Air Quality and Climate Research Analyst

Program Overview

WRI’s air quality program is a global initiative that seeks to identify, build awareness of, and eliminate the root causes of air pollution that damages climate, human, and ecosystem health. The program has three main areas of work: (i) engagement with city stakeholders to use participatory science to diagnose and develop targeted, cost-effective clean air solutions to protect human health and climate, (ii) working with the science community to convert innovative methods into tools and products that communities and policymakers can use to better manage their impact on the atmosphere, and (iii) working with national governments and business networks to design and implement broader regional-to-global air quality governance. It is a part of the WRI Ross Center on Sustainable Cities, with additional oversight from the Data Lab and engagement with Climate, Governance, Energy, and other programs at WRI. The team is global, with senior experts distributed across WRI’s network of international offices

Clean Air Catalyst

WRI Indonesia air quality program is growing along with the new USAID-funded program called “Clean Air Catalyst ” , which will be implemented by a global consortium that WRI is leading with EDF and other partners. The consortium includes six additional partners: Clean Air Toolbox for Cities (Columbia University), Climate and Clean Air Coalition, Internews Network, MAP-AQ, OpenAQ, and Vital Strategies. The program will work in three pilot regions with WRI international offices and local partners to test and refine a three-part data to action methodology for improving air quality and delivering climate co-benefits. We plan to work with local partners in three pilot regions – one of which is Jakarta, Indonesia – to test and refine a three-part data to action methodology for improving air quality and delivering climate co-benefits.

Southeast Asia (SEA) Air Quality Community of Practice

SEA Air Quality Community of Practice is part of Air Quality Program at the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. It is coordinated by WRI Mexico in collaboration with WRI Africa and is the first pilot in Latin America with an intersection with a project in Africa. The objective is to disseminate, share and promote best practices for the generation and use of data and tools for air quality management and climate change mitigation through a specialized community of practice through a series of technical seminars (Tech talks). This community is addressed to technical teams, government authorities from cities in Latin America and Africa, and specialists interested in the topics. As context, in 2020 and 2021, the CityAQ project was piloted to provide participating cities with station-level, bias-adjusted air quality forecasts to anticipate air quality events, communicate with stakeholders and more effectively manage local interventions. The new phase of this project funded by Clean Air Fund and UNEP science is called CanAIRy Alert aiming to include air quality data from low-cost sensor networks to produce bias corrected station level forecast for 4 cities in Africa (Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali and Accra).

The outcomes of this initiative consist of: (1) strengthened knowledge, technical capacity, and a network for air quality experts, practitioners, and stakeholders in the context of air quality awareness, monitoring, modeling, and management in the three focused countries within Southeast Asia; (2) cross-border sharing of experience on air quality management and (3) guidance on the use of already available and successfully implemented tools for enhanced action on clean air solutions by stakeholders. This initiative include Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines as the main beneficiaries at the country level, while the secondary beneficiaries include other Southeast Asia countries, for example, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.

Job Highlight

The Air Quality and Climate Research Analyst will support the CAC and Community of Practice projects while bringing up climate perspective within research activities. Research works that falls within the responsibilities of this position apart from the general research works is including but not limited to producing writing report, concept notes, technical notes, and other knowledge product.

Under the supervision of Project Manager for Air Quality, the research analyst will work closely and collaboratively with the local and global science teams for research plan, data collection, analysis and coordination. This position based in Jakarta with office-flex working arrangements with possibility of doing travel when needed.

What You Will Do

Research and Knowledge (70%)

• Providing robust and unbiased research on climate and air quality, particularly on the short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP). The research activities may cover but not limited to emission inventories, source apportionment, etc.
• Work with other research teams in constructing a research framework, concept note, proposal, and report
• Co-authoring knowledge product, peer-reviewed or otherwise, and other communications documents
• Conduct data collection and analysis
• Perform survey and field work related to air quality monitoring capacity
• Support policy advocacy on air quality solutions/clean air actions.
• Actively contribute to WRI Indonesia research activities, in particular for topics related to climate and air quality

Project Management (10%)

• Participate in online/offline meeting related to science or research activities such as CAC Global Science Check-in and other project’s activities and initiatives
• Support the team on the fulfillment of administrative requirement related to project’s activities
• Produce regular report on work progress, achievement, and lessons learned

Engagement and Outreach (20%)

• Liaise with local and global science teams (project partners), experts, researchers and government official to facilitate the development of high-quality research and pilot design
• Organizing internal and external meeting, workshop, conference, and dissemination activities including delivering public presentations
• Support the development of outreach materials, training modules, as well as implementation of general outreach and capacity building as necessary
• Contribute to the development of project-related communications product
• Produce minutes report

What You Will Need

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental science/ Environmental Engineering/ Civil Engineering/ Chemistry/ Physics/ Geophysics & Meteorology/ Climate Science/ Atmospheric Sciences or a related quantitative field. A master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum 2 (two) years of full-time work experience in climate and/or air quality research works
• Comprehensive understanding in climate modeling such as Low Emission Analysis Platform (LEAP) or Greenhouse gas-Air pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS), air quality and monitoring, and/or air dispersion modeling
• Ability to support discrete elements of research project with manager guidance, e.g. systematically reviewing and synthesizing existing literature; collecting, cleaning, organizing, and visualizing data.
• Ability to communicate research approach and findings effectively to internal audiences with manager guidance, using compelling presentation skills
• Highly organized and systematic with strong time management skills and ability to juggle competing priorities and deadlines required.
• Business proficiency in Bahasa Indonesia and English on both written and verbal communications
• Self-motivated and able to work independently and as a team player;
• Ability and willingness to frequently travel within Jakarta area and or other cities as assigned
• Legally able to work in Indonesia

Contract Arrangement Direct Full-Time:

Full-time with fixed-term employment agreement up to 31 October 2024 with 3 (three) months of consultancy contract apply before the fixed-term employment agreement started.

What we offer

• Salary that is commensurate with experience and skills
• Competitive and comprehensive benefit package
• Access to the WRI global network
• Opportunity to join and/or get involved in different working groups
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
• A chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization

Must have authorization to work in Indonesia to be eligible for this position.

Final candidates might be required to take a writing test and to produce two writing samples when needed.

How to apply: In order to be formally considered, please submit an updated resume and cover letter through WRI career portal.

Application close: 1700 (DKI Jakarta local time),15 March 2024. We will close the advert earlier when the best candidates are identified at earlier dates.

This is a locally engaged position; Indonesian nationals are encouraged to apply.

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, 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, gender diverse communities, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.

WRI Indonesia is national entity (Yayasan) associated with the World Resources Institute (WRI), a global environmental research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. WRI work with various stakeholders in the natural resources sector to support policy and management that are both profitable and sustainable. WRI work with leaders in more than 50 countries for more than 30 years, with offices in Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and the United States.

Launched in early 2014, WRI Indonesia builds on WRI’s 10-year history in the country, and strengthens our impact on the ground. In the short-to-medium term, WRI Indonesia aims to expand its presence and portfolio to include projects in the climate, energy, as well as city and transportation programs.