Research Assistant, NDC Partnership

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You can be based in our office in Washington DC Office. 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 NDC Partnership brings together more than 200 members, including more than 120 countries, developed and developing, and more than 80 institutions to create and deliver on ambitious climate action that help achieve the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Governments identify their NDC implementation priorities and the type of support that is needed to translate them into actionable policies and programs. Based on these requests, the membership offers a tailored package of expertise, technical assistance and funding. This collaborative response provides developing countries with efficient access to a wide range of resources to adapt to and mitigate climate change and foster more equitable and sustainable development. By acting together, we achieve more. The effects of climate change are far-reaching and interconnected. So too must be our response. Transformational change is needed to cut emissions and adapt to a changing climate, all while meeting development needs. Such change requires ground-breaking coordination to mobilize resources globally, with speed and scale. Through the NDC Partnership, countries draw upon members' expertise and funding, turning their NDCs into actionable policies, programs and projects. The Partnership’s approach powers a collective response in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the Knowledge and Learning Director, NDC Partnership, you will provide cross-cutting support in delivery of the Support Unit Knowledge and Learning activities, both at the macro and more nuanced levels of work. You will research emerging topics and prepare reports, presentations and talking points to inform the Support Unit’s outreach and engagement in the international climate space. You will support knowledge management activities and manage the Knowledge and Learning team’s internal systems. You will also support the team with fast-evolving needs around events, partner engagement, and publications. Reporting directly to the Director of Knowledge and Learning, you will work closely with colleagues working on knowledge management, knowledge products, and events. You will be supported by and be an integral part of the Support Unit’s Knowledge and Learning team. This is a role for a proactive individual looking to engage in a fast-paced and evolving environment, interested in building their expertise on climate change, project management skills.

What will you do:

Research (40%): -

• Research topics of interest to the Support Unit and partners to identify opportunities for engagement
• Prepare reports summarizing the trends in developing country support needs and partner support, drawing from the Support Unit’s kNook system
• Prepare succinct and well-informed presentation, talking points and briefing notes to inform the Support Unit’s Management Team engagements

Knowledge Management (30%):

• Provide support to the management of the Support Unit’s knowledge management systems, including through the tagging and review of content collected through the Partnership’s engagement with more than 100 developing countries
• Manage the Knowledge and Learning internal team systems, including Microsoft SharePoint, Teams and OneNote, and Monday.com
• Take on special, time-bound projects related to knowledge management to add new intellectual capability to team systems and improve the user experience

Team Support (30%):

• Support online and in-person Knowledge and Learning events, including webinars, partner meetings, and the annual Youth Engagement Forum
• Support team members in the management of online tools, including the NDC 3.0 Navigator and the Knowledge Portal
• Help schedule meetings with partners and take notes
• Lead the scheduling and planning for Knowledge and Learning team meetings
• Help review translations within the Support Unit and support other team tasks

What will you need:

• Education: You have completed a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is desired (social science, natural science or other technical field); relevant work experience in lieu of degree is accepted
• Experience: You have a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in conducting high-level research of a variety of climate and development topics
• Experience in developing succinct and well-informed PowerPoint Presentations and talking points
• Experience developing custom charts or visualizations through tools like Excel or PowerBI
• Experience organizing complex information into easily accessible formats, using various project management tools
• Experience supporting logistics and outreach for both in-person and virtual events
• Experience collaborating with various teams in the delivery of joint projects
• Experience in effectively managing multiple deliverables against evolving priorities and timelines.
• Languages: Full fluency in English required
• 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 57,000 and 62,000 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 11 October 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
• Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, Vision Coverage, retirement plan access and employer contribution, Paid Time Off

About Us:

Founded in 1982, 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 to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.

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.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence and Respect.

Our culture:

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. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment; we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.