Program Lead, Latin America Clean Energy Coalition

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days/month in the office. You can be based in our office in Brazil or Colombia. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. 

About the Program:

WRI is at the forefront of a global transformation in how people generate and consume energy. Working with influential stakeholders in government, the private sector, and major NGOs around the world, the WRI Energy Program is making the vision of clean, reliable, and affordable energy for all a reality. The Energy Program builds on more than 40 years of WRI’s work as a recognized leader in research that promotes sustainable development. It leverages a global network of staff and partners across 50 countries to accelerate the pace at which the world moves away from fossil fuels, embraces low-carbon energy sources, and ensures that no one gets left behind in this new economy.

The Latin American Clean Energy Coalition (LACEC), a new initiative led by the Global Energy Program, will bring together a coalition of influential renewable energy (RE) buyers in Latin America, in collaboration with sellers and financiers, to drive policy and regulation in key Latin American markets. By marshaling a unified voice, LACEC will help governments implement policy changes to take advantage of the investment, sustainability, and energy security benefits of enabling better regional corporate RE sourcing.

LACEC will be launched by a Secretariat that includes the Climate Group, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) and the World Resources Institute (WRI). The coalition brings expertise, credibility, and independence to enable corporate procurement of renewable energy and accelerate the overall supply of renewable energy across Latin America. LACEC will recruit steering group members comprised of major energy-consuming companies, energy developers, and financiers.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the Deputy Director of WRI’s Global Energy Program and the appropriate country supervisor, you will be responsible for leading stakeholder engagement, research, and program implementation across Latin America for LACEC. Your leadership will be instrumental in program development and management, strategic partnership engagement, and marketing/media outreach. 

As the Program Lead, you will have the opportunity to build a transformational corporate engagement platform in Latin America by 1) building a strong team within the Secretariat, 2) recruiting global and regional-based companies to join the Coalition, and 3) creating a vision for improving policy and regulatory frameworks that facilitate rapid upscale of RE corporate procurement in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. Your role further consolidates programming and strategy to identify additional year-two priority markets in the region.

What will you do: 

Strategic Engagement (40%):

• Identify key decision makers, thought leaders, and influencers and cultivate relationships to support policy engagement activities around priority topics, ensuring LACEC gains traction across partner countries and the region
• Build strong relationships with policymakers and partners across the region
• Represent LACEC and WRI at internal and external meetings, advocate for project value, and communicate the strategic approach
• Create and lead a media/press strategy and plan of action in the region

Program Leadership & Management (30%): 

• Deliver program activities, routinely update the steering group on progress, and inform on any risks associated with the program activities
• Develop a strategic, sustainable plan for LACEC growth and program implementation in the region
• Build and manage budgeting for all LACEC activities

Research & knowledge (20% ): 

• Monitor relevant national and regional policy issues and debates to ensure LACEC partners are appropriately briefed
• Identify policy influence targets and facilitate strategic stakeholder dialogues,