WRI is looking for a Managing Editor to lead the writing and editing of a new edition of its World Resources Report. The theme of World Resources 2010 will be climate change adaptation.
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 Managing Editor will work with the Director to continue the WRR publication tradition but in a fresh format that more directly involves audiences and convenes influence targets early on as part of the research and writing process.
Like the WRRs of the past, the WR2010 will have a specific theme: climate change adaptation. The Managing Editor will be expected to be highly knowledgeable about adaptation as he/she advances the discourse around this theme. The Managing Editor will rotate with every topic, the position is a full-time, term position for approximately 15-18 months.
The Managing Editor will ensure the relevance and quality of the pieces produced as part of WR2010. WR2010 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. It is therefore expected that the Managing Editor work closely with the partners throughout the process.
As currently conceived, World Resources 2010 will be built around a draft concept paper that lays out a series of key questions to be addressed about climate change adaptation. Working papers will then be commissioned to tackle these specific questions. The Managing Editor will support the Director in convening forums both in person and digitally to discuss and debate these working papers. The outputs from these convenings will be combined with the working papers into a synthetic final volume that includes policy recommendations based upon these earlier outputs.
Responsibilities
Major Roles
Design and Execution
The Managing Editor will work closely with the Director to develop and execute a work plan that centers on producing and compiling high quality content that informs key adaptation audiences in a timely fashion.
Intellectual Leadership
The Managing Editor will take the lead in conceptualizing the framework of the report in consultation with partners and key WRI staff. This will require extensive knowledge of climate change adaptation issues and global environment and development issues more broadly. As part of this leadership, the Managing Editor will be asked to reach out to key adaptation stakeholders to involve them in the WR2010 process, and must therefore make good use of his/her established contacts in this community and be assertive about developing new contacts and determining how to involve them most effectively in the process.
Specific Responsibilities
Writing/Editing
The Managing Editor will serve as the lead writer for the synthesis report, and will play the lead role in reviewing, editing, and rewriting all the pieces produced over the course of the project. He/she has the primary responsibility for ensuring a fair and impartial review process and overseeing appropriate revisions.
Relationships
The Managing Editor will support the Director to maintain and cultivate key relationships with partners, adaptation stakeholders, and other outside collaborators early in the WRR process. It will be critical for the Managing Editor to bring his/her contacts in the adaptation community, and to actively cultivate new contacts that the Report seeks to engage and influence.
Fundraising
Fundraising is a joint activity, shared by WRI’s Development Department, WRI senior management and the Director. The Managing Editor will help the Director by suggesting adaptation-specific funding audiences and contributing to proposals for these audiences.
Note: Concept papers on the new WRR model and on the WRR 2010 topic of adaptation are available upon request
Qualifications
- At least 10 years of experience in international environment and/or development, including at least 3 years dedicated to climate change adaptation.
- At least 5 years of experience writing and editing policy-relevant publications.
- Must have demonstrated capacity to conceptualize and carry through complex and innovative projects from beginning to end, preferably including novel forms of communications and convening.
- Must be comfortable analyzing data and trends and have demonstrated the ability to write tight, analytical prose
- Ability to speak clearly and in a compelling fashion to a wide range of audiences, including senior policymakers, NGOs, and corporate leaders.
- Demonstrated capacity to produce quality work under tight deadlines.
* The Managing Editor must be based in WRI’s Washington, DC headquarters.
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.
