Job Title: Deputy Executive Director

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: New Delhi, India

The Organization is a globally respected research and policy institution working at the intersection of climate change, sustainable growth, and energy systems. The India program focuses on advancing evidence-based policies, research, and partnerships that support economic growth while addressing climate and environmental challenges.

Position Description

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Deputy Executive Director will be responsible for managing the day-to-day research, outreach, and partnership activities of the Initiative. This includes execution of major program initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and management of programmatic staff in Delhi and other project locations throughout India across all major functions - research, communications, and operations. The incumbent will assist the Executive Director with setting and aligning strategic priorities, supporting the development of new projects and programs, overseeing execution of existing programs, and providing institutional representation of the Initiative.

The role requires deep knowledge of the Indian energy, environmental and climate landscape across government, policy, media, and philanthropy.

Note: The roles and responsibilities outlined above are not meant to be an exhaustive list of tasks.

The need for flexibility is required and the job holder is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee's skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.

Responsibilities

- Working closely with the Executive Director, expand and strengthen the Initiative's comprehensive policy, climate, environment and energy technology portfolio through strategic partnership at the government, media, NGO, and academic levels.

- Working closely with the Executive Director and key collaborators, develop a diverse portfolio of research projects across the Initiative's program areas

- Serve as a primary point of contact for partners within India

- Working closely with the Executive Director, lead and manage programmatic staff, providing direction, coordination, performance oversight, and support to ensure effective delivery of programs and organizational goals.

- Oversee daily project operations on behalf of the Executive Director, including workflow management and internal processes to maintain smooth and efficient functioning across program teams.

- Manage programmatic finances, handling budgeting, expenditure tracking, financial planning, and compliance with internal and external requirements.

- Ensure strategic execution, translating organizational priorities into actionable plans, monitoring progress, and troubleshooting operational or resource challenges as they arise.

- Engage international and domestic philanthropies, multilateral development banks, national development, climate and environment institutions to identify research opportunities in relevant areas of energy and environment including climate.

- Lead the development of strategic proposals, concept notes, and research communications to donors, funders, and institutional partners in India and internationally.

- Represent and participate at high-level forums, roundtables, and policy convenings meetings, discussions, and dissemination events as advised, supporting the translation of research to action and engagement with key stakeholders across government, academia, and philanthropy.

Qualifications

Education

- Master's degree in policy, Economics, Energy or Environment (Required)

- Ph.D. Preferred

Experience:

- Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in public policy, international development, climate finance, sustainable development acquired through experience in private and public sector and non-profit/academic institutions

- Master's degree in policy, Economics, Energy or Environment (Required)

Competencies

- Demonstrated leadership in policy engagement, donor relations, and development institutions.

- Strong familiarity with India's environmental policy ecosystem and experience engaging with government agencies, industry, academic institutions and development partners.

- Demonstrated leadership through having led knowledge, research and project management teams.

- Legal, regulatory and commercial knowledge and experience of non-profit and for-profit entities in India.

- Exceptional attention to detail, advanced writing and presentation skills for communicating policy lessons from academic papers in ways that are straightforward for policymakers.

- Clear, precise, non-technical writing, as well as confident and effective public speaking skills.

- Understanding of the India media market.

- Proven ability to multitask and successfully complete projects on a tight deadline.

- Willingness to work hard, self-motivated, and learn is essential for this position.

- Oversight and ability to engage well-qualified staff, motivate staff in research, policy and capacity-building roles, monitor their work and assist in career development

- Create and maintain a collegial work culture that emphasizes teamwork, results and good work-life balance.

- Ability to manage a heavy workload and competing priorities.

- Demonstrated sound judgement, ability to solve problems and make effective decision.

Working Conditions

- Travel mostly in India but there is potential for international travel as well.

- Candidate must be legally authorized to work in India.