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'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 250 researchers are working with WRI India in our offices at Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Program Overview for Food, Land and Water:
WRI India's Food, Land and Water program aims to inform India's transition towards sustainable and resilient food and land use systems focusing on developing interdisciplinary nature-based solutions like landscape restoration, sustainable agriculture to mitigate climate impacts, enhance jobs and livelihoods and improve nutritional security. To catalyze systems, change with a focus on circular food systems in India, we also focus on developing equitable strategies to reduce food loss and food waste and mitigate climate impacts.
With broader systems change and food systems perspective, we work with diverse stakeholders like governments, businesses, civil society partners and farmer producer organizations to inform and develop land use strategies based on robust evidence and analysis to build the resilience of local communities to mitigate climate impacts, bridge capacity gaps, monitor progress, and inform a pathway to building a restoration economy for people, nature, and climate.
About your role:
WRI India's Food, Land and Water program aims to inform India's transition towards sustainable and resilient food and land use systems through interdisciplinary nature-based solutions such as landscape restoration and sustainable agriculture. To catalyse this transition through a systems change approach, we work with equitable strategies that can help India achieve its climate and development goals. Our work also includes developing collaborative strategies for reducing food loss and food waste, with a focus on circular food systems in India. With an interdisciplinary and intersectional lens, we work with diverse stakeholders including governments, businesses, civil society partners and local community groups for building a land-based restoration economy for people, nature, and climate in India.
We are looking for a Program Associate with a degree in remote sensing and GIS and at least two years of full-time, relevant post-study work experience to support the data collection, geospatial analysis, monitoring framework development, and report/technical note writing to facilitate implementation of large-scale collaborative landscape restoration projects in Madhya Pradesh. The position holder's principal responsibilities will include strengthening the spatial research aspects of integrated natural resource management (INRM) by working closely with the Government of Madhya Pradesh and other implementation partners. This will support in identifying areas for high potential for landscape restoration within the pilot sites and correct application of the restoration interventions such as sustainable agriculture, soil moisture conservation, water resource development and tree-based interventions such as agroforestry, trees on bunds and boundaries, farm forestry, etc.
How your day will unfold:
Research: (80%)

• Collate multiple geospatial data related to natural resource management and conduct analysis to identify areas of high restoration potential within pilot sites/landscapes
• Utilize geospatial data to assess land use, vegetation cover, and hydrological features and prepare high-quality thematic maps for various INRM interventions considering climate resilience and sustainability focusing on forest, agriculture and water resources.
• Support Government of Madhya Pradesh and other implementation partners with geospatial insights for improved INRM planning (soil moisture conservation, water resource development, plantations, sustainable agriculture etc), and resource allocation.
• Generate reports, dashboards, and spatial visualizations of the ongoing and upcoming projects through GIS and remote sensing data and validate it through ground truthing and stakeholder inputs.
• Support training and capacity building of stakeholders in using geospatial tools and apps.
• Support in developing compendium of best-practices and a geospatial training module for stakeholders to support restoration planning in future.
• Assist in real-time monitoring of INRM interventions using GIS and remote sensing.

Collaboration, Coordination and Communication (20%)

• Coordinate and support for building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, including government departments, NGO partners, research organizations and universities, for implementing and scaling landscape restoration in Madhya Pradesh.
• Support in communicating research findings in diverse formats (blogs, policy briefs, presentations) suitable for stakeholders in government, private, and non-government sectors, focusing on supporting policy and practice.
• Support in convening multi-stakeholder consultative groups for extending the research and impact of WRI India's analysis and solutions.
• Collaborate with government departments, NGO partners to support them in integrating geospatial solutions within their databases and MIS systems.

Qualification and Requirements that we seek:

• Master's degree or a Bachelor's degree in remote sensing, GIS geography, environmental science, civil engineering or related field, with its applications to work on forestry, natural resource management, land use planning and management in India.

• Minimum two-three years of demonstrated experience in applying geospatial tools for modeling, land use planning and management and their application in various studies related to forest, agriculture and water resources.
• Proficiency in GIS software (ArcGIS/QGIS/ERDAS Imagine/GoogleEarth Engine).
• Knowledge of existing digital public infrastructure including existing government databases and MIS tools is beneficial (Eg. Yuktadhara that facilitates gram-panchayat level planning of MGNREGA activities).
• Experience of working in rural development programmes with the relevant government departments or with the NGOs.
• Demonstrated skills in engaging in participatory approaches and high levels of comfort in working with scientific data and local knowledge.
• Ability for strong analytical, problem-solving skills along with capability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to conduct field visits and work in rural settings.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others; to demonstrate flexibility in fulfilling.

Salary and Benefits: 9,50,000 to 12,50,000 CTC Per Annum
Salary shall be commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.
Location: Bhopal, India
Duration: 1 Year (extendable based on performance and project requirements). The start date is 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).
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
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 orientation, parental status, or disability.