Job Description

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

About the Program:

The decisions that national leaders, local officials, developers, and planners make today will determine how billions of people in urban centers will thrive over the next century. Already, half the global population resides in cities. That figure is set to increase to 70 percent by 2050. Traditional models of city development can lock us into congestion, sprawl, and inefficient resource use. However, compact, connected, and efficient growth can help ensure more competitive cities, and provide a better quality of life for citizens. WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities (WRI Ross Center ) works to ensure cities create economic opportunity while sustaining natural resources. We use technical expertise, cutting-edge research, and on-the-ground partnerships to design solutions that enable sustainable city growth.

Our analysis and tools allow cities to manage their natural resources and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Working across our network, we develop and help implement research-based solutions in sustainable mobility, urban development, as well as urban efficiency & climate that reduce pollution, improve health, and create safe, accessible public spaces for all people to succeed. WRI Ross Center builds on WRI’s global and local experience in urban planning and mobility, and uses solutions to increase building and energy efficiency, manage water risk, encourage effective governance and make the fast-growing urban environment more resilient to new challenges. Aiming to influence 200 cities with unique research and tools, WRI Ross Center focuses on a deep cross-sector approach in selected megacities on two continents, and targeted assistance to additional 50 urban areas, bringing economic, environmental and social benefits to people in cities around the globe..

Job Highlight:

You will be responsible for integrating equity into your work.

The WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities ( (‘the Prize’) is a global competition supported by Stephen M. Ross to celebrate transformative projects that have ignited citywide change. The inaugural Prize was awarded in April 2019, following a deep evaluation by WRI’s experts and a deliberation among a Jury of high-profile leaders in urban affairs. Our vision is that the Prize receives recognition in media and society as a vehicle for celebration, research and expertise on urban transformation. Through the Prize and related activities, we hope to grow a global network of urban change-makers.

Reporting to the Global Lead for the Prize for Cities and work closely with the WRI Ross Center’s executive office, communications teams, and strategy and partnerships teams. You will be an integral member of the core Prize team, supporting all programmatic aspects of the Prize, major Prize milestones throughout the award cycle, and related learning and engagement activities. Programmatic support to Prize milestones includes outreach to drive submissions to the Prize; managing the multi-round and multi-criteria evaluation process; managing Prize submission process including liaising with applicants and managing the submission portal; serving as a liaison to WRI International Offices, Prize Advisory Council, and other high-level stakeholders; providing analytical support during Prize milestones including announcements of finalists and winners; supporting the flagship award ceremony and learning roundtable events including events planning support and supporting development of learning agenda and events.

This is a hybrid role that requires a dynamic and versatile individual with interest in inclusive urban development and looking to develop a range of skills including, but not limited to, knowledge management, learning, writing, and communications and engagement skills.

What will you do:

Program Support and Implementation (40%):-

• Support all aspects of the Prize, and in particular learning, evaluation, research, and engagement and project management activities
• Develops Key Performance Indicators in close collaboration with the Prize Lead and the Prize comms lead and tracks them to measure Prize’s progress through its five-year strategy
• Support Prize Lead by responding to inquiries, fielding requests, organizing meetings, and tracking progress on towards key performance indicators
• Help build a community of change makers, working closely with the Prize Lead, and the Cities’ Communications and Strategy and Partnerships teams
• Support planning for and implementation of engagement events (e.g., launch event awards ceremony, learning roundtable)
• Liaise and coordinate with various external partners including high-profile individuals, urban thought leaders, and practitioners
• Coordinate closely between teams, including Prize, Research and Knowledge Exchange (RKE), Cities’ communications and Strategy and Partnerships teams on stakeholder engagement and communications activities
• Work with team to develop creative solutions to unexpected challenges during the prize cycle
• As a core member of the team, contribute to strategy development and tracking, participate in weekly team meetings and provide updates on key activities

  Evaluation, Analysis, and Writing (40%):-

  • Implement the Prize evaluation process in close collaboration with the Prize Lead including data collection, management, planning evaluation cycle, recruiting/liaising with evaluation team, quantifying evaluation results and presenting data, presenting finalist options and conducting due diligence on finalist candidates, and organizing of jury briefing materials
  • Manage the submission portal and the Prize email inbox, maintain robust filing systems to manage large and diverse sets of information
  • Conduct background research, literature reviews, qualitative or quantitative analysis on Prize applications
  • Develop written materials for website, brochures, newsletters, handouts, PowerPoints, talking points, and background documents
  • Write blogs and prepare other communications materials for dissemination of Prize-related content (finalist profiles, social media campaigns, jury package, etc.), presentations and talking points, and coordinating events

    Support Prize Knowledge Sharing (20%):

    • Work with Prize Lead and Strategy & Partnership team to deliver learning plan for the prize including co-writing a peer reviewed knowledge products and a curriculum for urban changemakers
    • Monitors internal knowledge resource management strategy of the Prize, including creating and managing online Prize database and data assets in Sharepoint , developing strategy for sharing knowledge resources with internal teams and external stakeholders
    • Support in development of knowledge products, workshops, roundtables, and other learning products to advance the Prize learning agenda

      What will you need:

      • Education: You have a completed a bachelor’s degree in sustainable urban development, international studies, environmental science, public policy/administration, urban planning, economics, geography, political science, history, or related. Relevant work experience in lieu of degree is accepted
      • Experience: You have a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in supporting activities related to research and engagement, e.g., at university departments, think tanks, or other international organizations
      • Strong research skills and the ability to synthesize and interpret case study information
      • Ability to organize large datasets and complex assets
      • Strong writing, database management, and proofreading skills a must
      • Excellent skills in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and a range of presentation and project management tools
      • Demonstrated creativity, resourcefulness and ability to take initiative
      • Detail-oriented, organized and able to juggle multiple priorities and problem-solve
      • Demonstrated knowledge of and interest in key issues in urban development, planning, and urban sustainability
      • Highly motivated, proactive, and collaborative work style
      • Excellent inter-personal communication skills, including the ability to work well in a team and with international colleagues in high-level situations
      • Ability to work both independently as well as part of a team, including actively contributing to team discussions
      • Adaptable to rapidly changing priorities and able to manage multiple deadlines and deliver high quality work products
      • Strong English written and verbal communications skills
      • Experience in or some knowledge of UX/UI design
      • Languages : Fluency in English is required. Additional language skills are a plus, especially in languages of WRI offices: Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, Chinese, French, or Hindi
      • Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work

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