The China Country Director (CCD) will serve as the chief representative of WRI-China. He/She will report to the Managing Director of WRI who is based in Washington DC, and will collaborate closely with WRI’s Vice Presidents and Program Directors in day-to-day work. He/She will be a member of WRI’s Management Team.

The CCD’s main responsibilities can be categorized as follows:

1. Formation and implementation of WRI’s vision and strategy in China.
2. Build and lead a competent and effective China team.
3. Develop and leverage critical networking relationships to establish WRI’s strong presence in China.
4. Raise funds for China operations.
5. Ensure smooth operations; including efficient and effective communications between the China team and WRI’s headquarter office in Washington DC, as well as other general management aspects of finance, HR, external affairs, admin, etc.

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Working jointly with DC and China-based staff, help develop and maintain a coherent country vision and strategy that contributes to WRI’s mission and institutional goals.
• Facilitate the overall planning and implementation of WRI’s activities in China
• Foster a culture of excellence in all aspects of WRI’s work in China, and inculcate WRI’s values into all activities.

Representation

• Cultivate and sustain strong partnerships with government, academia and the private sector.
• Represent WRI successfully to national, provincial and local Government officials, donors, Chinese and international media, NGOs, corporate leaders, academia, and other relevant partners.
• Manage external communications in collaboration with the External Relations department and other programs in Washington DC.

Program Development

• Identify potential new lines of work aligned with WRI’s institutional goals and China strategy and that would lead to the transformative change.
• Lead efforts to develop and secure long-term funding for new projects based on identified needs for China working in coordination with DC-based Development staff.
• Ensure effective coordination of relevant programs (e.g. Climate & Energy, Market & Enterprise, People & Ecosystems, Institutions & Governance, and EMBARQ) in relations to project activities in China.

Program Management

• Ensure that projects remain within the scope of their initial design and budget; propose and prepare amendments when necessary.
• Support China-based staff in fulfilling their program’s responsibilities
• Facilitate regular staff meetings to discuss program activities
• Work with project managers to adapt WRI’s systems and standards for monitoring and evaluating projects into the Chinese context.

Staff Management / Human Resources

• Manage China office staff effectively, ensuring they have appropriate support, tools, and authority to carry out their responsibilities.
• Ensure and foster effective teamwork among China-based staff.
• Work with HR department and China Office Manager to establish and/or maintain HR processes and systems including working with personnel agencies, maintaining job descriptions, salary scales, conducting performance evaluations, and handling disciplinary processes per WRI policies, etc.

Finance Management

• Oversee budget preparation and reports in collaboration with WRI’s Accounting staff.
• Ensure that China programs are implemented within budget and according to donor procedures.
• Oversee completion of any requested monthly or quarterly reports within agreed timeframe.

Administration and Logistics

• Assume lead responsibilities to ensure that financial, administrative, and logistical systems and procedures are established and/or maintained and followed in accordance with WRI guidelines and U.S. and Chinese laws.
• Establish and maintain regular communications with DC office using agreed upon procedures.

Security

• Assume responsibility for ensuring the security of all WRI staff in China.
• Ensure that appropriate security guidelines and procedures are established, maintained, updated regularly and adhered to by staff in China Office.

Other

• Carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Managing Director or President.

Qualifications

This is a leader who can build and lead an organization, while also acting as a critical member of a worldwide organization. He/she will need to be able to assess related situations and needs of China, and translates these into executable programs/projects. Externally, he/she is the face of WRI, so he/she should have the credibility to network and influence at the government institutions level, open doors, and develop (with Managing Director) WRI’s activities in China. As such, he/she needs a strategic mindset and a passion/knowledge for sustainable development.

Internally, he/she will ensure smooth running of programs. He/she is effective in building and leading an effective organization from scratch. He/she is a people person that can inspire and develops staff. He/she is an excellent communicator within the organization with all levels, across cultures. He/she needs to be financially literate.

The ideal candidate is a mainland Chinese executive with an outstanding reputation in his/her career. He/she is likely to be from the energy or related arena (but not necessarily from a business/corporate environment), and must have people management experience. He/she should meet the following criteria:

• A mature leader, 20+ years of work experience with at least 5 years in general management, with a successful track record of leading organizations and building teams in a multi-cultural environment.
• A strategic mindset, capable of providing a compelling vision and strategy. Demonstrated experience of strategic planning and project execution.
• Possesses a depth of knowledge and experience in China. Successful track record of working with international organizations and Chinese government and institutions (e.g. academic and NGO’s).
• Extensive knowledge/appreciation for environment- and sustainable development-related issues.
• A good relationship builder, with the confidence and stature to engage at senior levels of government, government institutions, NGO’s, and academic institutions. Demonstrate ability to cultivate such relationships for WRI’s growth in China.
• An effective team builder and leader. Able to lead, manage, empower and motivate a diverse team.
• A passion for people. Retain and develop organization’s talent pool for sustained success of WRI-China.
• Excellent communications skills to own team, lines and peers in DC, as well as to the external environment. Demonstrate influencing skills.
• Self-motivated, resilient, and highly professional.
• Graduate level education in a relevant discipline. Financially literate.
• Fluent in spoken & written English and Chinese.