Job Detail

Operations, Grants and Fundraising Lead

Global Plastic Action Partnership

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.

The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Why we are recruiting:

The World Economic Forum is host to the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), which is a public-private collaboration platform to help translate political and corporate commitment to address plastic pollution into concrete action plans. GPAP has been established in collaboration with the governments of Canada and United Kingdom, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the World Resources Institute, as well as businesses along the plastics value chain. GPAP harnesses the convening power of the World Economic Forum to bring together governments, businesses and civil society to collaboratively identify and scale solutions to the issue of plastics waste pollution.

In collaboration with members of GPAP, the Forum is seeking to recruit an Operations and Fundraising Lead for the Global Plastic Action Partnership. With a clear and open culture, we are looking for a fast-paced strategic thinker and networker who will oversee and manage the operational requirements of the Global Plastic Action Partnership as well as the fundraising opportunities to support the long-term delivery of GPAP’s work on the ground.

To be successful in this role you will need to demonstrate a passion for building efficiency tools, managing timelines, grants, budgets and reporting; and engaging with internal and external partners on memorandums of understanding, grants and reports. You will have experience building tracking tools, timelines and creating project efficiency tools for the broader team Tactfulness and diplomacy are vital as you will be dealing with important stakeholders internally and externally, throughout the development and execution of the plastic partnership.

Reporting Lines & Interactions:

The role will be based in Geneva within the World Economic Forum (Forum). The position will be within the Global Plastic Action Partnership team, reporting to the Director of the Global Plastic Action Partnership. The person in this role will have one direct report who will support the operations work.

Internally, this person will work with colleagues in the Global Plastic Action Partnership and the broader Centre for Global Public Goods and others within the World Economic Forum as well as externally with a broad range of stakeholders including partner companies in the consumer goods, retail, chemical, finance and other industries; governments; multilateral and non-governmental organisations. 

Main responsibilities:

Grant management

• Lead GPAP’s operations and grant management, monitoring, reporting and updating to GPAP’s donors


• Drive the creation and reporting of impact measurements. Use data to optimise processes, creatively solve problems and track impact results that add to the value proposition for the Global Plastic Action Partnership


• Manage all grant submissions, sub-grants, MOUs, contracts, and other formal agreements with GPAP partners


• Understand and manage all individual donor policies on procurement, transparency and human / gender risk management


• Prepare regular progress updates and audits


• Work with the Forum’s legal and procurement teams to ensure GPAP is following the proper processes for engaging external support at the global and national levels

Budget and personnel oversight

• Build and maintain a highly efficient resource planning and scheduling process


• Deliver supportive processes for the sub-grantee partners of GPAP and prepare necessary reports


• Work with the internal Finance and Direct Funding & Governance teams to ensure budgetary needs are managed appropriately


• Act as an advisor to the Director on personnel issues and support the team’s annual performance management, work plans, etc.


• Work with HR and the GPAP team to support recruitment of GPAP team and external professional services firms


• Support the GPAP Director in the development and implementation of new processes and mechanisms to drive improvements across the business

Fundraising

• Develop an approach to fundraising that supports the long-term vision of GPAP and the sustainable functioning of the National Platforms


• Support the Director with fundraising needs, including drafting business cases and supportive budgetary spreadsheets, impact projecting and managing discussions with potential donors


• Develop a landscaping approach to and engagement strategy for high-net-worth individuals, foundations and organisations looking to deploy impact investing funds and / or CSR budgets


• Work with the PGPG Direct Funding & Governance team to ensure alignment when engaging with new potential donors like foundations and HNW individuals

The successful candidate will be assessed on:

• Ability to develop, create and improve systems, structures, and processes


• Resource planning, processes creation and experience managing projects, setting timelines and setting priorities for efficient delivery


• Experience solving complex problems, exercising good judgement in decision-making


• Excellent communicator capable of motivating a team, working cross-functionally and liaising with external stakeholders as needed


• Data-driven by nature, strong attention to detail, and an innate desire to craft process improvements to help a broader team/project


• Self-motivated, high-energy and supportive individual with the ability to grow with the role


• Balance of attention to detail with swift execution

Preferred requirements and experience:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in business strategy, economics, resource management, sustainability, or finance


• A minimum of 7-10 years professional project management or similar experience in a relevant business or not-for-profit organization including consulting or academia; with experience in environment, natural resources, agriculture, and food industry being an asset


• Experience in donor grant and project management and process creation


• Strong problem solving, analytical, and synthesizing skills and the ability to communicate complex information succinctly


• Service-oriented team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills


• Willing to work in a highly demanding environment and ready to juggle multiple priorities


• Prepared for some travel including in developing countries


• Fluency in English; working knowledge of one or more among French, Spanish, and Portuguese, would be an asset


• Knowledge and experience in costumer relations management, including the use of CRM software like Salesforce would be an asset

The GPAP Operations and Fundraising Lead will be appointed on a one-year fixed term contract with the possibility of a renewal or extension (dependent on available funds) at Level II equivalent within the World Economic Forum pay structure. The position will be based in the Forum’s offices in Geneva, Switzerland or New York, USA. Salary is globally competitive with equivalent international organization positions and will be commensurate with experience. Salary will be paid in Swiss Francs or US Dollars depending on final location. Information on the World Economic Forum can be found at www.weforum.org.

About the World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Our activities are shaped by a unique institutional culture founded on the stakeholder theory, which asserts that an organization is accountable to all parts of society. The institution carefully blends and balances the best of many kinds of organizations, from both the public and private sectors, international organizations and academic institutions.

We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

Why work at the Forum:

The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!