Who we are and what we do?

WRI is a global research organization that spans more than 50 countries, with offices in Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Turkey and the United States. Our more than 450 experts and staff work closely with leaders to turn big ideas into action to sustain our natural resources—the foundation of economic opportunity and human well-being.

WRI was recently voted the #1 Environmental Think Tank in the world and is consistently recommended by staff as one of the “most desired organizations to work for.” In 2014, WRI was ranked one of the Top Workplaces by the Washington Post.

World Resources Institute India (WRII) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of WRI established in India.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is WRI’s policy to recruit, hire, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, protected veteran status, or disability. WRI’s global agenda requires a diverse staff – with respect to race, gender, cultural, and international background. Foreign candidates need to have a valid work permit for India. Diverse perspectives and experience enhance the way WRI selects and approaches issues, as well as the creativity and applicability of WRI’s policy research and analysis.

Program and Position Overview

WRI India is seeking a Manager to join the Climate Resilience Practice (CRP) team in India. The Manager will support the vision of CRP to support and train different tiers of the government, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders to mainstream climate change adaptation and resilience into development planning and policies at the sub-national level and provide technical capacity to access climate finance.

WRI’s CRP team engages in a diverse body of work. The current projects build on a foundation of almost 10 years of work on climate change adaptation, much of which was conducted by a prior incarnation known as the Vulnerability & Adaptation Initiative. CRP has developed path-setting knowledge products to assess national institutional capacity and support civil society to enhance resilience efforts at the scale required.

This position is a unique opportunity for those wishing to be at the forefront of cutting-edge research and implementation in the field of MSMEs and climate resilience. The Manager will work as part of the larger team which seeks to integrate resilience actions, finance and capacities with specific clusters/geographies of the MSME sector. Hence adequate knowledge around climate resilience and the business operations of the MSME industry, their financial access, capacities and abilities to integrate resilience strategies are key.

About your role

The candidate’s main areas of responsibility will include the following:

Research & Knowledge

Primary requirements

· Conducting climate vulnerability assessments and emissions profile of the MSME sector through desk review and consultations of target enterprises

· Corroborating vulnerability assessments through stakeholder consultations amongst target MSMEs and workforces

· Studying the policy response of states to MSMEs and the possibility of them integrating climate resilience actions

· To be able to conduct field trips for liaising with Associations, Local chambers of MSMEs, etc for research, surveys and programmes

· Liaise with state departments nodal for MSMEs and climate change to discuss the utility and collaborative capacity of this project and secure their buy-ins for the project period

· Synthesising findings from desk review, consultations, surveys and interviews with multiple stakeholders such as the state government, industry organisations, CBOs, trade union organisations, etc.

Secondary requirements

· Support CRP in other work strands around mainstreaming resilience and adaptation with development at the sub-national and district level.

· Support research on integrating climate actions with the public finance management systems of different states and private sector

· Undertake field visits as necessary to the relevant priority areas for gathering information and feedback from diverse stakeholders (public, private, MFIs, financial institutitons)

· Collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data

· Contribute to knowledge products and working papers

· Providing support to other CRP projects as and when required

Administrative

· Independently conduct research and support the Senior Manager and Director, CRP for team strategizing, management, and coordination

· Support the team actively to identify future fundraising opportunities and develop proposals

· Liaising with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders as well as other key identified partners

· Planning and implementing state-level training programmes for key stakeholders.

· Organizing internal and external meetings, workshops, conferences, and other dissemination activities.

Qualifications and requirements we seek

· Master’s Degree in Economics, Environment, Climate Change, Development Studies, Sustainable Development or related discipline.

· Minimum 7-9 years of relevant full-time research work experience in related domains

· Expert knowledge of the MSME sector and their relevance from a climate change and resilience context

· Prior experience in writing reports and publishing papers on climate change adaptation and resilience policy

· Expert knowledge of international, national, and sub-national climate change policy landscape (SAPCC, NAPCC, NDC, NAP)

· Prior work experience at the national and sub-national level and liaising with state governments, industries and MSME sector

· Prior experience in project proposal writing and liasoning with key donors to identify funding opportunities for the team

· Ability to undertake complex quantitative and qualitative analysis of large data sets

· Willingness to travel for work and conduct field visits on a regular basis and on short notice

· Ability to work independently and shoulder responsibility, and lead overall project management

· An analytical and creative mind who can come up with innovative solutions to tackle complex problems

· Fluency in English (required), and other regional languages preferred

· Prior research experience and understanding of the MSME sector, climate resilience, FIs, gender, and equity

· Strong, proven track record on vulnerability mapping, climate resilience research, in particular, a firm grasp on public and private finance across different sectors at national and sub-national levels

· Prior work experience with research organizations, particularly field-level experience

· Prior experience in engaging and interacting with governmental agencies and sectors, and networking with other key stakeholders from the environmental and developmental space.

Duration: Term hire for a year with possible extensions based on the candidate’s performance

How to Apply: Qualified applicants should apply online at www.wri.org/careers. All applications must be submitted online through this career portal in order to be formally considered. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview purpose. Finalized candidate may be required to take a writing/analytical test.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is WRI’s policy to recruit, hire, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual preference, parental status, or disability. WRI’s global agenda requires a staff that is diverse – with respect to race, gender, cultural, and international background. Diverse perspectives and experience enhance the way WRI selects and approaches issues, as well as the creativity and applicability of WRI’s policy research and analysis. WRI, therefore, encourages applications from U.S. minorities, persons from other countries (especially developing nations), and from women of all backgrounds.

Location: Chennai, India

Duration: 1 year (Extendable)

Salary Range: INR 1500000-1800000

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

To Apply: Qualified applicants should apply online at www.wri.org/careers. All applications must be submitted online through this career portal in order to be formally considered. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview purpose.

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 center 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 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.