Senior Program Associate – Thriving Eco-City Regions

Data Analysis & Technical Research New Delhi, India


Senior Program Associate – Thriving Eco-City Regions
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 research organization. Currently over 250 researchers are working with WRI India in our offices at Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.  
Program Overview for Sustainable Cities and Transport 
At WRI India Ross Center we focus on 10 integrated solutions to urban challenges. Through applied research, tools, hands-on advice, and by tapping our network of global experts, we accelerate transformative urban initiatives that have the power to change Indian cities into thriving, equitable and low-carbon places that are good for people and the planet. 
Working at WRI India Ross Center offers you the unique opportunity to learn and grow as you collaborate with a diverse set of change agents across Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. As India’s biggest urban focused think and do tank, we seek thoughtful, enterprise-minded and sensitive individuals who can help us support this transformation and make a positive difference to citizens’ everyday lives.
 
About your role: 
You will be based in New Delhi and would provide research and technical support to ECR team members as well as city partners/ stakeholders across the geographies where ECR projects are currently active on need basis. Through your knowledge and work experience in the domains of urban ecology, geography, environmental management, and climate resilience, you will contribute towards current and proposed research and implementation efforts under ECR initiative. You will report to Program Manager, Urban Development, WRI India.  
How your day will unfold:
  • Provide research and technical support to WRI India’s initiatives on climate resilience/ environmental governance and management/ urban ecology/ hazard risk/ urban policy and planning. 
  • Support ongoing research efforts towards analysis and framework building under the Thriving Eco City-regions initiative to prepare research publications, reports and related outputs. 
  • Support coordination as required for smooth execution of the ‘Thriving Eco City-regions’ initiative in close consultation with internal teams and various other stakeholders across multiple city-regions.  
  • Support through technical reviews and analysis of existing and/or upcoming initiatives and contribute towards shaping deliverables under the relevant projects such as layout designs, review summaries, recommendations, reports, visual analytics, and dashboards.  
  • Communicate closely with WRI India internal team members towards meeting objectives of the project and constant progress reporting. 
  • Provide technical design support for deliverables related to planned project activities with all project partners and relevant stakeholders. This includes undertaking and/or supervising design layouts, primary and secondary research and writing, on-site project activities including convenings, stakeholder dialogues, project implementation, technical reviews and inputs etc.  
  • Support in relationship management with donors/ implementation partners/ others as needed for better execution of various activities planned under the subject project.  
  • Contribute towards organizing and administering technical training and capacity building workshops to various stakeholders as required. 
    Qualifications and Requirements we seek:
    • PhD/Masters/Equivalent Post Graduate degree in climate policy/ environmental resource management/ urban ecology/ climate science research or related disciplines is desirable.  
    • 4 to 7 years of relevant work experience with city/ state/ regional planning initiatives; implementation and management of largescale action research projects related to climate resilience, urban ecology, environmental governance and management, etc.  
    • Specialization or work experience demonstrated in the areas of climate resilience, climate studies, ecologically driven urban planning is preferrable.  
    • A high-level knowledge of the Indian urban development, climate, and environment paradigms, policies; current and future trends; innovations and practices related to climate change mitigation and adaptation.    
    • Research and design experience using relevant tools and methods for network analysis, integrated modelling solutions for catchments, strategies for ensuring sustainable water systems at the watershed and neighborhood levels will be preferred. Knowledge of advanced GIS tools is a strong plus. 
    • Demonstrated experience in designing climate resilient solutions, managing implementation projects, quantitative and qualitative data analysis. 
    • Should have demonstrated experience in managing teams and/or stakeholder relationships and task management. 
    • Should have experience in working with the Government/ ministries/ departments and other non-government stakeholders such as local academic/ research institutes, civil society organizations etc. 
    • Excellent facilitation, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills for overall team coordination 
    • Detail oriented, able to manage multiple priorities, ensure highest standards of ethics and consistency of work. 
    • Experience in working effectively and respectfully in diverse teams and communities.  
    • Strong critical thinking capabilities with an ability to rapidly assess situational needs, develop problem solving strategies, and implement sustainable solutions.  
    Salary and Benefits:  11,00,000 to 13,00,000 INR CTC Per annum

    Salary shall be commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.
     
    Duration: 1 year  
    Location: Delhi
    Start date: As soon as possible.
     
    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 

    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.