Officer, Research Review and Support (Human Dimensions of Environment)

Washington, DC (901 E)

The Strategy Portfolio within Program

The goal of the strategy portfolio is to inform critical institutional decisions about Pew’s programs, strengthen the design and implementation of Pew’s work, and generate knowledge that advances Pew’s program objectives . We pursue this goal by (1) enhancing the organization’s efforts to generate ideas for new initiatives and larger bodies of work; (2) applying a wide range of planning approaches to help programs turn ideas into effective action; (3) using evaluation to improve program performance, inform decision-making, and support learning; (4) working with teams across the institution to help ensure Pew’s research meets the organization’s expressed standards for quality; (5) ensuring that staff has access to information that meets their needs to design, implement, and manage high-performing strategies, initiatives, and campaigns; and (6) collaborating with colleagues in preparing a wide range of planning and other types of documents for consideration by Pew’s board of directors.

Evaluation, Research, and Learning

Evaluation, Research, and Learning is part of the Strategy portfolio. The unit has two primary teams-evaluation and learning, and research quality and support. The goal of evaluation and learning is to apply evaluation and related tools to provide information that can be used to improve program effectiveness, support key decisions, and advance program learning. The library and archives group, as part of the evaluation and learning unit, connects Pew staff to information resources that will help them to work effectively to accomplish Pew’s mission. The second primary team-research quality and support-helps ensure that Pew’s programs are guided by and able to produce credible, appropriate , and high-quality research. The team consults with project teams across the program division to help Pew generate high-quality research products that are unbiased, methodologically sound, and appropriately address the intended research questions.

Position Overview

The officer is a key member of the research quality and support (RQS) team in the strategy portfolio, providing cross-cutting consultation and review to program teams conducting research. The officer will act as the principal liaison to the environment portfolio . Specifically, the officer will support the environment portfolio to help ensure the quality of research related to Pew’s investments in environmental issues , which rely on the sciences of conservation, biology, and economics to advocate for practical and durable solutions to re duce the scope and severity of global environmental problems, such as the erosion of large natural ecosystems that contain a great part of the world’s remaining biodiversity, and the destruction of the marine environment. While staff within the environment portfolio possess deep subject matter expertise in these areas, the RQS officer will provide methodological support and complementary expertise to support and bolster the quality of research produced by this portfolio.

The officer should have research experience in socio-environmental research and conservation science, and demonstrated experience related to human dimensions of conservation including an understanding of working with Indigenous and other local communities. The officer should have demonstrated experience working with people from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds.

The officer works closely with RQS and other Strategy colleagues who share a goal to inform and strengthen Pew’s program work . The officer will collaborate with environment staff, including other environmental support units that develop and manage research projects . This work will also entail providing review s and comment s on written research design s and research products. Topical areas include domestic and international terrestrial and marine conservation.

The position, based in Pew’s Washington, D.C., office, reports to the Director, Research Quality and Support and will participate in Pew’s core in-office days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and will have flexibility to work from home the remainder of each week . Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country for which they are seeking employment without visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Foster a work environment that is diverse, equitable , inclusive, and accessible and in line with Pew and the project’s related goals.
• Serves as an expert on the team for research methods related to conservation sciences and socio-environment, including the human dimensions of conservation and Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Provides support to project teams in the development of research projects, including identifying rigorous methods and data sources.
• Serves as primary RQS representative to Pew’s environment portfolio, which entails active outreach and relationship building with staff in the environment portfolio , maintaining awareness of and coordinating with relevant support unit s on planned research projects , and facilitating project teams’ participation in Pew’s research quality review process, external expert/peer review, data checks, and fact checks.
• Supports Pew’s process for ensuring research quality, including by providing input, document ation , review , and tracking related to the design of research projects including research conducted in-house by Pew staff and external research contracts . As expertise and capacity allows, provide quality support to Pew research outside environment, including health and safety-related projects.
• Collaborates with project teams and contracting staff to develop and manage research contracts to ensure they are methodologically sound and align with Pew’s research quality standards .
• Identifies opportunities for cross-team collaboration throughout the organization.
• Reviews and comments on draft research products prepared by project teams or their contractors, as requested . Helps project teams identify potential sources of weakness in their research and anticipate potential criticism of their work before publication.
• Contribute s to and participate s in Strategy portfolio priorities such as evaluations, planning efforts, and explorations.
• Participate s in activities that support program and Pew-wide objectives .

Requirements 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required . Doctorate or master’s degree in an environmental science discipline (or conservation related discipline) preferred. 
• Generally eight years of applicable experience.
• Proven research and analytical skills. Expertise in socio- environmental and conservation research required .
• Demonstrated experience working Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and partnering with Indigenous and other local communities preferred.
• Experience with one or more of the following preferred: quantitative methods; statistical and computer modeling; experimental design; and policy analysis or other research methodologies related to marine or terrestrial conservation programs .
• Proficiency in one or more relevant research software such as Geographic information systems, Stata, SAS, R.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills; proven experience building collaborative relationships and work ing productively with a wide array of stakeholders (both internal and external) and perspectives and approach ing issues with a nonpartisan, objective mindset.
• Experience working in a team context, think ing strategically and creatively, juggling multiple priorities, adjust ing to changing circumstances, organizing time efficiently, and remain ing attentive to details.

Travel 

This position requires occasional travel to meetings and conferences.

Total Rewards

We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Pew considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

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