GIS Research Associate, Ghana, AFR100 at World Resources Institute

About the job

This position will be based in Accra, Ghana. Existing work authorization for Ghana is required at the time of application submission. WRI is unable to sponsor visa work authorization for this position.

This is a fully remote position.

About the Program:

WRI’s Global Restoration Initiative works to inspire, enable and implement restoration on degraded landscapes, returning them to economic and environmental productivity. WRI and partners have identified more than 700 million hectares of cleared and degraded forest and agricultural lands suitable for restoration across Africa. Using this data as a foundation, we work to promote restoration of degraded lands back into natural forests, agroforestry systems, or productive agriculture. WRI’s restoration efforts in Africa are part of the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative, AFR100.

Job Highlight:

In this role, you will innovate and contribute to the research and implementation of monitoring efforts for tree-based forest and landscape restoration. This includes supporting the research and analysis of remote sensing products with GIS software and/or Python to answer pressing questions in the restoration monitoring domain. Your work will contribute to important international efforts from the private sector, governments, and non-profit organizations to develop and standardize a science-based approach to monitoring forest and landscape restoration in Ghana and across AFR100 countries. You will be supported by WRI Africa colleagues based in Kenya and Rwanda, WRI Global colleagues based in Washington DC and Europe, and with Ghana country partners, including those in the EPA, District Assemblies, Forestry Commission, Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority.

What will you do:

Technical Assistance and Coordination (80%):

• Support the development of geospatial products including datasets, maps, and statistical insights using remote sensing and GIS tools
• Develop and track landscape-scale monitoring indicators using remote sensing data to monitor changes in plantation and non-plantation tree cover in the priority landscapes
• Conduct research and statistical analysis about project-scale restoration activities, leveraging remote sensing data and field collected data
• Conduct desk research to validate data trends and outputs
• Evaluate data products for completion and accuracy, with manual and automated methods
• Provide technical support to establish an online data collection and sharing systems to be utilized and maintained by the Government of Ghana for monitoring and evaluation purposes
• Build partnerships and strong relationships with country technical focal points and/or task forces to identify and co-create monitoring solutions that address gaps and are replicable across the region
• Contribute to written outputs such as peer-reviewed publications, technical notes, and presentations
• Answer technical questions about data products from partner organizations

Knowledge Sharing and Awareness Raising (15%):

• Co-design and facilitate capacity-building trainings and materials to partners on FLR monitoring, including data collection and management and new tools/methods
• Answer technical questions about data products from partner organizations
• Co-produce technical documentation and project-management protocols, as needed
• Assist with data-specific outreach and communication from private-sector, government, and non-profit partner organizations
• Share lessons across WRI teams in the region and the AFR100 Initiative to advance monitoring objectives and adapt new data or methods to local context in ways that raise awareness of norms, cultures, and histories and meet responsible data sharing practices

Administration (5%):

• Input to WRI administrative processes (e.g., project planning, budget reviews, donor reporting, coordination across WRI offices)
• Complete administrative paperwork related to contracts, sub-agreements, vendor payments, etc. in collaboration with WRI colleagues.

What will you need:

• Education: You have a completed Bachelor’s degree in GIS, remote sensing, or a related data science field
• Experience: You have a minimum of 5+ years full-time relevant work experience working in remote sensing. Prior experience working with external vendors is desired
• You have experience working with geospatial monitoring tools and software
• You have experience working with remote sensing tools in a non-classroom setting, including working with large remote sensing datasets
• You have experience engaging with a diversity of partners at various levels (government, donors, private sector, NGOs and local community-based organizations)
• You have experience working independently, as well as part of a culturally diverse team
• Languages: You are fluent in English. Fluency in French is also desired, but not required.
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization.

Potential salary:

Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary
• 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 United States.
• 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.
• Long-term commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours.
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure