WRI is looking for a Director to oversee the research, writing, production and outreach of its World Resources Report.
The Director will assume lead responsibility for a new, more interactive form of the World Resources Report (WRR), the long-time flagship publication for WRI.
WRI has produced 12 volumes of WRR over the last 25 years. It has traditionally taken the form of a 200+ page authoritative volume on a varying topic in the field of environment and development. The new Director will be asked to continue publication of the WRR but in a fresh format that more directly involves audiences and convenes influence targets early on as part of the research and writing process. The Director will take the lead in refining and executing this new approach.
Like the WRRs of the past, World Resources 2010 (WR2010) will have a specific theme: climate change adaptation. The Director will be expected to have some knowledge about adaptation as he/she leads the WRR team to advance the discourse around this theme.
The Director will work with the Managing Editor—the topic expert—to ensure the relevance and quality of the pieces produced as part of the World Resources Report, and will maintain overall coordinating authority over the content, appearance, and budget of the production. WRR is a joint project of WRI, UNDP, UNEP, the World Bank, and other sponsoring agencies. These Institutional partners play a critical role in designing the work and helping the Report to reach its key audiences.
As currently conceived, WR2010 will be built around a draft concept paper that lays out a series of key policy questions to be answered about climate change adaptation. Working papers will then be commissioned to address these specific questions. The Director will work with the Managing Editor to convene forums both in person and online to discuss and debate these working papers. The outputs from these convenings will be combined with the working papers into a final synthesis volume that includes policy recommendations based upon these earlier outputs.
Responsibilities
Major Roles
Design and Execution
The Director will be tasked with refining and carrying out a new approach for WRR from conception through execution. This will require close coordination with WRR core staff, WRI leadership and program staff, WRR partners, and outside contributors to the project. This position will also require development of a work plan that emphasizes effective ways to reach key audiences while maintaining the intellectual rigor that WRR has contributed to environment and development discourses in the past. An entrepreneurial spirit will be valuable for any candidate for this post, as he/she helps to shape and carrying out this new vision.
Communications
The Director will lead the design and execution of a comprehensive engagement, outreach, and publicity strategy for the Report. The Director will have the support of the WRR team and WRI’s external relations department in this communications effort. Outreach and communications will take place throughout the process, and include a strong web presence, active engagement with partners and external adaptation experts, and ongoing discussions with the influence targets for the Report.
Intellectual Leadership
The Director will work with the Managing Editor to conceptualize the framework of the report in consultation with partners and key WRI staff. The Director will be asked to work with the Managing Editor to reach out to key adaptation stakeholders to involve them in the WR2010 process, and must therefore be assertive about developing key contacts and determining how to involve them most effectively in the process.
Specific Responsibilities
Management
The Director has overall management responsibility for WRR full time staff, consultants, and internal WRI staff experts working part time on the Report. He/she will also coordinate WRR working groups, and partner liaisons. He/she will work with the Program Coordinator to prepare the budget and work plan, and be responsible for ensuring that the report is produced on time and within budget. The rest of the full time WR2010 team will consist of the Managing Editor, who will be an expert on the topic and rotate from one WRR edition to the next; one part-time communications expert; and one project coordinator/research analyst. This will be complemented by several WRI project staff working part-time on the WRR.
Communications
The communications roles for the Director will be wide-ranging and critical to the success of the new model. These roles will include:
- Preparation of WRR influence/communications strategy, including detailed identification of key audiences and the communication vehicles to reach each. This will require coordination with WRI external relations staff and core institutional partners’ communication contacts.
- Developing and maintaining media relations, both through online and conventional vehicles.
- Overseeing the design, production and execution of various communications materials, including printed materials, online content and multimedia materials
Institutional Leadership
The Director will guide WRR Working Groups, which will be made up of staff from across the Institute and assure a flow of ideas between the WRR team and WRI programs. The Director will also serve as primary liaison between the WRR core team and WRI’s senior management.
Relationships
The Director will maintain and cultivate key relationships with partners, key adaptation stakeholders, and other outside collaborators. He/she will represent WR2010 and WRI to the environment and international development communities, to the public more broadly and the press. The Director, working closely with the WRI media staff will play an important role in defining and designing an outreach strategy for the WR2010.
Writing/Editing
The Director will partner with the Managing Editor to lead the writing and editing for the synthesis report, and will play a central role in reviewing, editing, and rewriting all the pieces produced over the course of the project. He/she will share responsibility with the Managing Editor for ensuring a fair and impartial review process and overseeing appropriate revisions.
Fundraising
Fundraising is a joint activity, shared by WRI’s Development Department, WRI senior management and the Director. He/she will help develop fundraising strategies and proposals and prepare grant reports to donors.
Note: Concept papers on the new WRR model and the WRR 2010 topic of climate change adaptation are both available upon request
Qualifications
- At least 5-8 years of experience writing and editing policy-relevant publications.
- At least 3 years of work in environmental and/or development fields. Demonstrated familiarity of key issues surrounding climate change adaptation highly preferred.
- Must have demonstrated capacity to conceptualize and carry through complex and innovative projects from beginning to end, preferably including innovative forms of communications and convening.
- A resilient and creative entrepreneurial spirit, willingness to try new forms of communication, and an enthusiasm for constructing and seizing upon outreach opportunities.
- Proven management skills. Desire to work in a collegial fashion as part of a team with little hierarchy, along with ability to motivate staff and teams.
- Demonstrated capacity to produce quality work under tight deadlines.
Salary & Benefits
Salary is commensurate with experience.
WRI offers a comprehensive benefits package.
Contact
Send resume or CV and cover letter to:
- Lauren Withey, Special Assistant to the Managing Directorlwithey@wri.org+1 (202) 729-7789
No phone calls please. Qualified applicants only. WRI only accepts applications for current job openings.
The World Resources Institute is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to create practical ways to protect the earth and improve people’s lives.
WRI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our 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, parental status, or disability.
