Job Description

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\xe2\x80\x99s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth\xe2\x80\x99s 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.

Program Overview for Climate

The objective of the WRI India Climate program is to inform and guide India\xe2\x80\x99s low-carbon transition in an inclusive, just, and sustainable manner. The program focuses on three inter-related aspects of this transition: national energy and climate modelling, subnational climate policy, and corporate climate action. Through strong research, ground-level engagement experience, partnerships with key stakeholders and communicating our work, we seek to achieve impact at scale.

About your role:

MSMEs are the backbone of India\xe2\x80\x99s economy; they employ 110 million workers and generate 29% of India\xe2\x80\x99s GDP. Along with high operating costs, low margins, and barriers to finance, MSMEs are constantly exposed economic shocks and technological or sectoral disruptions. MSMEs also account for 25% of the energy consumed by the industrial sector and energy forms a critical part of their business costs.

As India undergoes its clean energy transition, MSMEs will be expected to manage regulatory and business imperatives of moving to cleaner energy. This shift, if not managed well, can have a cascading effect on the already struggling sector affecting their financial viability as well as impacting livelihoods of workers involved in the sector and India\xe2\x80\x99s current and future employment. Supporting their transition to cheaper, clean energy can accelerate the achievement of India\xe2\x80\x99s climate goals. At the same time, measures to secure the livelihoods of the affected workforce, enhancing gender participation and building their capacity to access climate finance can ensure that the clean energy transition in India is also a just, equitable and sustainable transition.

In this regard, the Climate Program at WRI India is seeking a dynamic Junior Project Associate for its ongoing intervention with two MSME clusters to support their transition to cleaner energy by identifying skilling needs and developing skilling programs and building capacity on climate finance.

How you day will unfold:

The candidate will undertake and oversee a range of responsibilities as listed below:

• Conduct focused interviews, consultations, discussions, and other engagement with cluster associations, MSME units in the clusters, skill development partners, experts, policy makers and government officials as needed throughout the project
• Conduct secondary research to complement the interviews and consultations to identify and map the existing skilling needs, gaps, and impact on women\xe2\x80\x99s workforce participation
• Support data collection, data analysis and present analysis to relevant internal and external stakeholders
• Support coordination and dissemination of capacity building activities
• Write compelling and persuasive research products, articles, and blogs, and provide research and content development support, as needed
• Provide necessary support in organizing events/conferences/ trainings/webinars that WRI India hosts or participates in
• Perform other research and analysis tasks as assigned by the Project Lead and Climate Program Director

Qualifications and requirements we seek:

• Masters degree in Social Sciences, Engineering, or Public Policy
• 0-2 years of relevant experience working with MSMEs, preferably in relation to environmental/climate change interventions
• Experience of conducting, planning, coordinating skilling programs or capacity building amongst MSMEs, entrepreneurs, or skilled/semi-skilled workers is highly desirable
• Willingness to travel to MSME clusters for research and engagement
• Awareness of environment and climate domain \xe2\x80\x93 key issues and trends
• Experience of working with and coordinating across multiple stakeholders is preferred
• Excellent interpersonal skills; good communications and writing skills
• Willingness to engage with the team members and a strong sense of respect for the team members and stakeholders
• Responsible, resourceful, and self-motivated
• Fluent in English and Hindi

Salary and Benefits: 6,50,000 INR CTC Per annum

Salary shall be commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.

Duration: Term hire up to Jan 2023 (extendable based on performance and project requirements)

Location: Chennai,India

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\xe2\x80\x99s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

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

Employee Assistance program: Promoting mental well-being and supporting staff in achieving a satisfying work-life balance.

Digital healthcare service: Online doctor consultations for your primary healthcare needs

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

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.

World Resources Institute