired; relevant work experience in lieu of degree is accepted. Certification may count towards years of relevant work experience
• Experience: You have a minimum of 7 years of work experience in a related field. Superior organizational skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated judgment and problem-solving skills
• Ability to be flexible and work independently or in a team environment
• Able to set priorities and solve a range of problems independently
• Must be adaptable to rapidly changing priorities and have the ability to manage multiple projects with varying deadlines
• Demonstrated capacity to work well under pressure and successfully manage multiple deadlines and competing demands
• Patience and perseverance in understanding and explaining issues to partners, contractors and other team members
• Must be willing to attend meetings outside of regular, local business hours with notice to accommodate colleagues in other time zones
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to work well in a geographically dispersed team
• Professional demeanor, superior people skills and ability to maintain confidentiality
• Excellent project management and computer skills in MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Asana, web-based communications (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc.), etc.
• Commitment to WRI’s mission and values and interest in environment and development issues
• Languages: Fluent in English, with additional common languages (e.g., French, Spanish) a plus
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

Potential Salary: US salary range is between 96,000 and 116,000

USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with a required cover letter by the date of 15 November 2024. We are unable to consider your application without a cover letter.

You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

• 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 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
• Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure
• Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, Vision Coverage, retirement plan access and employer contribution, Paid Time Off

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 and 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.