Senior Program Associate - Food, Land and Water

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About the Organization

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. 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.

Job Responsibilities

Program Management (60%)

• Drive end-to-end implementation of the accelerator program in collaboration with the program partner/s, including managing logistics, timelines, and delivery of all virtual and in-person activities.
• Support the accelerator application and selection process, including enterprise outreach, screening, and light-touch due diligence based on pre-defined criteria and processes.
• Serve as an internal mentor to cohort entrepreneurs, providing regular handholding support and helping them navigate and maximize the benefits of the program’s offerings.
• Coordinate with internal teams (e.g., communications, operations, finance) and external stakeholders (e.g., cohort entrepreneurs, program partners, mentors, service providers) to ensure smooth execution of program deliverables, achieving high-quality engagement and planned outcomes.
• Plan and execute key events (in-person, virtual and hybrid) such as workshops, field visits, stakeholder meets, and Demo Days, including all operational and partner coordination.
• Conduct periodic meets, calls and site visits with each enterprise to monitor progress, review impacts, understand and address individual needs, and arrange tailored support. 
• Support program documentation, including meeting notes, partner updates, and donor reports; ensure follow-through on action items across stakeholders.
• Assist in monitoring budgets, reviewing monthly expenditures and variances, and flagging financial risks proactively.
• Identify operational challenges or gaps in delivery and recommend improvements to enhance the effectiveness of the program.
• Collaborate with the broader FLW team to contribute to other landscape restoration initiatives as needed.

Research & Communications (25%)

• Drive communications planning for Land Accelerator activities (in coordination with the program communications team), including event content, program updates, outreach materials, and other external and internal communications.
• Write and edit a range of content, such as blog posts, case studies, brochures, and compendiums, that distils technical insights for diverse audiences.
• Ensure ongoing communication support through strategic media outreach to enhance the visibility of participating innovators, potentially helping them unlock further opportunities, while raising awareness about the critical role of innovation in addressing restoration challenges. 
• Conduct in-depth desk research on land restoration business models, market trends, and ecosystem mechanics to inform evolving capacity building strategy and knowledge resources.
• Contribute to the development and dissemination of knowledge products, ensuring alignment with WRI’s Research, Data, and Innovation standards.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) (15%)

• Support the design and implementation of MEL frameworks, including surveys and other data collection methods, to measure program KPIs, report impact and inform adaptive program management.
• Track and evaluate program performance against targets; maintain accurate records of outputs, outcomes, and lessons learned.
• Assist in compiling and analyzing data, including cleaning, formatting, and synthesizing insights for reporting and decision-making.
• Contribute to donor reporting through data inputs and narrative summaries aligned with reporting formats and standards.
• Learn and adopt new monitoring tools and platforms as needed to strengthen project tracking and performance management.
• Ensure consistent documentation and reporting of KPI progress and proactively support improvements to MEL systems and processes.

Education Qualification/Required Skills & Experience

• Postgraduate degree or specialization in business, economics, entrepreneurship, development studies, environmental studies, or a related field (relevant work experience may substitute).
• 4 to 7 years of full-time professional experience, preferably in the startup ecosystem, accelerators, incubators, CSR, corporate innovation, consulting, government advisory, and/or local community-based organizations.
• Proven project management skills with experience in delivering multi-stakeholder programs on time and within scope.
• Familiarity with sectors such as land restoration, sustainable livelihoods, rural development, climate action, or green economy is desirable.
• Experience managing CSR initiatives is a plus.
• Strong analytical and research skills to evaluate markets, trends, business models, and program performance against pre-defined KPIs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, and a working knowledge of Hindi.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a collaborative and solutions-oriented mindset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with survey tools and collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Airtable, Google Workspace) is desirable.
• Experience in budget tracking and basic financial oversight is desirable.
• Willingness to travel across India, including to rural and peri-urban field locations in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Prior field experience in these states is desirable.

For more information please check the Link

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