Senior Program Research Associate - Energy Modelling (Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh)

Data Analysis & Technical Research Multiple India, India


Description

About the Organization: 
 
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.
 
Program and Position Overview
 
WRI globally, has deep experience in the energy sector and on climate change across several topic areas and is widely recognized as a leader on energy and climate issues. In India, we have a multi-pronged energy strategy that looks strategically at directing our tools, research, expertise, and partnerships to support India’s clean energy transition across varied economic activities like extraction, production, distribution, consumption and waste management; in ensuring universal access to reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity and minimizing energy losses and thereby contributing to energy planning and policy analysis.  
 
The objective of WRI India energy program is to inform and guide India’s clean energy transition. Through strong research, ground-level implementation experience, partnerships with key stakeholders and communicating our work, we seek to achieve impact at scale.  
 
The Energy program at WRI India is seeking a Senior Program Research Associate (Energy) to work with and support research focused on state’s overall energy transition efforts.  
 
About your role:
The Senior Research Associate (Energy Modelling) will be part of a focused team with the following responsibilities:  
  • Lead modelling efforts by developing state-specific models
  • Conduct literature review and collate information pertaining to energy sector policies and regulations at the state level including power sector planning, resource adequacy and power procurement processes
  • Develop, build and maintain energy sector databases along with data collection, data interpretation and techno-economic analyses
  • Lead or co-lead capacity building efforts to effectively communicate findings of the research with identified stakeholders and build knowledge of the ecosystem thereof
  • Be pro-active in researching and pitching ideas, maintaining connections with key stakeholders including policy makers, government agencies, and academia
  • Participate in research projects to produce knowledge products, reports, articles and communication products
  • Lead or co-lead specific modules in the project as identified by the Energy Lead
  • Perform other tasks as assigned by the Energy lead, including support on research and analysis
Qualification and Requirements we seek:
  • Master’s degree in Engineering, Economics or Development related discipline with exposure to the subject area of energy/power sector
  • At least 4-7 years of relevant experience in energy sector / power sector
  • Prior experience in strong stakeholder engagement especially with electricity utilities, regulators, RE nodal agencies and other state level agencies is preferable 
  • Fluency in English and Hindi
Knowledge & Skills  
  • Experience in production cost modelling and using energy modelling tools such as PLEXOS, OSeMOSYS, Gridpath or any other similar platforms
  • Coding proficiency in Python is required 
  • Working knowledge of tools and approaches related to renewable energy sector and power sector planning processes is beneficial
  • Willingness to learn new tools and modelling techniques to contribute to the on-going/new research projects is a plus
  • Strong research and analytical skills, supported by professional experience in the energy sector with contribution to technical papers and research reports
  • Strong ability to brainstorm and think creatively about all elements of their work 
  • Willingness to travel locally and ability to work cooperatively with others to demonstrate flexibility in fulfilling assignments is essential.
Salary & Benefits: INR 11,00,000 to INR 13,00,000 CTC Per Annum
Salary shall be commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.

Location: Majority of the stay in Jabalpur with a flexibility to travel to Bhopal as and when needed

Duration: 1 year as term hire (extendable based on performance and project requirements) 
List of Documents to be attached:
  • Cover letter explaining how your academic background and skills meet the requirements of this position.
  • Curriculum vitae 
  • Writing samples
  • Reports
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

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
Term Insurance: Our term insurance policy covers life coverage of 50 lakhs per staff member
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 preference, parental status, or disability.