Research Associate-Renewable Energy – Consultant

Job Title: Research Associate-Renewable Energy – Consultant , North (Preferred location – New Delhi)  Date: September 2024 

Who We Are: 

Organizational History: 

Nature Conservancy India Solutions Private Limited (NCIS) is a Private Limited Company incorporated under The Companies  Act, 2013 in December 2020, having Corporate Identity Number (CIN): U74999DL2020PTC375056. It is a subsidiary of The  Nature Conservancy, one of the largest not-for-profit conservation organisations in the world. NCIS’ registered office is at  37, Second Floor, Link Road, Lajpat Nagar- III New Delhi-110024, India. 

NCIS was incorporated with the objective of providing research, consulting and technical support and advisory services to  various stakeholders in and outside India relating to conservation of nature and environment, biodiversity and climate  change. 

Position Background:

To advance the work of Low-impact siting and other works related to Renewable energy, the Research Associate Renewable Energy (RE) will work with members from across TNC, including TNC-India, as well as global TNC staff members  and partner organizations to support the work on environmentally and socially responsible renewable energy siting and  related works in India. They will be responsible for providing support to the Policy Analyst and contributing to research and  policy-based interventions based on extensive policy, regulatory analyses, and stakeholder consultations to promote  various projects under the Renewable Energy Program. The proposed work will be largely focused on understanding  challenges and gaps in central and state energy, land use, environment, and biodiversity related policies and permitting  processes to promote environmentally and socially responsible renewable energy. Identifying and advancing steps to  support the policy analyst in developing policy framework to inform environmentally and socially responsible renewable  energy (via stakeholder engagement, consultations and workshops, or other mechanism). Along with providing support to  the Policy Analyst, the Research Associate RE will also work closely with our outreach manager-RES, fund raising,  Communications and other departments. 

Responsibilities of this position also include working closely and collaboratively with renewable energy project partner  organizations, relevant central Ministries and Departments, states, renewable energy businesses, independent power  producers, financiers, local communities, and other important stakeholders to drive policy and decisions to promote  responsible renewable energy. Represent TNC’s effort to drive environmentally and socially responsible renewable energy  in public fora, including the news media. This role will also be responsible for managing and supporting low impact  renewable energy initiatives and driving policy decisions in coordination with our partner organization and TNC team (via  conducting policy research, consultations, group discussions etc.). 

While the Research Associate RE will report to the Policy Analyst, they will also interact with colleagues working on  renewable energy project in global TNC team and TNC-India. The position will be based in New Delhi with significant travel  to the different states across India. The current funding for the position is committed for an 18-months period with the  option to renew based on additional funding secured. 

What we’re looking:

 Terms of Reference (ToR):  

Build relationships, do active policy outreach, and engage with state and central level policy and decision makers to  drive policy and decisions to promote responsible renewable energy development:

• Engage in high-priority central and state policy efforts (legislative and administrative) related to energy, land  use, biodiversity, and the environment critical to advancing environmentally and socially responsible renewable  energy development. 
• Engage in multi-stakeholder efforts to develop and advocate for the adoption of renewable energy siting criteria  that avoid, minimize, and mitigate environmental and social impacts. 
• Manage ongoing relationships and engagements with partners to achieve project deliverables. 
• In coordination with the Policy Analyst and other team members, identify entry points for mainstreaming policy  decisions that support responsible RE development including driving utility scale solar and wind projects to low  impact areas. 
• Gather inputs from key policy and decision makers to develop a policy framework that support environmentally  and socially responsible renewable energy development. 

Support policy research to understand challenges and gaps to promote responsible Renewable Energy Development,  including: 

• Support in developing and implementing a policy research work plan in discussion with the Policy Analyst and  other team members in TNC and partner organizations. 
• Assess existing and future renewable energy policy to advance India’s renewable energy, climate change, and  biodiversity conservation goals. 
• Regularly share regional and national perspectives on legislation, development trends, new research, and policy  implementation related to environmentally and socially responsible renewable energy development with the  project team and others. 
• Research, write, and/or review reports, articles, factsheets, news releases, webpages, and other publications. 
• Manage ongoing relationships and engagements with partner organizations to achieve project deliverables. 
• Support in developing long-term policy research and related outreach strategy goals and deliverables in  partnership with the broader TNC team, including supporting strategy and project development and  implementations related to responsible renewable energy. 

