Data Ethics & Governance Analyst

World Resources Institute • Washington, DC

8d • $69,000 - $82,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

This is an 18-month hybrid position based in Washington DC, requiring 8 days per month in the office. The role is part of the 2026–28 Civic Science Fellows program, aiming to build a network of leaders committed to ensuring all people shape and benefit from science, technology, and innovation. 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. The position involves researching and developing practical approaches to data ethics and governance, with a focus on data sovereignty in the age of AI and benefit-sharing in open data and open-source systems. This will be achieved through a combination of research, stakeholder engagement, and practical project delivery to translate questions into recommendations for WRI policies, guidance, and practice. Support will be provided by colleagues in WRI’s Data Lab, Research, Data, & Impact core function, staff across WRI, external experts, community stakeholders, and the Civic Science Fellows network. The role reports to the Data Lab’s Data Management Lead.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Verbal and written proficiency in English.

Nice To Haves

• 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.
• Additional language proficiency relevant to WRI’s global work is an asset.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level