Back Director, Applied Research & Learning, Restoration

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You can be based in our office in Washington DC. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. To be eligible for this position, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

About the Program:

The Global Restoration Initiative aims to catalyze a political and social movement to restore vitality to degraded lands. These degraded lands can be restored into healthy mosaics of sustainable agriculture, agroforestry landscapes (or mixed-forest agriculture), and restored forest ecosystems generating economic, ecological, and social benefits to people and planet. The Global Restoration Initiative team operates through three pillars: Inform: Create new data on tree growth and its impacts that provide insights at the global, national and landscape scales; Enable: Shift policies & incentives by supporting decision makers with data, insights & peer connection; Invest: ensure sufficient technical knowledge, financing and monitoring systems in place to replicate and scale up restoration activities.

Job Highlight:

GRI seeks to support the scaling of restoration to meet global forest and ecosystem restoration goals, as well as support climate mitigation adaptation, provision of ecosystem services like food and water security, and support to livelihoods and economic security. This scale must be achieved in a way that is socially just and support sustainability over the long-term. Building the systems architecture to scale the restoration sector will require knowledge and learning from existing restoration efforts and related finance and policy initiatives. You will work across the Global Restoration Initiative and with partners to facilitate co-creation of learning and thought leadership to support the scaling of restoration in a sustainable, equitable way. You will manage processes to co-develop applied research and thought leadership, bringing together expertise and viewpoints from across international teams and GRI pillar teams, and working closely with the GRI communications team. Connecting program strategy, research, and communications, they will support the team by providing coordination and strategic direction to produce knowledge and communication products that harmonize diverse perspective, elevate expertise of team members and partners, and fill critical knowledge gaps.

What will you do:

Research, Knowledge, and Thought Leadership (60%):

• Facilitate processes to identify, spotlight, and bring together knowledge and learning from across the GRI team, and partners as appropriate. Leverage team insights and expertise to inform strategy, planning, and delivery of research and learning agenda
• Coordinate input from across the GRI team to develop a strategy for applied research aimed at obtaining the scale of restoration required to meet global goals in a way that is sustainable and supports equitable distribution of restoration benefits
• Identify and prioritize knowledge needs, working collaboratively to incorporate prospectives from across the GRI team and from key partners
• Serve as a connector to link strategy, research, and communications, ensuring that research and knowledge production is communicated internally and externally through appropriate strategic channels to reach target audiences and inform restoration actions and decisions
• Facilitate co-development of research and learning that incorporates insight, expertise, and feedback from team members to fill knowledge gaps for the restoration sector
• Priority research areas may include but are not limited to: effective restoration monitoring approaches; appropriate application of tree-based and non-tree-based restoration; finance infrastructure needs; social demographic representation and access in the restoration economy
• Provide opportunities for GRI team members to inform priorities and co-create or contribute to knowledge and though leadership, for example by convening brainstorming and strategy sessions, sharing early stage thinking and draft documents for review and feedback, and working one-on-one or in small groups to produce knowledge and learning
• Engage with target audiences in the development of knowledge products to ensure clear and timely use cases; co-develop applied research with partners as appropriate
• Elevate expertise and perspectives of restoration champions and local partners through knowledge and communication products as appropriate
• Work with GRI Knowledge Management Officer to connect internal knowledge management systems with external-facing knowledge and communications, ensuring that knowledge management systems support capturing and sharing of learning and contribute to thought leadership
• Co-author knowledge products (e.g., reports, briefs, data-products). Ensure research methodologies support integration of diverse knowledge and perspectives
• Support and mentor team members in crafting of learning questions, measurement approaches, and research and knowledge activities
• Represent WRI’s work on restoration in various arenas, including within and outside WRI. Keep up to date with new trends, emerging research areas and potential focus areas that could be applied to the initiative

  Program/Project Management (20%):

  📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

  ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

  • Serve as the GRI team lead for facilitating strategic research and learning, working in close collaboration with and leveraging the expertise of the communications team, international office teams, and GRI pillar leads and staff
  • Provide support and coordination for research strategy and activities for the Global Restoration Initiative team, including stewardship of a strategy and research task force or similar structure that consists of team members from around GRI
  • Act as a primary liaison with WRI’s Research, Data and Innovation team Facilitate in-country training and assistance for restoration research and learning as needed Manage staff and consultants as needed, including knowledge management and research staff; Leveraging skills of team members and partners to develop scaling strategies Facilitate strategic support to project partners – individuals and institutions – in priority countries
  • Develop and contribute to project plans, budgets, project-related communication material, and ensure the achievement of deliverables and external outcomes
  • Identify priorities based on input from the team, delegating and maintaining focus of workflow

    Communications (20%):

    • Work with GRI Communications team to identify strategic communications opportunities based on existing GRI research and data
    • Lead or support the development of strategic communications products, in collaboration with the GRI Communications team and other relevant colleagues and partners
    • Inform communications priorities and help ensure communications products are grounded in the most recent and relevant evidence and case examples

      What will you need:

      • Education: You have completed a Masters or PhD in a field in the Social Sciences, Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, or another related field
      • Experience: You have a minimum of 12 years of professional experience in relevant social sciences field focused on research and program management; minimum of 3 years in supervision or leadership role
      • Experience building partnerships with others in service of climate, research, policy and social science outcomes, including civil society, academia, private sector and/or government actors
      • Experience facilitating inclusive, participatory processes to develop research and implement programs; experience harmonizing research contributions and feedback from a range of partners and stakeholders
      • Exceptional writing and research abilities. Strong analytical and critical thinking abilities
      • Experience working in Africa, Asia and/or Latin America. Exceptionally good communication and interpersonal skills
      • Expert understanding of WRI’s Research, Data and Innovation standards, policies, and processes and ability to incorporate these into project deliverables
      • Experience as lead author and researcher in development of WRI knowledge products
      • Experience building and managing research and strategic partnerships, including to develop novel methods and MRV knowledge products Monitoring, evaluation and learning expertise
      • Willingness to think innovatively, creatively, and collaboratively to help solve complex global problems
      • Detail-oriented and organized thinker who can juggle multiple, competing priorities
      • Experience overseeing large, complex international programs, including budget oversight and management
      • Experience managing team members from diverse technical backgrounds
      • Ability to travel 30% or more when needed
      • Ability to work both independently and as part of a larger team.
      • Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

        Potential Salary: US salary range is between 138,000 and 166,000 USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

        How to Apply: Please submit a resume with a required cover letter by the date of 5 July 2024. We are unable to consider your application without a cover letter.

        You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

        What we offer:

        • Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
        • The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
        • A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
        • The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
        • Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
        • Generous leave days that increase with tenure

          About Us: