Director, Behavior Insights for Climate Action

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in our office in Washington DC. 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 world needs to cut its emissions in half by 2030, reach net-zero by mid-century and adapt to prevent the worst effects of climate change. This will require a transformation in the economic, financial and governance systems at global and country levels, to simultaneously achieve the world’s people, nature, and climate goals. To address this important challenge, WRI’s Global Climate, Economics and Finance (CEF) Program undertakes research and analysis; develops tools and standards; communicates and engages; and builds coalition and capacity to accelerate climate ambition, country transitions and the required shifts in economic and financial systems and incentives. We work with national governments, policymakers, businesses, civil society, local governments, and other non-state actors as they pursue their own emissions-reduction and adaptation goals. We work at the global level and in partnership with WRI’s twelve focus countries and regions and WRI’s ‘human system transition’ teams (focused on energy, cities, and food/land/water) to deliver this transformation. Within the CEF Program, the Action Pillar leads WRI's work on creating the necessary enabling systems for countries to transition justly to low emissions economies and climate resilient societies.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the Global Economics Director, you will champion efforts to embed cutting-edge behavioral science across the CEF Program and WRI's wider work. This will be done in part through The Living Lab for Equitable Climate Action (TLL) initiative. Situated within CEF’s Action Pillar and working across the Institute, TLL leverages behavioral science to drive sustainable and equitable climate solutions by: 1) partnering with stakeholders to identify policies that can shift the most impactful climate-related behaviors; 2) co-designing field experiments to test impactful solutions to behavioral challenges 3) leveraging partnerships to catalyze our research and accelerate adoption of policies at subnational, national and international levels; and 4) exploring both climate and the socio-economic/wellbeing benefits of proposed behavioral policy changes. What will you do:

Program Strategy and Delivery (25%):

• Lead CEF´s work on behavior science applications for climate action, ensuring the initiative achieves its ambitious goals and is coordinated with WRI and CEF strategies
• Support the development and implementation of WRI’s strategy to support just and equitable country transitions, with a particular focus on the role of behavioral change
• Integrate behavioral insights into the work of CEF as well as WRI efforts to support human system transition teams (focused on energy, cities, and food/land/water), ensuring that approaches are aligned to country strategies and WRI’s overall 5-year strategy
• Identify opportunities to scale successful interventions and influence policy changes that enable widespread behavior shifts
• Set annual budgets for behavior science projects and oversee budget adjustments, overall financial health, and good management of funding in accordance with grant deliverables Research, Learning, & Engagement (20%):
  • Author and oversee major research publications, communications materials, policy briefs, and other knowledge products for internal, expert, and public audiences
  • Innovate new research approaches and collaborate with WRI's subject matter experts to integrate behavioral insights into their research and relevant programmatic work
  • Serve as a thought leader within CEF and for WRI on the behavioral angle of climate action and just transitions, integrating equity throughout
  • Foster a culture of innovation, learning, and continuous improvement by creating learning opportunities for WRI staff to apply insights from behavioral sciences to their work
  • Cultivate and steward high-level partnerships with businesses, governments, NGOs, and other key stakeholders to drive collaborative action in behavior change
  • Represent WRI and CEF externally, speaking at conferences, engaging the media, and building the initiative’s profile in alignment with CEF goals and WRI mission
  • Amplify the reach of behavioral science through strategic communications and engagement
  • Provide expert review on publications relevant to behavior change and climate action Fundraising (30%):
    • Serve as primary fundraising lead for behavior insights strategy and relevant projects, working across CEF and with other teams at WRI
    • Support fundraising efforts within CEF, especially integrating behavioral science and approaches
    • Lead successful proposals in the USD 7-figure range People management (25%):
      • Manage teams (consultants, external partners, research staff) towards reaching program objectives
      • Provide direct management to a team of researchers, including senior managers, supporting their career trajectories and growth What will you need:
        
        
        • Education: Master's degree or PhD in behavioral science, psychology, public policy, or a related field, or sufficient additional experience to demonstrate advanced expertise
        • Experience: Minimum 12 years’ experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder, multi-country behavior change research with a track record of achieving measurable impact. Should include at least 3 years’ experience in team or program management
        • Deep expertise in behavioral science, its applications to sustainability and climate action, and a proven track record leading complex multi-stakeholder initiatives. Strong leadership, collaborative skills, and a commitment to equitable climate solutions
        • Experience launching and growing a new initiative, including establishing operational processes, building a team, securing funding, and creating and fostering internal and external partnerships
        • Proven ability to secure funding from diverse sources, including foundation grants, corporate partnerships, and strategic alliances
        • An established network and experience building partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, NGOs, and industry leaders
        • Strong people mentoring, program management and leadership skills. • Demonstrated commitment to centering equity, inclusion, and diverse perspectives in research and program design
        • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of publishing articles, blogs, and books
        • Experience managing annual budgets of more than $500,000, ensuring timely delivery of projects, maintaining strong relationships with funders, and ensuring excellent financial oversight and reporting
        • Demonstrated ability to translate complex research into accessible narratives for diverse audiences
        • Professional fluency in English required; other languages a plus Potential Salary: US salary range is between 138,000 and 166,000 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 27 August 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.