Job Description

About the Organization
Swaniti Initiative is a social enterprise that is working at the intersection of climate, governance and last mile delivery. We believe that while the willingness and resources exist, there are fundamental gaps in the execution within communities that is the biggest crisis in the climate movement. Accordingly, Swaniti works with subnational governments to conduct microplanning exercises with consultations with community and key stakeholders to understand the pathways forward, provide technical assistance to subnational governments to provide support in program implementation and support in monitoring and delivery of programs.
Swaniti has been working across multiple geographies in the global south to unlock capital. Our three core metrics include unlocking public capital, ensuring last mile communities are directly benefitted and creating systemic changes in the public service systems. While we are continuing to focus on impact, it is critical to have a lead who has a deep understanding about monitoring, evaluation and learning. Our intention is to create an institutional capabilities to measure and document the scale of our impact and look at how learning can be replicated across the institution.
About the Role
The SOE Lead will anchor research, stakeholder engagement, and strategic advisory work across the coal, oil, and gas sectors. The role focuses on supporting state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in navigating India's evolving energy landscape, particularly economic diversification, PSU transition planning, and sectoral reforms.
The ideal candidate is a development professional with a strong understanding of India's coal, oil and gas ecosystems with direct experiences with SOEs in coal/oil/gas sector, and the ability to translate field-level insights into actionable policy guidance. They will be responsible for providing technical assistance to SOEs, leading applied research efforts, coordinating institutional engagements, and managing a team to deliver high-quality outputs.
This position suits someone who can combine rigorous sectoral analysis with practical, on-ground engagement, while contributing meaningfully to India's broader energy transition strategy.
Key Responsibilities
1. Research & Knowledge Development

• Lead research on coal, oil, and gas sector dynamics, including SOE diversification pathways.

• Oversee data analysis, field studies, and documentation of sectoral insights.

• Develop reports, policy briefs, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

• Track national and global trends relevant to the energy transition and SOE reforms.

2. Stakeholder & Government Engagement

• Manage relationships with state government departments, PSUs, regulators, and development partners.

• Facilitate consultations, workshops, and technical sessions.

3. Institutional Coordination

• Coordinate with funders, program partners, and institutional collaborators.

• Ensure timely reporting, proposal support, and communication of progress and outcomes.

• Identify opportunities for new collaborations and program expansion.

4. Project & Team Leadership

• Lead workstreams related to coal, oil, and gas within the SOE portfolio.

• Manage and mentor team members working on research, field activities, and government engagement.

• Ensure high-quality and timely delivery of project outputs. Maintain internal coordination with cross-functional teams.

5. Strategic Contribution

• Support organizational thinking on Just Transition, diversification, and inclusive development strategies.

• Contribute to long-term planning, new project pipelines, and institutional strategy.

• Represent the organization at conferences, consultations, and knowledge-sharing platforms.

Requirements
Required Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Public Policy, Energy Studies, Economics, Development Studies, or related field. Strong preference given to those with advanced degrees that have a focus on State-owned enterprises.

• 10-15 years of experience in energy, public policy, research, or government advisory roles. Strong preference to those who have worked in Indian state owned enterprises.

• Strong understanding of coal, oil, gas, or the broader energy transition ecosystem in India that is demonstrated with nuanced insights.

• Proven experience in stakeholder management--especially with government bodies , bureaucrats or PSUs.

• Strong analytical, writing, and presentation skills.

• Experience in leading teams and managing multi-stakeholder projects.

• Knowledge of SOE functioning, regulatory environments, and sectoral reforms.

What We're Looking For

• A strategic thinker who understands India's energy and political economy landscape.

• Someone who can balance rigorous research with practical on-ground engagement.

• A leader who can guide teams, manage relationships, and produce high-quality, policy-relevant insights.

• A professional committed to shaping inclusive, evidence-based transition pathways for India's energy future.

Skills Required