The World Resources Institute (WRI) is recruiting a Data Ethics & Governance Analyst for an 18-month, full-time position based in Washington, D.C., with a U.S. salary range of $69,000–$82,000 per year.
The role is part of WRI’s Data Lab and the 2026–2028 Civic Science Fellows program, focusing on some of the most important emerging issues in technology governance: data sovereignty in the age of artificial intelligence, responsible data practices, open data, open-source governance and benefit-sharing.
The position follows a hybrid work arrangement, requiring approximately eight days per month in the Washington, D.C. office. Applicants need existing work authorization because WRI states that it cannot sponsor visas for this role.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organization | World Resources Institute |
| Position | Data Ethics & Governance Analyst |
| Requisition | 2026-JR100458 |
| Location | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Work Arrangement | Hybrid |
| Office Requirement | 8 days per month |
| Contract Duration | 18 months |
| Work Schedule | Full-time |
| U.S. Salary | $69,000–$82,000 |
| Experience | Minimum 3 years |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience |
| Language | English |
| Visa Sponsorship | No |
| U.S. Residency Requirement | DC, Maryland or Virginia by start date |
| Program | 2026–28 Civic Science Fellows |
| Safer Application Deadline | September 18, 2026 |
| Expected Start | In time for late-September Civic Science Fellows cohort |
What Is the WRI Data Ethics & Governance Analyst Role?
The analyst will join WRI’s Data Lab, which serves as the organization’s core data innovation and product-delivery unit.
WRI describes the Data Lab’s mission as using advances in data and technology to help improve lives, protect nature and support just transitions.
The successful candidate will research emerging data-governance questions and translate those findings into:
- Practical recommendations
- Policies
- Guidance
- Governance processes
- Future organizational practices
Why This Job Matters
This role sits at the intersection of:
data + AI + policy + community rights + responsible technology.
A central part of the work concerns:
data sovereignty in the age of AI
and how benefits from open data and open-source systems should be shared.
Opportunities Feed Insight
This makes the opportunity particularly relevant as organizations increasingly confront questions such as:
- Who controls data?
- Who benefits when community data is reused?
- How should AI systems use externally sourced information?
- Who has the right to approve future uses of data?
- How should open-data projects handle attribution and benefit-sharing?
The role is therefore broader than conventional data analysis.
It is fundamentally a data-governance and policy research position.
Civic Science Fellows Program
The position forms part of the:
2026–2028 Civic Science Fellows program.
The initiative brings together:
- Researchers
- Community leaders
- Public-interest organizations
- Funders
- Practitioners
to develop stronger relationships between:
science, communities and civil society.
The WRI analyst will participate in this wider learning community throughout the 18-month assignment.
Main Area 1: Research and Analysis on Data Ethics and Governance
Approximately:
30%
of the role focuses on research and analysis.
The analyst will investigate emerging governance issues including:
- Data sovereignty
- AI-related data governance
- Open-data governance
- Open-source governance
- Shared ownership
- Attribution
- Control over data use
- Approval rights
- Access to products derived from community data
- Revenue sharing
- Benefit-sharing
Translating Research Into Policy
The analyst will not simply produce academic research.
WRI expects the successful candidate to evaluate findings within their:
- Social context
- Institutional context
- Policy context
and turn them into:
clear options and recommendations.
Opportunities Feed Insight
Applicants who can demonstrate experience converting complex research into practical organizational decisions may have an advantage.
Examples could include:
- Policy recommendations
- Data-governance frameworks
- Privacy guidance
- Responsible-AI policies
- Research ethics frameworks
- Open-data standards
Main Area 2: Stakeholder and Community Research
Approximately:
25%
of the role involves stakeholder and community research.
The analyst will plan and conduct engagements with:
- Experts
- Practitioners
- Community representatives
- WRI teams
The successful candidate will also help co-design the fellowship project and adapt the work as new lessons emerge.
Community Engagement Matters
One of the most distinctive requirements is experience translating community or stakeholder perspectives into practical outputs.
WRI specifically seeks applicants who have conducted:
- Stakeholder research
- User research
- Expert research
- Community research
and converted those findings into:
- Requirements
- Recommendations
- Guidance
- Practical outputs
Data Sovereignty and AI Governance
WRI identifies several especially desirable experience areas.
These include:
- Indigenous data sovereignty
- AI governance
- Open-data governance
- Open-source governance
- Community engagement
- Benefit-sharing
Opportunities Feed Insight
This makes the vacancy particularly relevant to professionals working in rapidly emerging areas such as:
- Responsible AI
- Data rights
- Digital policy
- AI ethics
- Data justice
- Public-interest technology
Who Can Apply?
