Project Lead – Adaptation & Resilience
7 days ago
Full time role
Remote · Mumbai, MH, IN
Project Lead – Adaptation & Resilience
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:
The WRI India Ross Centre for Sustainable Cities is seeking to fill a full-time position to advance the urban adaptation and resilience work across Indian cities. Over the past 5 years, WRI India has led and supported more than 10 Indian cities in creating climate action plans, identifying actions and opportunities to implement mitigation and adaptation projects and initiatives. Through a national level platform, WRI India will be supporting 3-5 Indian cities to identify their adaptation needs, conceptualise impactful projects, create pre-feasibility studies, and explore innovative financing models towards implementation.
You will lead this project and manage the day-to-day coordination of project activities across team members, timely deliverables to various partners, liase with government departments and agencies, co-ordinate with local institutions and partners, and work closely with staff from WRI’s India and Global offices.
WRI globally, has deep experience in the urban development sector and is widely recognized as a leader in promoting sustainable cities. Currently, WRI India is supporting various government and private agencies to promote low carbon climate resilient development in Indian cities, ensuring decarbonization that is ‘just’ and ‘inclusive’.
You will lead this project and manage the day-to-day coordination of project activities across team members, timely deliverables to various partners, liase with government departments and agencies, co-ordinate with local institutions and partners, and work closely with staff from WRI’s India and Global offices.
WRI globally, has deep experience in the urban development sector and is widely recognized as a leader in promoting sustainable cities. Currently, WRI India is supporting various government and private agencies to promote low carbon climate resilient development in Indian cities, ensuring decarbonization that is ‘just’ and ‘inclusive’.
How your day will unfold:
The selected candidate will support the Sustainable Cities program at WRI India with the following:
• Lead relationships with city and State leadership across 3-5 geographies, and across administrative heads, relevant line departments/ agencies/ parastatal organizations/ CSOs/ NGOs/ local media/ local research institutes in India for various deliverables under the project.
• Lead the project team and coordinate project deliverables, laisse with relevant government agencies to obtain required data.
• Identify partners and ‘best practice’ consultants to support project activities and deliverables pertinent to each city, that meet WRI India’s high standards of innovation and technical assurance.
• Working closely with consultants in each city and city officials to lead, advise, facilitate and finalise the pre-feasibility reports for 3-5 projects.
• Facilitate collaborative design of projects that address climate challenges and community priorities, working with municipal governments/government departments, engineers, and citizen groups; thereby strengthening partnerships with peer organizations, and partners working on the ground.
• Building and maintaining key leadership relationships in each of the 3-5 cities
• Reviewing A&R projectization frameworks, monitoring-evaluation frameworks, with conceptual applicability in the 3-5 cities with active engagements
• Provide thought leadership on the role of embedded platforms/cells within municipal governments to support the implementation of adaptation and resilience projects and explore innovative financing mechanisms for implementation and long-term maintenance of nature-based interventions
• Frequently travel to project relevant cities for all important milestone events during the process
• Advocate for effective climate policies and regulations, and innovative approaches to mobilize urban climate finance at the local and state levels.
• Lead relationships with city and State leadership across 3-5 geographies, and across administrative heads, relevant line departments/ agencies/ parastatal organizations/ CSOs/ NGOs/ local media/ local research institutes in India for various deliverables under the project.
• Lead the project team and coordinate project deliverables, laisse with relevant government agencies to obtain required data.
• Identify partners and ‘best practice’ consultants to support project activities and deliverables pertinent to each city, that meet WRI India’s high standards of innovation and technical assurance.
• Working closely with consultants in each city and city officials to lead, advise, facilitate and finalise the pre-feasibility reports for 3-5 projects.
• Facilitate collaborative design of projects that address climate challenges and community priorities, working with municipal governments/government departments, engineers, and citizen groups; thereby strengthening partnerships with peer organizations, and partners working on the ground.
• Building and maintaining key leadership relationships in each of the 3-5 cities
• Reviewing A&R projectization frameworks, monitoring-evaluation frameworks, with conceptual applicability in the 3-5 cities with active engagements
• Provide thought leadership on the role of embedded platforms/cells within municipal governments to support the implementation of adaptation and resilience projects and explore innovative financing mechanisms for implementation and long-term maintenance of nature-based interventions
• Frequently travel to project relevant cities for all important milestone events during the process
• Advocate for effective climate policies and regulations, and innovative approaches to mobilize urban climate finance at the local and state levels.
Qualifications and Requirements we seek:
• Post-graduate in the related field of urban planning, environment, climate change, sustainable development, environmental economics, etc.
• At least 10-15 years of sectoral experience in the field of climate change; urban infrastructure project management is a strong plus.
• Demonstrated experience of working with sub-national governments in India on climate change
• Knowledge of relevant low-carbon policies and climate-resilient development in India
• Strong communication skills, ability to liaise with government and other stakeholders - to enable data collection, communicate analysis & findings, and seek feedback iteratively
• Proficiency in quantitative and/or qualitative data collection and analysis
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently as well as part of a team
• Ability to articulate and present complex information in a clear and concise manner
• Ability to think creatively, work calmly and enthusiastically under pressure
• Strong understanding of urban finance and climate finance architecture is a plus.
Salary and Benefits: 28,50,000 to 34,00,000 INR CTC Per annum
Salary shall be commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.
Salary shall be commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.
Duration: 2 years
Location: Mumbai
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
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.