World Resources Institute (WRI) is seeking a senior professional to guide its global work on energy access and equitable development. The position sits within the WRI Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition, a hub helping countries and institutions build clean, reliable, affordable energy systems that support both people and planet.

This hire will be based in one of WRI’s international offices listed above, and must already have legal authorization to work in that location.

About the Program

The Polsky Center brings together WRI’s research strengths, global network, and technical expertise to help governments, utilities, financiers, and communities accelerate the shift to clean energy. The program works across grid modernization, investment mobilization, workforce preparation, renewable energy expansion, and energy efficiency.

A major focus of the Center is ensuring that clean energy transitions improve lives—especially in regions where communities still lack reliable, affordable electricity. WRI partners with policymakers, service providers, financial institutions, and development actors to broaden access to modern energy in underserved areas, particularly across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

Tools such as WRI’s Energy Access Explorer (EAE) support planners and investors by highlighting where energy needs and opportunities intersect. The program also coordinates initiatives that use clean energy to strengthen essential services—such as electrified agriculture, community health facilities, and rural enterprises—lifting socio-economic outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Role Overview

The Global Lead will guide WRI’s worldwide strategy on energy access and equitable development. This includes:

• Shaping innovative approaches that connect electrification with improved livelihoods and social outcomes.

• Integrating rural energy access into evolving national and subnational energy transitions.

• Ensuring that women and marginalized groups benefit from emerging clean energy jobs, systems, and markets.

• Supporting equity and inclusion throughout workforce development, entrepreneurship, and policy design.

The role oversees a distributed international team, collaborates with WRI offices across multiple regions, and leads fundraising for cross-cutting global initiatives. The Lead will help bridge local insights with global strategies, ensuring strong learning, coherence, and measurable impact across WRI’s energy access portfolio.

The position reports to the Global Director of the Polsky Energy Center, and works closely with in-country Energy Directors and the Director for Global Impact.

Key Responsibilities

1. Team Leadership & Program Delivery (40%)

• Guide the Energy Access & Equitable Development team in setting strategies, defining priorities, and delivering measurable outcomes.

• Work with research, data, and communications teams to ensure the development of high-quality analysis and impactful outreach.

• Strengthen cross-country collaboration, shared learning, and aligned interventions.

• Oversee monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems, ensuring timely reporting to donors and partners.

• Support staff growth by providing coaching, problem solving, and strategic direction.

• Connect global partners with local activities and amplify lessons from the field to international audiences.

• Ensure strong financial oversight and project compliance in line with WRI’s standards.

• Collaborate with country offices and the Global Impact Director to design long-term, high-value projects.

2. Fundraising & Resource Mobilization (30%)

• Lead fundraising strategy, pipeline development, and donor engagement for the energy access and equity pillar.

• Build multi-country proposals and joint bids that secure major investment opportunities.

• Expand flexible funding streams and cultivate relationships with donors, including high-net-worth individuals.

• Coordinate closely with country teams, research leadership, and WRI’s global development offices.

3. Partnerships & External Engagement (30%)

• Strengthen WRI’s relationships with influential stakeholders across government, business, finance, utilities, NGOs, and research institutions.

• Prioritize and manage partnerships critical to global impact.

• Support outreach and thought leadership in collaboration with WRI’s communications team.

• Advance WRI’s global voice on energy equity, access, and inclusive economic development.

Salary Range (Indicative)

• UK: £85,000 – £106,000

• Netherlands: €87,000 – €94,000

• India: INR 50–62 lakh
  (Salaries in other locations depend on local market benchmarks.)

About WRI

World Resources Institute is a global, independent research organization working to improve lives, restore nature, and stabilize the climate. With more than 2,000 staff across over a dozen focus countries and partnerships in 50+ nations, WRI supports transformative solutions in food, land and water systems, energy, and cities.

The institute upholds values of Independence, Integrity, Impact, Partnership, and Care, and is committed to gender equality and social inclusion across all areas of its work.

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is 22 December 2025.