Applicants need a completed:
Bachelor’s degree
in a relevant field such as:
- Public Policy
- Social Science
- Environmental Studies
- Information Science
- Data Studies
- Technology Studies
- Law
- Related disciplines
WRI also states that:
additional relevant professional experience may be considered instead of a degree.
How Much Experience Is Required?
Applicants need a minimum of:
3 years of full-time relevant professional experience.
Opportunities Feed Insight
This places the role closer to a mid-level analyst position than an entry-level graduate opportunity.
Candidates do not need the 8–10+ years often required for senior international development roles, but they do need established professional experience.
Relevant Professional Backgrounds
The role may suit professionals working in:
- Data Governance
- Data Ethics
- Responsible Data
- AI Governance
- Technology Governance
- Digital Policy
- Public Policy
- Information Governance
- Research
- Community Engagement
- Data Strategy
- Privacy
- Technology Law
provided they meet the full vacancy requirements.
Research Experience Required
Applicants should have experience carrying out research or managing projects from:
initial scoping and research design
through:
- Engagement
- Analysis
- Synthesis
- Communication of findings
This means applicants should demonstrate ownership of complete research projects rather than only isolated analysis tasks.
Data Governance Experience
WRI requires experience in at least one area related to:
- Data Governance
- Data Ethics
- Responsible Data Practices
- Technology Governance
- Digital Policy
Technical and Non-Technical Collaboration
Candidates should also have experience working with:
data-focused projects or organizations
and be able to collaborate with:
- Technical colleagues
- Non-technical colleagues
Opportunities Feed Advice
Your application should therefore show that you can communicate technical data-governance concepts to people outside technical teams.
Environmental and Climate Data Experience
Experience with:
- Environmental data
- Climate data
- Conservation data
- Natural-resource data
is listed as:
desirable.
It is not presented as an absolute minimum requirement.
Legal and Policy Backgrounds
A legal or policy background connected to:
- Data
- Technology
- Intellectual property
- Privacy
- Community rights
is described as:
a plus.
Opportunities Feed Insight
This could make the role especially interesting to lawyers or policy specialists trying to transition into technology and AI governance.
Language Requirements
Applicants need:
verbal and written proficiency in English.
Additional languages relevant to WRI’s global work are considered an asset.
Salary
For candidates based in the United States, WRI lists a salary range of:
$69,000–$82,000 per year.
The final salary will depend on:
- Experience
- Other compensable factors
Opportunities Feed Clarification
The $69,000–$82,000 salary applies to the U.S.-based position.
WRI says that if the role is located through another country office, compensation would be determined according to local market conditions.
Is the Position Remote?
No.
The position is:
hybrid.
It requires approximately:
8 days per month in the office
and is based in:
Washington, D.C.
Opportunities Feed Warning
Do not market this vacancy as:
“WRI Remote Data Analyst Job.”
That would be inaccurate.
Washington, DC Residency Requirement
WRI states that applicants working in the United States must be residents of:
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- Virginia
by the start of employment.
This DMV residency requirement is important for applicants considering relocation.
Does WRI Sponsor Visas?
No.
WRI explicitly says:
existing work authorization is required
and:
WRI is unable to support visa applications for this position.
Opportunities Feed Warning
International applicants should therefore not interpret WRI’s global presence as evidence that this Washington role provides sponsorship.
It does not.
What Benefits Does WRI Offer?
For U.S.-based employees, WRI lists benefits including:
- Medical coverage
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- Retirement plan access
- Employer retirement contribution
- Generous leave
- Flexible working hours
The role also provides access to WRI’s global professional network.
WRI’s Global Reach
WRI says it employs:
2,000+ staff
working across more than a dozen countries, with partners in more than 50 nations.
Its workforce includes professionals such as:
- Researchers
- Economists
- Data scientists
- Project managers
- Communications professionals
- Operations specialists
The live WRI careers board currently includes the Data Ethics & Governance Analyst among its open opportunities.
Reporting Line
The analyst will report to:
WRI Data Lab’s Data Management Lead.
They will also work with:
- Data Lab colleagues
- Research, Data & Impact teams
- Staff across WRI
- External experts
- Community stakeholders
- Civic Science Fellows
Application Documents
Applicants need to submit:
- Resume
- Cover letter
External applicants must apply through the:
WRI Careers portal.
Internal applicants use WRI’s Workday Jobs Hub.
Application Deadline
WRI’s detailed application instructions say applicants should submit their resume and cover letter by:
September 18, 2026.
The same official vacancy page displays September 19, 2026 in its application-deadline metadata.
Opportunities Feed Recommendation
Use:
September 18, 2026
as the actionable deadline.
That is the earlier date and appears directly in WRI’s “How to Apply” instructions.
Applicants should also apply earlier because WRI warns that it may:
close applications sooner if it receives a high volume of qualified candidates.
When Will the Position Start?
The successful candidate should be available to begin in time to participate in the Civic Science Fellows cohort starting in:
late September 2026.
How to Apply
Candidates should:
- Visit the official WRI Data Ethics & Governance Analyst vacancy.
- Review the education and experience requirements.
- Confirm U.S. work authorization.
- Confirm ability to reside in DC, Maryland or Virginia.
- Prepare a tailored resume.
- Prepare a tailored cover letter.
- Highlight data ethics or governance experience.
- Demonstrate stakeholder research.
- Show relevant project-management experience.
- Submit through WRI Careers before September 18, 2026.
View the official WRI Data Ethics & Governance Analyst vacancy
What to Highlight in Your Resume
Applicants should make the following experience easy to identify.
Data Ethics and Governance
Examples could include:
- Responsible data policies
- Data-access standards
- Privacy frameworks
- Data-sharing agreements
- Governance processes
AI and Technology Governance
Highlight work involving:
- Responsible AI
- AI policy
- Algorithmic governance
- AI ethics
- Digital rights
Research
Show experience with:
- Research design
- Interviews
- Desk research
- Evidence synthesis
- Policy recommendations
Community Engagement
Demonstrate your ability to work with:
- Communities
- Experts
- Civil-society groups
- Technical stakeholders
Application Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid:
- Calling the position remote
- Assuming WRI provides visa sponsorship
- Ignoring the DMV residency requirement
- Sending a generic cover letter
- Failing to demonstrate three years of experience
- Focusing only on technical data analysis
- Ignoring stakeholder/community research experience
- Missing the September 18 application instruction
- Waiting until the final day
- Assuming climate experience is mandatory when it is listed as desirable
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary?
The U.S. salary range is $69,000–$82,000 per year.
Where is the role located?
Washington, D.C.
Is it remote?
No. It is hybrid and requires eight office days per month.
How long is the position?
18 months.
How much experience is required?
At least three years of relevant full-time professional experience.
Is a Master’s degree required?
No. The stated education requirement is a completed bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, with additional relevant work experience potentially considered in lieu of a degree.
Does WRI sponsor visas?
No. Existing work authorization is required.
Can international applicants apply?
The Washington-based position requires existing U.S. work authorization, and WRI will not sponsor a visa for this vacancy.
Do I need climate experience?
Not necessarily. Environmental, climate, conservation or natural-resource data experience is listed as desirable rather than a strict minimum.
Is AI governance experience useful?
Yes. AI governance is identified among the especially desirable areas of experience.
What is the application deadline?
Applicants should use September 18, 2026 as the safer deadline because that is the date given in WRI’s detailed application instructions.
Opportunities Feed Verdict
The World Resources Institute Data Ethics & Governance Analyst 2026 is a particularly timely opportunity for professionals seeking to build careers at the intersection of data, AI governance, digital policy and public-interest research.
The position offers a competitive U.S. salary of $69,000–$82,000, requires only three years of relevant professional experience, and places the successful candidate inside WRI’s Data Lab and the 2026–28 Civic Science Fellows program.
The role is particularly distinctive because its work goes beyond conventional data analytics. The analyst will investigate questions around data sovereignty, AI, community data rights, open-source governance, attribution and benefit-sharing, then translate those findings into concrete recommendations for WRI.
Applicants should pay close attention to the location conditions. This is a hybrid Washington, D.C. role requiring eight office days each month, existing U.S. work authorization and residence in DC, Maryland or Virginia by the start of employment. WRI will not sponsor a visa.
For candidates who meet those conditions and have experience in data ethics, technology governance, digital policy, stakeholder research or responsible AI, this is a strong opportunity to combine technology-focused work with public-interest impact.
Apply as early as possible and treat September 18, 2026 as the deadline.
SEO Keywords
World Resources Institute jobs 2026, WRI Data Ethics Governance Analyst, WRI data analyst jobs, WRI jobs Washington DC, Data Ethics Analyst jobs, Data Governance Analyst jobs, AI governance jobs 2026, responsible AI jobs, technology governance jobs, digital policy jobs, data sovereignty jobs, Civic Science Fellows 2026, WRI Data Lab jobs, Washington DC data jobs, $82000 data analyst jobs, nonprofit data jobs, environmental data jobs, WRI careers 2026, data ethics jobs USA, public interest technology jobs
Stay Connected with FlexJobSpace
Never miss the latest graduate programmes, internships, scholarships, fellowships, government jobs, NGO careers, and international opportunities.
Career coaching services
Colleges & Universities
🌍 Website
Download Interactive Maps
📱 WhatsApp Community 1
https://chat.whatsapp.com/Gh3enT0Wr8N5Un0jg9areJ?mode=gi_t
📱 WhatsApp Community 2
https://chat.whatsapp.com/IKc5D9ozOVrGPLucdarML7?mode=gi_t
📢 WhatsApp Channel
