Data Ethics & Governance Analyst

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office and will be based 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 in US, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

This is a 18 month position.

About the Program:

Data Lab is WRI’s core data innovation and product delivery unit. Our mission is to harness advances in data and technology to help our community improve lives, protect nature and ensure just transitions. We do this by helping WRI’s programs and countries offices accelerate innovation and deliver products that translate research into action. Data Lab is hosting this position as part of the 2026–28 Civic Science Fellows program. The Civic Science Fellows program is building a network of leaders committed to ensuring that all people shape and benefit from science, technology, and innovation. The program brings together researchers, community leaders, public-interest organizations, funders, and other practitioners to develop new collaborations between science, communities, and civil society. Through this 18-month position, the Data Ethics & Governance Analyst will contribute to WRI’s work on data ethics and governance while participating in the broader Civic Science Fellows learning community.

Job Highlight:

In this role, you will research and help develop practical approaches to emerging questions in data ethics and governance, with a particular focus on data sovereignty in the age of AI and benefit-sharing in open data and open-source systems. You will combine research, stakeholder engagement, and practical project delivery to help translate these questions into recommendations for WRI policies, guidance, and practice.

You will be supported by colleagues in WRI’s Data Lab, Research, Data, & Impact core function, and staff across WRI as well as external experts, community stakeholders, and the Civic Science Fellows network.

You will report to the Data Lab’s Data Management Lead.

What you will do:

Research and Analysis on Data Ethics and Governance (30%)

• Design and conduct research on emerging data governance issues, including data sovereignty in the context of AI and governance models for open data and open-source systems.

• Conduct desk research and synthesize evidence on topics such as shared ownership, attribution, rights to control or approve data use, access to products derived from community data, and revenue or benefit-sharing.

• Analyze findings in their relevant social, institutional, and policy context and translate them into clear options and recommendations.

Stakeholder and Community Research (25%)

• Plan and conduct interviews and other research engagements with experts, practitioners, community representatives, and relevant WRI teams.

• Support inclusive approaches to research and engagement, particularly where data governance decisions affect communities that generate, steward, or are represented in environmental and conservation data.

• Document interview findings, areas of agreement and disagreement, emerging questions, and implications for further research or action.

Data Strategy and Project Delivery (20%)

• Contribute to WRI data governance, management, and delivery meetings and working sessions, connecting research findings to practical organizational needs.

• Support the design and implementation of data governance guidance, processes, pilots, or other work products based on the research.

• Maintain project plans, priorities, documentation, and deliverables, and communicate progress and emerging issues to relevant internal stakeholders.

Civic Science Fellowship Learning and Field-Building (25%)

• Participate actively in the 2026–28 Civic Science Fellows cohort, including shared learning, peer exchange, virtual Fellows Labs, and periodic convenings.

• Co-design the Fellowship project with WRI and refine the work as learning emerges over the 18-month term.

• Share lessons from WRI’s work with the Civic Science Fellows community and bring relevant approaches, perspectives, and practices from the cohort back into WRI.

• Produce a final set of findings and recommendations that captures the project’s primary activities, insights, and learning and can inform future work at WRI and in the wider civic science field.

What you will need:

• Education: You have a completed bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as public policy, social science, environmental studies, information science, data or technology studies, law, or a related discipline. Additional relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• You have a minimum of 3 years of full-time relevant professional experience.
• Experience conducting research or managing projects from initial scoping and research design through engagement, synthesis, and communication of findings.
• Experience in one or more areas related to data governance, data ethics, responsible data practices, technology governance, or digital policy
• Experience conducting stakeholder, user, expert, or community research and translating findings into requirements, recommendations, guidance, or other practical outputs.
• Experience working with data-focused projects or organizations and the ability to collaborate effectively with both technical and non-technical colleagues.
• Experience with environmental, climate, conservation, or natural-resource data is desirable.
• Experience with Indigenous data sovereignty, open-data or open-source governance, community engagement, benefit-sharing, or AI governance is especially desirable.
• A legal or policy background related to data, technology, intellectual property, privacy, or community rights is a plus.
• Languages: You have verbal and written proficiency in English. Additional language proficiency relevant to WRI’s global work is an asset.
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to support visa applications.

Potential Salary:

If based in the US: $69,000 - $82,000

If located in another country office, salary will be determined by local market conditions.

Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with a cover letter by September 18, 2026. Internal applicants should submit their application through the Jobs Hub portal in Workday. External applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of applications from qualified candidates.

The successful candidate should be available to begin the position in time to participate in the Civic Science Fellows cohort beginning in late September 2026.

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.
• If based in the US: Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, Vision Coverage, retirement plan access and employer contribution.

About Us:

World Resources Institute works to improve people’s lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyse change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.

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: Independence, Integrity, Impact, Partnership and Care.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Our People team carefully reviews all applications.