Reporting to Senior Operations Manager of the Global Energy Program, you will integrate equity into your work. We are looking to hire dedicated Research Director who will use WRI’s standards for research and knowledge products to drive the global energy transition. WRI strives to conduct high quality research that informs target audiences and helps achieve concrete outcomes in support of our mission. We are one of the few nongovernmental organizations with central staff dedicated to creating a strong learning culture and ensuring research excellence across programs and country offices. Our Research Integrity team is responsible for setting and overseeing consistent quality standards for our research and knowledge products. This commitment to excellence ensures that WRI’s project plans and knowledge products are firmly rooted in evidence
You will be supported by the Research, Data and Impact team and the Global Energy Program leadership team.
What will you do:
Develop and implement a research strategy for the energy program that informs and supports the program’s institutional goals (40%):
Support the Program Director in designing a strategy that is based on robust research throughout all phases of strategy development (including, for example, the development of theories of change, proposals, publication planning, and planning for communication of knowledge products)
Develop and collaborate in the preparation of high-quality funding proposals related to WRI’s energy strategy, supporting the integration of systematic research and evidence in the proposals
Develop institutional research collaborations and partnerships with leading research institutions, experts and practitioners
Manage research processes and knowledge for energy transition at global scale – including acting as executive editor for specific high impact research reviews
Collaborate with-in country-research teams and Country Research Directors on knowledge management
Facilitate the design and delivery of actionable and high-quality knowledge products that are aligned with the program strategy (30%):
Advise Program staff on research design and methods for Program-led knowledge products
Mentor Program research and data staff to help them make progressively more independent decisions
Identify and recommend ways to fill gaps in research and data capacity among Program staff
Lead and participate in hiring process for research- and data-focused roles
Serve as sign-off director for select knowledge products in line with expertise, and collaboratewith the WRI Research Integrity team to ensure the Program’s knowledge products meet WRI’s research standards
Disseminate knowledge within and outside of WRI (30%)
Strengthen WRI’s understanding of energy transition challenges and opportunities, to develop more effective, evidence-based and impactful strategies
Maintain awareness of critical developments in scientific / social scientific research, data and debates relevant to the energy transition
Supervise the review and synthesis of literature and evidence to inform WRI energy-related interventions and projects as required
Collaborates with communications and engagement specialists to design outreach on priority knowledge products and on issues of broader relevance to the Program, including by publishing articles and commentaries, presenting them at WRI and external events, and engaging media
What will you need:
Education: You have a completed a Master’s degree in a relevant field of study. PhD preferred. Relevant work experience in lieu of degree is accepted
Experience: You have a minimum of 12 years of full-time relevant experience in in research and data analysis
You have led or co-led several research projects published in peer-reviewed outlets
Experience reviewing research projects for academic, government or not-for-profit organizations
Experience developing and overseeing research that informs policy and practice.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams with various levels of research experience and operating in complex environments
Previous experience or expertise in energy, especially related to the energy transition and at least one of WRI’s areas of focus: energy access, decarbonizing energy supply and demand, and the use of critical minerals in energy
Strong knowledge of quantitative research methods and statistical methods
Languages: You will have written and spoken proficiency in English. Other languages are a plus.
Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization
