Senior Program Associate – Technical Writer
New Delhi, India
JOB DETAIL
Senior Program Associate – Technical Writer
Who we are and what we do?
World Resources Institute (WRI) India, an independent charity legally registered as the India Resources Trust, provides objective information and practical proposals to foster environmentally sound and socially equitable development. WRI India’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. Through research, analysis, and recommendations, WRI India puts ideas into action to build transformative solutions to protect the earth, promote livelihoods, and enhance human well-being. We are inspired by and associated with WRI, a global research organization. Currently over 300 researchers are working with WRI India in our offices at Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
About your role:
WRI India is looking for an accomplished substantive editor and technical writer to join our team, with experience in writing, editing and communicating scientific and social scientific research to diverse audiences. You will undertake substantive editing for manuscript drafts that require such editing during the writing and review processes.
All WRI-branded research publications or knowledge products (KPs) go through a rigorous peer-review process, involving both internal and external experts, to ensure quality, accuracy, institutional coherence, and a lack of bias in our research. As these products are intended for diverse, and often non-specialist audiences, including policymakers, business and civil society partners, researchers and peer organizations, and the broader public, we emphasize effective communication, clarity, accuracy and readability in our KPs.
Substantive editing involves editing, re-organizing and where required re-writing drafts to ensure that they follow a logical structure, meet WRI’s word limits and communicate effectively to intended audiences. They should use language and tone appropriate to research publications, demonstrate clear narrative flow and use concise text free of repetition and jargon. (Copyediting of final drafts before production is a separate operation post final approval, which is performed by external contract copyeditors.)
How your day will unfold:
In this role, you will review and screen written drafts early in the review process to assess whether they need a substantive edit. Where required, you will substantively edit manuscripts to ensure that review drafts are well-structured, readable and understandable. Following WRI’s Knowledge Product Guidelines and research teams, you will ensure that manuscripts contain essential sections such as an executive summary, an introduction that explains research goals, context and relevance, a clear methodology section, and logically structured findings, discussion and conclusions linked to the questions and analysis presented in the paper.
You will work with program teams on specific publications as a technical writer, contributing to the writing of clear, well-structured drafts that meet WRI’s research standards for KPs.
Screening of draft manuscripts for pre-review
· Screen and review draft KP manuscripts to determine whether they are ready for review in terms of writing: the draft is understandable and readable, standard of written English is acceptable, structure follows WRI guidelines, and contains required sections with essential information provided.
· Provide constructive feedback and mentoring to authors and research teams where writing-related revisions are necessary and can be carried out by research teams themselves, to enhance their ability to edit and strengthen their own work.
Substantive editing of WRI India KPs for effective research communication
· Undertake substantive edits of WRI publications that do not meet research standards. Such editing will involve re-organizing and rewriting to ensure a logical narrative flow; clear, understandable writing; an appropriate tone for the target audience, clear messaging, and overall readability (elimination of jargon and/ or superfluous content, filling in gaps in necessary information, evidence and explanation). Also, substantive editing will also include review of visuals, typically graphical presentation of data, for clarity, readability and relevance.
· Provide light substantive editing services when deemed necessary to strengthen the quality of writing, structure and effectiveness of message communication at the final stages of publication, in addition to copy-editing.
· Provide feedback and substantive editing support for research-based communications products
· Support programs to share and communicate WRI’s published research internally and externally, in partnership with programs
Technical Writing
· Work with program research teams on manuscript writing for specific publications, to meet research and writing standards for WRI Knowledge products
· If applicable, review and support translation of KPs (or Executive summaries) and research materials into Indian languages to reach broader audiences
Qualifications and Requirements we seek:
· Master’s degree in a relevant writing-intensive discipline in the humanities, sciences or social sciences
· Excellent written communication skills in English, with experience writing and editing research or research-based publications
· At least 5 years experience in editing, reviewing and technical writing for a non-specialist audience
· Excellent analytical and review skills.
· Ability to work flexibly, quickly, and under tight deadlines, while providing constructive and patient feedback to authors
· Demonstrated knowledge of environmental and development issues, and support for WRI’s goals..
· Inter-personal skills and confidence to work with, and influence senior staff, in the pursuit of high standards of research excellence.
· Experience with research methods in the social and environmental sciences
· Knowledge of other Indian languages will be a plus
Salary and Benefits:INR 11,00,000 to INR 13,00,000 CTC
Salary shall be commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.
Duration: 1 year (extendable based on performance and project requirements)
Location: Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Other cities in India (Flexible)
Start Date: At the earliest
List of Documents to be attached:
- Cover Letter (outlining your interest and suitability for the position)
- Resume
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) @WRI India
WRI India values and promotes diversity, equity and inclusion across all areas of our work and workforce. Integrating these values into our actions fosters a progressive and collaborative culture and can also enhance our impact. It is our responsibility to create a welcoming working environment for people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and experience to learn together. We are responsible for fostering a safe and inclusive workplace where questions, concerns and information about diversity, equity and inclusion are part of our ongoing dialogue and development.
Learn more about WRI India’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Click Here
People-centric to the core:
We keep our people at the centre of everything we do – from a welcoming work environment to benefits and a culture that encourages staff to stay healthy, happy, engaged, and growing.
Some of the non-monetary benefits that our staff get:
Health benefits: We cover health insurance for you and your loved ones for up to INR 8 lakhs
Health benefits: We cover health insurance for you and your loved ones for up to INR 8 lakhs
Term Insurance: Our term insurance policy covers life coverage of 50 lakhs per staffmember
Employee Assistance program: Promoting mental well-being and supporting staff in achieving a satisfying work-life balance
Health & Nutrition: Personalized diet recommendation from a certified dietitian based on the physical health condition and lifestyle
Flexible work schedule: Alternative work arrangements for all who are eligible by nature of their job
Learning culture: Workshops and trainings to empower staff, encourage new learning opportunities
Rest and Recharge weeks: We encourage staff to take time off to rest, rejuvenate, upskill, and pursue their interests.
Our leave policy: Avail personal time off at 36 per year, along with public holidays, maternity, paternity, and adoption leaves.
Click here to know more about our benefits Careers | WRI INDIA (wri-india.org)
Equal employment @WRI India
We believe in equal employment, it is our policy to recruit, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to caste, religion, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, parental status, or disability.
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