Technical Product Manager, Data Lab

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days/month in the office. You can be based in our office in Washington DC, London, The Hague or Mexico City. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

About the Program:

The Data Lab is WRI’s core data innovation and delivery unit. We are a team of over 35 engineers, product managers, and data scientists with deep experience setting data strategy, doing quantitative research, and building data tools and products. We work across WRI’s programs, centres and international offices to use advances in data and technology to help our community improve lives, protect nature, and ensure just transitions. Data of all kinds sits at the heart of how WRI achieves impact in the world, and our world-class research is used by governments, policymakers, NGOs and local communities around the world to improve lives, protect nature, and ensure just transitions.

Data Lab | World Resources Institute (wri.org)

Job Highlight:

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced Technical Product Manager (TPM) with a passion for data to deploy their skillset to solve some of the world’s most urgent and difficult problems. You will work with a team of experienced geospatial engineers and a scrum master to develop API solutions that facilitate the use and deployment of WRI’s vital data. This position will be supported by product managers, data scientists and engineers across the Data Lab, Program areas and the International Offices.

The API team currently maintains WRI's Data API (Application Programming Interface) -- a collection of standardized endpoints that provide programmatic access to WRI's data and analysis capabilities. The Data API offers five core services:

• Data Catalog: Search for available datasets and view their associated metadata
• Geostore: Store single geometries for later use with the other services in the API
• Query: Analyse a selected dataset and produce zonal statistics for any input geometry
• Download: Download a dataset or one of its derivatives
• Tile Services: Fetch raster and/or vector tile caches in x/y/z tile format for map visualization

We also maintain the Resource Watch API, a collection of endpoints that serve many of WRI’s data-driven products. We aim to work towards a more unified API solution in the coming years. You will report to the Group Product Manager, within the Data Lab. 

What will you do:

Own and manage the roadmap for the development of robust, modernized API architecture (40%):

• Research and understand user needs and translate them into requirements
• Assess and address technical risks
• Work with API Technical Lead to ensure requirements are fully understood and that implementation plans match expectations.
• Work with Scrum Master to ensure effective team processes and communication
• Work with other Product Managers and Engineers to surface opportunities for developing common infrastructure that will serve multiple products

Define success criteria for product and conduct regular analysis (30%):

• Work with API Technical Lead to develop mechanisms for collecting data on API performance and define key metrics of success
• Inform decisions around engineering choices and cost management, based on usage metrics
• Set up analytics monitoring and define incremental improvements over time
• Report out on key metrics to Data Lab leadership and stakeholders regularly

Advocate for and champion the team and the API product(s) to both internal and external stakeholders (30%):

• Communicate roadmap updates and progress to stakeholders
• Provide internal and external training on how to use APIs
• Facilitate the creation and maintenance of proper API documentation
• Coordinate with Product Studio and other WRI programs to identify new API use cases

What will you need:

• Education: You have a completed Bachelor’s degree in a related field (for example, Computer Science, International Development, Environmental Science, etc.)
• Experience: You have a minimum of 5 years of full-time relevant experience managing API engineering projects and understanding the API user/developer experience. Experience with data-focused APIs is a plus
• Ability to communicate with a variety of different types of stakeholders, from Product Managers to Engineers to Researchers
• A recognized Project or Product Management qualification (e.g., PHP, Prince2, SCRUM Master etc.); or relevant experience in lieu of a professional qualification
• Experience in defining product strategy and developing a roadmap in partnership with technical teams
• Knowledge of Open Data and the principles of open-source software and platform development
• Previous experience with tracking software such as Google Analytics, Hot Jar and Jira, in addition to repositories such as GitHub 
• Prior experience developing and rolling out Data Management tools, particularly focusing on open data, complex GIS or environmental data
• Languages: You have verbal and written proficiency in English
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

Potential Salary: US salary range is between 101,000 and 108,000 USD. UK: 44 – 53K GBP. NL: 57K – 68K EUR. If located in another country office, salary will be determined by local market conditions.

Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with a required cover letter by the date of 23 September 2024. We are unable to consider your application without a cover letter.

You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

• 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

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

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.