Specialist, Finance and Economic Policy, Global Plastic Action Partnership

This is a temporary position that concludes September 30, 2025, with possible extension.

This role is not eligible for relocation or work authorization support.

This role requires the ability to work on site 3 days per week per company policy.

The annual salary range for this role is $80,000-$85,000 in New York.

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.

The Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) is a neutral and independent multistakeholder platform hosted by the Forum that aims to eradicate plastic pollution. It works through both a global and national platform, bringing together public, private, and civil society leaders to develop joint solutions to the plastic pollution crisis, which are both pragmatic and ambitious.

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.

The GPAP platform is designed to bring together a diverse and committed group of stakeholders and decision-makers, providing an opportunity to coordinate action, amplify efforts and catalyse impact to address the plastic waste and pollution crisis. At the global level, GPAP and the Forum have served as leading conveners of multistakeholder conversations related to the global plastic treaty process underway. At the country level, GPAP supports multistakeholder platforms in 16 countries, with additional partnerships expected in the months ahead. As part of its global work, GPAP is expanding its role in supporting multistakeholder conversations on financing solutions in support of implementing a global treaty and realising its objectives.

Reporting lines and interactions

The Finance and Economic Policy Specialist will be based at the World Economic Forum’s New York office (preference) or Geneva office, within the Global Plastic Action Partnership team, reporting to the Head, Global Partnerships and Communications.

Main responsibilities include:

Financing workstream

• Support GPAP’s financing workstream, reinforcing GPAP/the Forum’s position as the leading convener of the Financing Coordination Group (FCG) in the context of the global plastic treaty process
• Serve as leading day-to-day focal point for FCG members as regards coordinating the group’s governance, strategic priorities, operations and funding
• Serve as day-to-day focal point for consultants implementing the FCG’s work program
• Support GPAP team overseeing National Plastic Action Partnerships (NPAPs)  to ensure synergies between global and national work on financing
• Support the Global Partnerships and Communications Head in engaging diverse stakeholders, including governments, businesses, experts and global partners, as well as the INC Secretariate and UNEP, to ensure the value proposition of the FCG evolves in-line with stakeholder needs and priorities
• Support GPAP Global Policy & Sustainable Trade Lead in developing and delivering a cohesive agenda on economic policy related to addressing plastic pollution, in particular the linkages between GPAP’s finance and trade work
• Collaborate within and across teams at the Forum, for example also with financial industries teams, to engage and build a value proposition for financial industry stakeholders
• Support development of communications strategies and programs in support of the above activities, in close collaboration with the GPAP Communications Lead and other relevant team members

The successful candidate will be assessed on

• Project management skills, including managing complex topics and balancing competing priorities
• Ability to effectively coordinate and structure information
• Proactive and positive mindset to work across team priorities and committed to finding solutions to potential issues that arise

Preferred requirements and experience

• University-level education and 3+ years of relevant work experience working with stakeholders from varied backgrounds
• Experience in financial sector or in working with finance topics. Sustainable finance experience desired
• Understanding of financial instruments related to environmental initiatives, such as plastic credits, green bonds, and both private and public financing mechanisms
• Understanding of the regulatory and policy environment related to environmental finance
• Relationship management skills to engage with a variety of stakeholders including investors, government entities, and financial institutions.
• Strong analytical skills, and the ability to communicate complex information succinctly; experience in preparing compelling documents and presentations for various audiences, including senior management and external partners.
• Outstanding organization and time management skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; fluency in spoken and written English
• Quick learner, self-starting, service and detail-oriented, and able to work independently as well as in a team
• Willing to work in a highly demanding environment and able to juggle multiple priorities
• Understanding of, and interest in, the environmental agenda and work program