Job Description
This position can be based in the WRI Office in the United States, the UK, the Netherlands, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, India, Ethiopia, Kenya or Rwanda. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission.
About the Program:
The Data Lab exists to inspire and fuel data innovation, product development, and technical infrastructure for World Resources Institute (WRI) and our community. We work with our partners to use advances in data and technology to improve lives, protect nature, and ensure just transitions. The Data Lab is composed of WRI’s core Engineering, Product, and Data teams and supports a wide network of quantitative researchers, data scientists and policy analysts embedded across the organization. In 2022, the Data Lab founded the Product Studio to help WRI teams design and scale new software products. Backed by the Data Lab’s Product Team, the Studio gives teams the technical and strategic expertise they need to understand their users and market, develop product designs, and build and test rapid prototypes. With our support, teams can build products that support decisions that matter, enable accountability, and drive the conversation.
Job Highlight:
This is a unique opportunity for an experienced User Research & Engagement Lead to deploy their skillset within WRI’s Data Lab. The User Research Lead will primarily work on a new Urban Heat initiative from WRI’s Cities Program, and will provide additional support to the Data Lab’s Product Studio. In this role you will be the focal point between users and software development teams to ensure that user needs sit at the heart of WRI’s powerful data science products. Your work with the Data Lab’s Product Studio will seek to foster a culture of human-centered design within the Data Lab, and within WRI. You will be part of a new, dynamic team and will be supported by product managers, data scientists and engineers across the Data Lab, Program areas and WRI’s International Offices. You will report to the Senior Product Manager, Product Studio within the Data Lab, with indirect reporting to the Senior Manager, Data & Tools, Cities Program. This position is fully remote but could become hybrid depending on the available office space where the candidate is located.
What will you do:
Design and manage user research initiatives to inform new tools and services for the Urban Heat project (45% time):
- Plan, design and run user research activities to support the design, development of Urban Heat data products and services. This will include both qualitative and quantitative research practices. This can include but is not limited to ethnographic studies, contextual inquiries, observation, usability testing and accessibility testing
- Lead colleagues to analyze User Research data and findings so that insights are shareable and actionable
- Provide mentorship to junior User Research and Product staff on the team, coaching them to learn new skills and providing opportunities to develop skills
User Engagement for the Urban Heat project (30% time):
- Own the ongoing relationship with users and continue to monitor and analyze user engagement throughout the lifecycle of a product or service. Use these findings to inform ongoing development, continuous improvement and measurement, evaluation, and learning
- Develop campaigns and other mechanisms to increase uptake and engagement of Urban Heat products and services by target audiences
- Where required, and in coordination with WRI Communications teams, organize and run events to increase user engagement, such as trainings or workshops
Mentor the Data Lab’s Product Studio clients (25% time):
- Mentor Product Studio clients throughout their user research process via structured design sprints, including advice on creating well-crafted user research plans with clear objectives, synthesizing research findings into stories and valuable product and service features
- Support the Product Studio team in creating a test user base, establishing processes and best practices for user recruitment
- For the wider Design, Data & Technology for Good community provide leadership in user research and engagement approaches and techniques. This could include producing blogs, technical notes, and research papers; attending conferences or presenting at speaking events where required
What will you need:
- Education: You have a completed Bachelor’s degree in a related field (for example, Psychology, Market Research, Design, Computer Science, International Development, Human-Computer Interaction)
- Experience: You have 5+ years full-time relevant experience in User Research and Design practices within Agile development teams
- Demonstrable experience in designing, managing, and communicating user research projects to generate useful insights
- Experienced in user-centered design practices for web, service or software development
- Proven experience of working in agile development environments with designers, developers, and product managers to create new data products and services
- Ability to conduct user research and analyze research data using different methods such as usability testing, statistics, surveys, interviews, etc.
- Previous experience with user research, design and product development software such as Google Analytics, Dovetail, Hotjar, Figma and Jira
- Languages: You have verbal and written proficiency in English. Professional proficiency in Spanish or French would also be beneficial
- Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work
Potential Salary:
- WRI offers a competitive remuneration and benefits package.
How to Apply
Please submit a resume with cover letter and portfolio by the date of May 12, 2023. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.
What we offer:
- A competitive salary
- 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.
- Long-term commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours.
- Generous leave days that increase with tenure.
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, 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.