Senior Program Associate - Industrial Decarbonization (Ranchi)

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 400 researchers are working with WRI India in our offices at Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Program Overview for EnergyWRI India is seeking a Senior Programme Associate to work on Fair and Equitable Industrial Decarbonization and support the Energy team on its work under the four pillars- decarbonized energy consumption, clean energy supply, energy for equitable development and energy materials and circularity. The work will focus on clean energy adoption in industry, equitable transition policies, and strategies for workforce reskilling and upskilling, ensuring social inclusion in the industrial decarbonization process. The candidate will be primarily engaged in technical, socio-economic, and policy research related to the fair and equitable transition of industrial decarbonization, including workforce transition, socio-economic impact assessments, and stakeholder engagement with affected communities. You will be reporting to the Senior Manager in charge of Industrial Decarbonization.
About your role:WRI India is seeking a Senior Project Associate – Industrial Decarbonisation to work with and support the Energy Program in India. As the Industrial Decarbonisation – Senior Project Associate, you will work with the India Energy team to advance and expand decarbonisation work in the Industry sector, deliver high-quality and impactful knowledge products, engage directly with policymakers and key stakeholders, and help achieve WRI’s outcomes. Your work will include analysis of industrial decarbonization opportunities, evidence-based analysis, identification and promotion of supportive policies and incentives, and engagement with key stakeholders.

How your day will unfold:Support Strategy Development and Stakeholders Management

• Bring knowledge of industrial processes, abatement technologies, and energy needs to support the program’s industrial decarbonisation strategy and the broader decarbonized energy consumption pillar strategy.
• Work effectively with WRI India colleagues to ensure insights on India’s energy access and transition; identify obstacles to decarbonization, preliminary requirements to establish baselines and benchmarks and foster greater acceptance of low-carbon products throughout the supply chain.
• Manage existing partnerships and engagement in Jharkhand and building new relations with academic and industry contacts.
• Provide insights and thought leadership regarding Industrial decarbonisation and clean energy finance challenges, working through networks, information exchange, data analysis and horizon scanning to identify opportunities for WRI to create positive change; scope, plan, and implement strategies for achieving that impact.
• Participation in stakeholder dialogues, advocacy liaise with civil society, policymakers, business and government stakeholders and multilateral actors active in India’s energy transition and representing WRI India on national and state-level Industrial decarbonization platforms.
• Conduct socio-economic impact assessments to analyze how industrial decarbonization affects workers, local communities, and supply chains, identifying strategies for equitable policy interventions.
  Knowledge production
  • Support WRI India research, developing knowledge products, and internal/external communications material and tailored briefings on recent data and analysis, disseminating these to relevant stakeholders and events.
  • Ensure effective and timely implementation of project deliverables according to funder requirements, grant agreements, and project scopes of work and support funder communication, including required reporting
  • Support the development of working papers, articles, and other external communication, review peer publications and contribute to research across the institute
  • Support in developing policy insights and recommendations based on analysis of data on industrial energy consumption, climate impacts, available technologies to reduce energy consumption and emissions; lessons from pilot projects and first movers; financing structures/incentives for industrial innovation.
  • Contribute to research on just transition frameworks, workforce transition policies, and equitable energy access to ensure that industrial decarbonization benefits all stakeholders, including vulnerable groups.
    
    Qualification and Requirements we seek:
    The Senior Programme Associate should have a good understanding of decarbonization within the industrial sector and be able to talk about developing strategies and the practical implementation of them within an industrial setting. Senior Project associate should be agile in their approach bouncing from engaging with stakeholders and able to deliver high quality outputs.
    Required Qualifications:
    • Master’s degree with specialization in engineering/science/management/economics or related field
    • Experience in social science research and research methodologies is desirable
    • Minimum 4-7 years of relevant full-time work experience in the energy sector, including industrial decarbonization, socio-economic impact assessments, or just transition frameworks.
    • Excellent strategic understanding of India’s climate and energy policy and its interplay with the broader geopolitics and financial aspects of the energy transition.
    • Experience in stakeholder engagement, particularly with workers, MSMEs, and communities affected by industrial transition, is desirable.
    • Relevant professional experience and a track record of activity in international energy policy, broader foreign policy, energy finance or a related field.
    • Strong networks in Jharkhand at relevant expert, diplomatic, NGO and/or governmental levels.
    • Able to operate confidently at an expert level in an international context, with an ability to engage senior decision-makers from government, business, finance and civil society.
    • Excellent networking, analytical, writing, and presentational skills –develop strategic messages and convey them convincingly to key audiences, both in writing and verbally.
    • Highly developed interpersonal skills, able to work effectively as part of an international team as well as independentlySalary and Benefits: 1400000-1800000 INR CTC Per annum
      
      Salary shall be commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.Duration: 1 years as term hire (extendable based on performance and project requirements) Location: RanchiStart date: As soon as possible.
      List of Documents to be attached:
    • Cover Letter
    • ResumeOnly shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview purpose. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) @WRI IndiaWRI 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 lakhsTerm Insurance: Our term insurance policy covers life coverage of 50 lakhs per staff memberEmployee Assistance program: Promoting mental well-being and supporting staff in achieving a satisfying work-life balanceHealth & Nutrition: Personalized diet recommendation from a certified dietitian based on the physical health condition and lifestyleFlexible work schedule: Alternative work arrangements for all who are eligible by nature of their jobLearning culture: Workshops and trainings to empower staff, encourage new learning opportunitiesRest 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 IndiaWe 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.