Consultant - Substantive Editor and Technical Writer

Who we are and what we do? 

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 World Resources Institute (WRI), a global research organization. Currently over 150 researchers are working with WRI India in our offices at Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. 

About the role:   

WRI India is looking for an accomplished substantive editor and technical writer to join our Research, Data, and Impact (RDI) team, with experience in writing, editing and communicating scientific and social scientific research to diverse audiences. Working with the India and global RDI teams, 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 with RDI leads 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 the India and global RDI team to promote WRI’s research standards, with a focus on writing. Finally, you will work with program research 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 RDI 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 8-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

Compensation: Compensation shall be commensurate as per hours worked on specific tasks with experience and skills. You can work on your schedule as per work orders

Duration: 1 year

Location: Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Other cities in India (Flexible)

List of Documents to be attached:

Cover Letter
 Resume
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview purpose. 

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