Satellite Interpretation Researcher

This position will be hybrid which requires 8 days/month in Washington DC office. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission. WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. To be eligible for this position in US, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

About the Program:

WRI's Food, Land, and Water (F|L|W) Program aims to transform how humanity uses and manages the world's finite land and freshwater resources to meet the essential needs of all people, halt and reverse nature loss, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The Program pursues four interrelated goals necessary to achieve this transformation: (1) sustainably produce food and fiber from existing production areas, (2) protect remaining forests and other natural ecosystems from conversion and degradation, (3) reduce humanity's footprint by equitably shifting consumption patterns and lowering food loss and waste, (4) restore degraded areas into healthy and/or productive ecosystems. F|L|W is WRI's largest Program with a dozen major global initiatives and active strategies led by each of WRI's country offices.

This position will sit between the Global Restoration Initiative (GRI) and Land & Carbon Lab (LCL) initiatives of FLW. GRI helps catalyze the restoration of forests, farmland and ecosystems, with its goal to help restore ecosystem function, economic productivity, livelihoods and hope. GRI works with governments, grassroots community organizations, entrepreneurs and international partners. Programmatic work centers on ensuring that restoration practitioners have access to technical assistance, financing, enabling policies and robust monitoring systems.

Land & Carbon Lab (LCL) and Global Forest Watch are WRI's innovation platform for geospatial data and monitoring of the world's land and its nature-based carbon. Land is a finite resource under growing pressure. LCL's mission is to build and deploy geospatial solutions that help governments, businesses, and communities worldwide achieve sustainability in the land sector. LCL works by connecting those at the frontiers of geospatial innovation with those at the frontlines of land use decision-making.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the Director, Forests Team, you will integrate equity into your work. You will work with a research team of more than 20 experts in GIS and remote sensing to develop monitoring data and applications that support a variety of use cases focused on restoration tracking and conservation at different scales. You will focus on building the most accurate, comprehensive and useful maps possible by combining your global domain expertise in geography and remote sensing with experimental technologies such as foundation models for Earth Observation. You will be supported by and work closely with others on our multi-disciplinary research team.

What will you do:

Research and Analysis (90%):

• Develop data analysis chains and data storage strategies to ensure Landsat and/or Sentinel data can be stored, manipulated and analyzed in the cloud on global scale in cooperation with WRI's Data Lab and partner organizations such as University of Maryland and OpenGeoHub
• Work with the Restoration (GRI) team to improve and/or develop project restoration monitoring from satellite and other data
• Develop high quality annual time series data useful to track restoration and conservation on different scales from project to landscape to national and beyond
• Perform accuracy assessments and validation on various map products using established good practice methods including by sampling and visual interpreting Landsat and/or other higher resolution satellite data
• Work with University of Maryland researchers where needed
• Develop with colleagues new computing capabilities for remote sensing and image processing that combine pixel extraction and feature extraction to advance tree detection and tree height change
• Support colleagues in conducting original geospatial research, including quantitative geospatial analysis
• Support production of written and graphic content for peer-reviewed research publications, internal briefs, blogs, presentations, press releases, etc
• Support editing, peer review, and production process to publish research and communication outputs
• Present research results at internal and external meetings, conferences and workshops

Program Development and Administration (10%):

• Carry out training and capacity building. Work with countries or stakeholder groups to explain and present the data we are developing
• Contribute to concept notes, funding proposals, and donor reports

What will you need:

• Education: You have completed a master's degree (or higher) in Remote-Sensing, Geography, or related area. Relevant work experience in lieu of degree is accepted
• Experience: You have minimum of 12 years of relevant full-time work experience
• Knowledge of remote sensing, photo interpretation, and earth observation technologies and methods, statistics and spatial statistics, sampling design
• Experience working with cross-functional and heavily matrixed teams
• Brings a collaborative attitude to achieving research outcomes, comfortable with leading and participating in constructive discussions with internal and external research partners
• Excellent quantitative research and writing skills
• Proficient in building, applying and testing machine learning models using Earth Observation imagery
• Experience with Google Earth Engine, Python, C++ and other coding languages
• Languages: Verbal and written English proficiency. Others would be advantageous
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

Potential Salary: Salary range is between 138,000 and 166,000 USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors. WRI offers a competitive renumeration and benefits package.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with cover letter by the date of January 23, 2025. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of qualified applications.

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
• For US location: Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, Vision Coverage, retirement plan access and employer contribution

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.

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.

WRI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.