Job Summary
Resource Watch is an open data visualization platform that serves as a repository for the world's best available data. It provides journalists, analysts, decision makers, and students the opportunity to explore more than 200 available data sets on topics ranging from climate change to human migration, deforestation to air quality, agriculture to energy and much more. A beta version of Resource Watch was publicly launched in April 2018, in partnership with thirty plus collaborating partners, including data providers, technology companies, and users. Resource Watch supports our experts to reach new audiences through data visualization and storytelling.
In this role, you will lead the development and implementation of the vision and strategy for the next phase of Resource Watch focused on scaling its use and impact. Managing a team of highly motivated individuals seeking to use data and insights to drive change, you will report directly to the Vice President for Science and Research.
Job Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership (40%):
- Lead the Resource Watch Initiative—WRI’s flagship open data platform—by setting vision, strategy, and theory of change for scaling its use and impact.
- Manage the Resource Watch team of 10+ staff. Set team priorities and workplan and create opportunities for personnel development.
- Lead fundraising efforts. Steward existing donors and cultivate new ones. Lead proposal development to ensure that Resource Watch has a sustainable funding pipeline commensurate with its ambitions around scale and impact.
- Represent Resource Watch internally and externally as its primary spokesperson. Lead outreach and engagement efforts to increase the uptake and impact of the Resource Watch system.
- Manage and expand the Resource Watch partnership to advance shared objectives.
- Set goals and milestones, establish an M&E framework, and use it to monitor progress.
- Oversee budget and financial decisions. Ensure compliance with WRI policies and procedures.
Institutional Coordination (30%):
- Coordinate with data initiatives across WRI’s programs, centers, and international offices. Identify opportunities for the Resource Watch platform and team to support. programmatic and international office strategies in ways that advance WRI’s mission.
- Identify and build new organizational-level partnerships to use data and technology for a more sustainable future.
- Identify opportunities for WRI to engage in new data initiatives across our seven challenges, four centers of excellence, and international offices.
Research and Knowledge (30%):
- Working closely with WRI’s programs and external target users, identify opportunities where developing new datasets or combining existing datasets could lead to significant changes in the global agenda.
- Identify opportunities to leverage new and emerging technologies to strengthen Resource Watch’s functionality and data offering.
- Ensure that research, analysis, and communications products produced by the Resource Watch team meet WRI’s high standards of quality.
Job Qualifications
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in a relevant field with seven years of project management experience
- Master's degree (or two additional years of experience)
- Visionary perspective on using data transparency and technology to address the world’s most pressing environmental and development challenges
- Experience managing data and technology projects. Familiarity with technologies related to web, open data, and geographic information systems (GIS)
- Experience in the environment and international development field
- Deep understanding of the use of environmental and socioeconomic data in the public and private sector
- Ability to write and speak articulately for a wide variety of audiences, both technical and non-technical
- Experience building and managing large teams and managing technical consultant relationships
- Proven track record of fundraising success at a seven-figure scale
How to Apply
Please send a resume and cover letter. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.
Program Overview
Resource Watch is a dynamic platform that leverages technology, data and human networks to bring unprecedented transparency about the state of the planet and human well-being. Resource Watch operates on two theories of change. First, by shining a spotlight on the status and trends affecting the world’s resources and the people who depend on them, we give others information to act upon and hold leaders to account. Second, by making it easier to access, use, and understand the latest scientific data, we make it easier for researchers, analysts, and the decision-makers they support to account for critical resource issues.
WRI Overview
World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean.
We are passionate. We value our diversity of interests, skills and backgrounds. We have a flexible work environment. And we share a common goal to catalyze change that will improve the lives of people. Our shared ideals are at the core of our approach. They include: integrity, innovation, urgency, independence and respect.
The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges, and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.
We have been growing rapidly: our staff has doubled in size over the past 5 years and our operating budget is now $120 million. Founded in 1982, WRI has a global staff of 800+ people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.
WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.
The World Resources Institute (http://www.wri.org) 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 orientation, gender identity, parental status, protected veteran 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.
