Research Manager, Global Forest Watch, Washington, DC

Overview

WRI seeks a full-time Research Manager to lead the acquisition and generation of new data and analytical content for Global Forest Watch (GFW), with the aim of making GFW a top source for high-quality and actionable information about forest landscapes, both locally and globally. The Research Manager will build and lead a small team of GIS analysts and researchers to support this work. The Research Manager will report to the GFW Director and work closely with other senior staff on the GFW team to identify priorities for acquiring and generating new data, analysis, and research for GFW.

GFW's mission is to make high-quality information about forests universally accessible and useful for people worldwide, so as to empower them to manage forest landscapes sustainably and improve the livelihoods of local people. TheGFW platform ( www.globalforestwatch.org) unites satellite technology, open data, and human networks to provide free access to the most timely, reliable, and actionable information about forests around the world. The GFW initiativesupports governments, civil society, and the private sector to apply this information to solve critical forest monitoring and management challenges.

Responsibilities

Data Management

• Identify priorities and develop strategies for acquiring new datasets relevant to GFW.
• Coordinate and oversee all data acquisition efforts, including outreach to prospective data providers.
• Manage relationships with GFW's existing data partners and oversee related subgrants.
• Ensure the quality of all data provided by GFW.
• Work with the website team to integrate new data and related metadata on the GFW platform.
• Work with the website team to streamline backend solutions for data management and maintenance across all GFW websites.

Research and Analysis

• Identify and pursue a set of thematic and geographic research priorities through which GFW can advance global understanding of critical deforestation drivers and dynamics.
• Lead the production of original, policy-relevant research and analytical outputs (e.g. reports, blogs, bulletins, etc) under the WRI/GFW brand.
• Collaborate with and support GFW partners to produce research and analysis using GFW data, including through the provision of subgrants.
• Cultivate a global network of researchers and research institutions using GFW data to produce peer-reviewed research, including through the creation of competitive funding programs.

Outreach and Communication

• Support efforts to communicate about GFW data and analytical content to non-technical audiences, including existing and prospective funders.
• Support in-country capacity building efforts by leading the development of training. materials on GFW data and related data generation and data validation methodologies.
• Represent GFW and give presentations at relevant technical conferences and workshops.

Qualifications

• PhD in geography, environmental science, or a related field required, and post-doc level research experience highly desired.
• Proven ability to design and carry out academic-quality research projects and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals.
• Experience performing geospatial analysis to identify land cover and land use patterns and trends.
• Advanced knowledge of remote sensing technologies and their applications in the forest sector.
• Advanced proficiency in ArcGIS and statistical analysis software.
• Ability to think strategically and build high-impact research strategies from the ground up.
• Ability to lead and manage a small team of GIS analysts and researchers.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, particularly when it comes to communicating technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to cultivate and manage relationships with external partners.
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines while setting and delivering on clear priorities.
• Enjoys working within a large, diverse, and collaborative team environment.
• Final candidate will be required to take a writing test

Salary and benefits: Salary is commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous, comprehensive benefits package

Location: Washington, DC

Qualified applicants should apply online at www.wri.org/careers. All applications must be submitted online through this career portal in order to be formally considered.

The World Resources Institute ( http://www.wri.org/wri) is an environmental and development research and policy organization that creates solutions to protect the Earth and improve people's lives. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is WRI's policy to recruit, hire, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual preference, parental status, or disability. WRI's global agenda requires a staff that is diverse – with respect to race, gender, cultural, and international background. Diverse perspectives and experience enhance the way WRI selects and approaches issues, as well as the creativity and applicability of WRI's policy research and analysis. WRI, therefore, encourages applications from U.S. minorities, persons from other countries (especially developing nations), and from women of all backgrounds.

About WRI

The World Resources Institute is a global environmental think tank that goes beyond research to put ideas into action. We work with governments, companies, and civil society to build solutions to urgent environmental challenges. WRI's transformative ideas protect the earth and promote development because sustainability is essential to meeting human needs and fulfilling human aspirations in the future.

Established in 1982, WRI is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization respected globally by policymakers, NGOs, and corporate leaders because of the rigorous quality, balance, and independence of its work. With its think-tank roots, WRI values innovative ideas, working collaboratively, and thinking independently. WRI employees see the results of their hard work and have the satisfaction of making a significant difference in the world.

Currently a $50 million organization with an international staff of approximately 250, WRI works with more than 400 partners in 50 countries. WRI provides objective information and practical proposals for policy and institutional change that foster environmentally sound, socially equitable development.

Values

In its day to day work, WRI is guided by several core institutional values:

Innovation: To lead change for a sustainable world, WRI is creative, forward thinking, entrepreneurial, and adaptive.

Integrity: Honesty, candor and openness must guide WRI's work to ensure credibility and to build trust.

Urgency: WRI believes that change in human behavior is urgently needed to halt the accelerating rate of environmental deterioration.

Independence: Our effectiveness depends on work that is uncompromised by partisan politics, institutional or personal allegiances, or sources of financial support.

Respect: Our relationships are based on the belief that all people deserve respect.

Approach

Everything WRI does is built on four key elements:

Focus on Results: WRI organizes all of its work to produce powerful and practical solutions, strategies and tools, policies and partnerships.

Analytical Excellence: WRI identifies problems, drivers of change, economic incentives, and consequences to arrive at comprehensive, incentive-based, practical solutions.

Partnerships: WRI works with scientists, governments, businesses, NGOs, and international institutions worldwide to create incentives and pressure for change.

Communications: WRI fosters change by disseminating their solutions and ideas to targeted audiences.