Support in developing and implementing a policy outreach plan, including: 

• Support to develop and implement a compressive policy outreach strategy, including identifying and prioritizing  engagements with key policy and decision makers; convene a working group of key policy and decision-makers  to accomplish project deliverables. 
• Support in formulating a policy and set of recommendations for our projects to be adopted among key end users and implement the plan in coordination with project partner(s). 
• Represent TNC’s collaborative efforts related to sustainable renewable energy development both at the project scale and in larger planning, policy, and regulatory processes (e.g., state energy regulatory agencies, relevant  central Ministries and Departments, renewable energy businesses, independent power producers, financiers,  local communities, and other important stakeholders) to further TNC organizational objectives. 
• Represent TNC’s environmentally and socially responsible renewable energy work in public meetings,  collaboratives hearings, press events, conferences, coalitions, and in general communications with public  officials, legislators, the media, donors, and the general public. 
• Additional deliverables may be assigned or adjusted based on the evolution of the program’s strategic  conservation work. 

What You’ll Bring:

Minimum Qualifications:  

• Educational Background: Master’s degree in Social Science, Public Policy, Renewable Energy, Environmental  Science, or related field. 
• Experience: Minimum of 2 years of full-time professional experience in the public sector, private sector, academia,  international organization, NGO or other research setting focusing on renewable energy, environment and/or  policy, or related fields. 
• Experience manipulating, analyzing, and interpreting statistical or environmental data. 
• Experience designing and implementing socio-economic and policy research. 
• Experience fundraising and/or writing grants and research proposals. 
• Experience participating in cross-functional multi-disciplinary teams and communicating with a wide range of  people. 
• Experience managing smaller projects including financial aspects and coordinating the work of peers and partners.
• Computer Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office and research software/tools such as SPSS/R/STATA. 
• Candidates with good experience working with public agencies in India are preferred. 
• Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal and English communication skills, both written and verbal. 
• Personal interest in and commitment to promoting responsible energy transition and nature conservation. 
• Sound understanding of the renewable energy sector in India and globally. 
• Experience in managing policy research and analysis, organizing workshops/stakeholder meetings, prepare  background documents and work with communications specialists to prepare relevant materials for wider  dissemination and outreach. 
• Excellent team player with experience working in multi-disciplinary groups, using influence and interpersonal  skills, listening, diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships with governments, corporations, partners, donors,  volunteers, and all levels of staff. 
• Experience in stakeholder engagement. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Educational Background: PhD in Social Science, Public Policy, Renewable Energy, environmental Science, or related  field. 
• Experience: PhD with 2-3 years of experience in renewable energy or related research, including published work in  peer-reviewed journals; Masters with 4-5 years of experience. 
• Working knowledge of current government policies and governance structure on renewable energy development  in India will be highly desirable. Familiarity with policy issues in managing energy at project, state and/or national  levels Experience and knowledge of working with energy regulators, financial institutions, and energy businesses. 
• Familiarity with renewable energy regulatory and/or finance environments, as well key individuals working in this  space, is a plus. 
• Experience in taking ownership of a project or process and to use problem solving skills to resolve issues. 
• Experience in independently initiating project and initiative ideas; managing projects and 
• initiatives through to completion. 
• Networking skills to engage with policy and decision makers in the renewable energy community, central and  state agencies, industries, financial institutions, NGOs, and other organizations. 
• Facilitate and promote the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies into TNC work. 
• Proficiency in multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural experience appreciated. 

Consultancy Duration and Fees:  

The position offers eighteen months’ consultancy effective from the date of joining. The extension of this consultancy shall be  subject to the requirement, fund availability and mutual agreement. The travel and communication expenses shall be reimbursed  based on actuals within the limit prescribed in the organisational policy. 

To apply for this consultancy, please submit the following material to ncishr@tnc.org by 11:59 PM IST 20-October-2024 

• Curriculum vitae 
• Suitability letter demonstrating previous relevant work exposure and your fitment to the role.

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