Program Manager – Sustainable Cities
Job Summary
Job Description
WRI India is seeking an experienced Program Manager – Sustainable Cities to support the municipal corporation of Varanasi in improving pedestrian mobility safety and accessibility in the old city. This role involves building strong relationships with city and state administration, ensuring government participation in deploying and scaling solutions. The program manager will gain in-depth knowledge of administrative structures, understand urban challenges, and liaise with government departments to create an enabling environment for pilot projects. They will also engage with innovators, represent government expectations, and identify collaboration opportunities with third-party organizations and civil society.
Must have:
- 6-8 years of experience in projects requiring government partnerships
- Strong government relations experience
- Master's degree in urban planning, public policy, or sustainability
- Proficient in Hindi and English (spoken and written)
- Curious, self-starter, independent, comfortable with ambiguity
- Ability to adhere to deadlines
Good to have:
- Prior experience in building strong government relations is a must
- Proficiency in other regional languages
- Understanding of Varanasi's geography and administrative structure
- Familiarity with development and investment projects in the city
Perks:
- Health insurance up to INR 8 lakhs
- Term insurance of 50 lakhs
- Employee Assistance Program for mental well-being
- Personalized diet recommendations
- Flexible work schedule
- Learning opportunities through workshops and trainings
- Rest and Recharge weeks
- 36 personal time off days per year
- Maternity, paternity, and adoption leaves
1 skill required
Job Details
Program Manager – Sustainable Cities
About us
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.
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.
Our mission and values:
WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.
Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence and Respect.
Our culture:
WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.
Program Overview for Sustainable Cities and Transport
At WRI India Ross Center we focus on 10 integrated solutions to urban challenges. Through applied research, tools, hands-on advice, and by tapping our network of global experts, we accelerate transformative urban initiatives that have the power to change Indian cities into thriving, equitable and low-carbon places that are good for people and the planet.
At WRI India Ross Center we focus on 10 integrated solutions to urban challenges. Through applied research, tools, hands-on advice, and by tapping our network of global experts, we accelerate transformative urban initiatives that have the power to change Indian cities into thriving, equitable and low-carbon places that are good for people and the planet.
Working at WRI India Ross Center offers you the unique opportunity to learn and grow as you collaborate with a diverse set of change agents across Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. As India’s biggest urban focused think and do tank, we seek thoughtful, enterprise-minded and sensitive individuals who can help us support this transformation and make a positive difference to citizens’ everyday lives.
Job Highlight:
As a part of its work in Uttar Pradesh, WRI India is supporting the municipal corporation of Varanasi in improving safety and accessibility metrics of pedestrian mobility in the old city of Kashi. This is being done under the Sustainable Cities Challenge – an initiative that aims to deploy private sector innovation rooted in technology and urban design to solve for accessibility and safety in the old city.
WRI India is looking for an experienced professional to support this effort in Varanasi. The position presents an exciting opportunity to address complex urban issues by integrating private sector innovation in urban administrative processes. Central to this work is building strong relations with the city and state administration and secure participation of the government machinery in deploying, testing and scaling solutions.
What you will do:
• The candidate must develop in-depth knowledge of administrative structure and functions at both city and state levels, with a strong understanding of Varanasi's geography.
• Must develop a deep understanding and appreciation for the city’s infrastructural, sustainability and governance challenges. Must be well versed with development of projects and investments in the city.
• Government Relations:
o Build strong, lasting relations with senior government officials from different departments in the city, district and the state. Socialize the Sustainable Cities Challenge with leading officials from different departments.
o Organise periodic interactions with important and relevant officials from the city, district and state to provide updates, capture feedback and ensure the objectives of the challenge are at all times aligned with the expectations and priorities of the government.
o Laise with government departments to create an enabling environment to deploy pilots with close coordination with the city and secure commitment and support from relevant officials
o Support WRI India in organizing convening and capacity building workshops with government stakeholders in the city and the state.
• Challenge Stakeholder Engagement:
o Work closely with innovators, develop a nuanced understanding of solutions and potential for impact. Support innovators in pilot design based on requirements in the city.
o Represent the government's expectations and opinions to Challenge stakeholders including innovators and other partners
o Identify and develop collaboration opportunities with third party organizations and Civil Society that can potentially add value in pilot execution.
o The candidate will serve as a single point of contract between the government, WRI India, the donor and other Challenge partners.
• Must develop a deep understanding and appreciation for the city’s infrastructural, sustainability and governance challenges. Must be well versed with development of projects and investments in the city.
• Government Relations:
o Build strong, lasting relations with senior government officials from different departments in the city, district and the state. Socialize the Sustainable Cities Challenge with leading officials from different departments.
o Organise periodic interactions with important and relevant officials from the city, district and state to provide updates, capture feedback and ensure the objectives of the challenge are at all times aligned with the expectations and priorities of the government.
o Laise with government departments to create an enabling environment to deploy pilots with close coordination with the city and secure commitment and support from relevant officials
o Support WRI India in organizing convening and capacity building workshops with government stakeholders in the city and the state.
• Challenge Stakeholder Engagement:
o Work closely with innovators, develop a nuanced understanding of solutions and potential for impact. Support innovators in pilot design based on requirements in the city.
o Represent the government's expectations and opinions to Challenge stakeholders including innovators and other partners
o Identify and develop collaboration opportunities with third party organizations and Civil Society that can potentially add value in pilot execution.
o The candidate will serve as a single point of contract between the government, WRI India, the donor and other Challenge partners.
What you will need:
• The candidate must have six to eight years of experience of working on projects that require government partnerships. Prior experience in building strong government relations is a must.
• A master’s degree in urban planning, public policy, sustainability or a related field.
• The candidate must be proficient in spoken and written Hindi and English. Other regional languages will be an added advantage.
• The candidate must be curious, a self-starter, independent, comfortable with ambiguity. Must be able to adhere to deadlines.
The position is based in Varanasi. Frequent travel to Lucknow will be essential and intermittent travel to Delhi/Mumbai based on requirement.
• A master’s degree in urban planning, public policy, sustainability or a related field.
• The candidate must be proficient in spoken and written Hindi and English. Other regional languages will be an added advantage.
• The candidate must be curious, a self-starter, independent, comfortable with ambiguity. Must be able to adhere to deadlines.
The position is based in Varanasi. Frequent travel to Lucknow will be essential and intermittent travel to Delhi/Mumbai based on requirement.
Potential Salary and Benefits: 18,00,000 to 24,00,000 INR CTC Per Annum
Salary shall be commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.
Duration: 1 years as term hire (extendable based on performance and project requirements)
Location: Varanasi, India (Frequent Travels)
Start date: As soon as possible
List of Documents to be attached:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
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 centre 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
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 orientation, parental status, or disability.
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