GIS Research Assistant, Energy Access Explorer

Job details

Salary $49,000 - $63,000 a year job type full-time

Full job description

This is full-time, limited-term position for six monthsYou can be located in any of our worldwide offices, but you must have legal work authorization in the country of which you will work.
Job summary
This position represents a unique opportunity for you to learn from one of wri’s high impact initiatives to improve how we create, publish, analyze, visualize, and share data to advance sustainable developmentIn this role, you will join a team of highly motivated individuals, including members of wri’s senior leadership, to support data and analytical work to link energy access and socio-economic developmentMore specifically, you will work on advancing wri’s integrated geospatial energy planning work and the enhancement of energy access explorer, an online, open, collaborative platform of actionable data to facilitate access to energy in unserved and underserved areasIn addition, you will carry out gis based modelling assignments and develop further energy access explorer by incorporating spatial data layers on demand (such as demographics and socio-economic activities), supply (such as energy resource availability and infrastructure), environment and access to finance among other.
To ensure the platform reflects user needs, you will build on and expand our engagements with key international partners and local stakeholders.
Wri is committed to promote gender and social inclusion across our program portfoliosAs such, you will support the collection and integration of relevant geospatial data into the energy access explorer.

This position is remote due to covid-19, but you will be based at one of our wri’s offices once restrictions have lifted.

Job responsibilities
Research & knowledge (70 % of time required)

Collecting, harmonizing, processing, integrating geographic datasets and documenting their metadata in energy access explorer for existing and additional geographies
Tracking and incorporating case studies and user stories in energy access explorer
Supporting the development and write up of audience specific knowledge products
Supporting the development of health-electrification nexus mapping
Support the scoping for geospatial data and tools on the clean cooking sector

Administrative (30 % of time required)

Engaging with local stakeholders (planning institutions, clean energy enterprises, development finance institutions, development organizations in the health, education, agriculture sectors) across countries supporting the preparation of outreach material
Organizing internal and external meetings, workshops, conferences, capacity building and other dissemination activities
Liaising with wri colleagues across programs and countries
Supporting the development of project proposals

Job qualifications

Bachelor's degree in energy engineering, energy economics, development economics, human geography, or a related field
Demonstrated experience in one or more energy system modelling tools
Solid understanding of the international energy access space and demonstrated experience in handling energy related geographic datasets
Proficiency in gis software including qgis, arcgis desktop 10.x
Experience in spatial analysis (e.g., use of arcgis spatial analyst tools, model builder, python scripting, or equivalent)
Experience in handling publicly available gis datasets, from global and national databases, crowd-sourcing platforms such as open street maps and remote sensing databases
Strong statistical and analytical skills
Experience in multi-criteria decision analysis
Exceptional research skills and experience in evaluating research methodologies
Strong communication skills
Excellent written skills with the ability to express complex concepts clearly and concisely
Highly organized and attentive to detail
Willingness to work effectively under pressure and take on new challenges as required
Legal work authorization is required for this opportunityWri cannot provide work sponsorship for this opportunity.

Preferred qualifications

International work experience and good cross-cultural and interpersonal skills
Confidence and independence to take initiative, with the awareness and judgement to seek help when needed
Experience with cloud services such as gcs or aws
Experience with web development including html, css, javascript, mapbox

Potential salary $49,000 - $63,000 if based in the usSalary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.
How to apply
Please provide a cover letter with resumeWriting samples may be requested as we advance in the interview processApplicants must apply through the wri careers portal to be considered.
Energy program overview
Wri’s vision is for clean energy to be available, affordable and accessible for all the world’s peopleOur projects and partnerships make the demand for clean energy visible and actionableWe focus on:
(1) mobilizing large energy users such as business and governments to purchase renewable electricity and pursue efficient, zero carbon buildings; (2) shifting and implementing new planning, policies and utility governance to speed deployment of clean and renewable electricity; and
(3) improving energy access by identifying and matching unmet demand for energy services, including new finance and clean energy business models to improve development outcomes.
Wri overview

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-beingWe are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean.

We are passionateWe value our diversity of interests, skills and backgroundsWe have a flexible work environmentAnd we share a common goal to catalyze change that will improve the lives of peopleOur shared ideals are at the core of our approachThey include: integrity, innovation, urgency, independence and respect.

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 livesWe work with leaders in government, business and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the groundEqually important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

We have been growing rapidly: our staff has doubled in size over the past 5 years and our operating budget is now $150 millionFounded in 1982, wri has a global staff of 1,000+ people with work spanning 60 countriesWe have offices in africa, brazil, china, europe, india, indonesia, mexico and the united states as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.

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.

Wri is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employerAll qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.