Consultant - Ministry of Mines

Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), New Delhi

Consultant – Technology Futures

Terms of Reference

At CEEW, we are deliberate about what we stand for (and what we don’t stand for!) as an employer. So, if the below description strikes a chord, we would love to hear from you!

At CEEW, we build careers in public policy

● We offer strong visionary leadership – with emphasis on research and impact at scale

● We actively promote leadership by initiative​

● We celebrate talent and ambition​

● You will be surrounded by smart ambitious people who will challenge you and help you grow​

● You will learn faster than your peers in other organisations​

● Curiosity and irreverence, as well as responsibility, come together at CEEW​

● You will get above-market remuneration​

● We provide a safe space for all​

● At CEEW, your life is your example for others​

Designation offered: Consultant

Focus Areas: Technology Futures

Reporting to: Senior Programme Lead – Technology Futures

Duration: One year

Location: New Delhi

Context

Globally, countries and companies are at aiming to transit to a low carbon pathway in the coming decades. Many countries have already announced their Net Zero emission targets starting 2050. India has also committed to a Net-Zero path and aims to achieve the same by 2070. The country has also committed to setting up 500 GW of non-fossil fuel based power generation capacity, 50 per cent renewable energy capacity, reduction of one billion tonnes of carbon emission and reduction of carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030.

To achieve clean energy deployment targets, strengthen the manufacturing sector and double-down on energy and food security, the development of critical minerals value chains is important. Critical minerals are important building blocks of technologies such as solar PV, wind turbine, batteries, electronics etc. and important from an economic and national security perspective.

The Government of India has carried out various reforms to further the development of critical minerals, including the incorporation of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM). The Mission has an objective of ensuring a sustainable, resilient, and self-reliant critical minerals value chain in India. It will focus on the entire value chain including exploration, extraction, processing, end-use, recycling and recovery of critical minerals.

The research programme will include knowledge support, communication and coordination inputs to the Ministry of Mines on critical minerals, incorporating elements of supply-chain, processing and beneficiation technologies, market assessment and international cooperation.

Purpose:

CEEW seeks to hire a Consultant for the Technology Futures team. The individual would be responsible for actively engaging with the Ministry of Mines through knowledge support on critical minerals. The individual would also be required to engage with other relevant stakeholders in industry, academia, and civil society. In the process he/she would need to connect the work on critical minerals with relevant research programmes at Technology Futures and at CEEW. The successful applicant will utilise the team’s research on critical minerals to inform policies and other supporting activities. The candidate will conceptualise and identify policy recommendations to support Indian policymakers on development of critical minerals value chain in India and securing these minerals for the domestic industry.

We are looking for an experienced professional with hands-on experience and sectoral understanding, to manage build the Council’s engagement with the Ministry of Mines on critical minerals. He/She should be able to connect the dots across many moving parts and look for innovative ways to conduct and socialise research with the key decision makers.

Job Duties and Accountabilities

● Track latest developments in the critical minerals sector at the national and international level.

● Provide research and policy inputs to the Ministry of Mines regarding the development of critical minerals sector.

● Support the Ministry of Mines with stakeholder engagement, communication and coordination support concerning relevant work streams on critical minerals.

● Work closely with sectoral experts at Technology Futures and other teams to develop short briefs and presentations with insights and actionable recommendations.

● Track best practices of other countries where critical minerals sector has flourished.

● Build necessary networks with other key stakeholders in the government, industry, venture capitalists, technology startups, academia and research institutions. Leverage the network to inform recommendations on critical minerals.

● Develop research outputs in various forms such as publications, journal papers, presentations reports, op-eds, and articles.

● To participate in relevant conferences, workshops, training programmes as necessary to communicate research findings and gain insights on new research in focus areas.

● Support efforts to use new media platforms for the wide dissemination of CEEW's work and, in turn, closer engagement with the wider community.

Selection

Education

● Strong academic credentials, Master’s degree preferably in public policy/ economics/environmental economics/statistics, design thinking and innovations, behavioural sciences and public policy.

Work Experience and Key Skill Requirements

● 3-5 years of experience in the field of public policy, strategic communications, government and public services.

● Sound understanding of the relevant fields of study, and related policy environment.

● Experience having supported government projects on sustainability, climate change, renewables etc.

● Strong writing, networking and communication skills.

● Experience in dealing with public and private institutions within and outside India.

Other Skills

● Willingness to learn new research and project management skills.

● Ability to adapt to new environment and deliver under tight deadlines in a professional environment

● Striving for rigour in research and quality in work output

● Ability to effectively work in a team while being able to independently drive ideas.

● Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment.

If you are passionate about informing policy on India’s critical minerals, we would like to speak to you. If you can conceptualise and communicate clear research on the issue, then we would definitely consider hiring you! If you have led high impact strategic communications and can collaborate closely with others to make this happen, you are probably the candidate we are looking for.

CEEW operates in a dynamic environment and the candidate will be required to show flexibility in undertaking a variety of tasks.

Compensation

Competitive compensation – commensurate to the experience and matching the best of standards adopted by industry or other similar organizations for similar roles.

Application Process

CEEW is an equal opportunity employer and the selection process does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, or caste. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested applicants are advised to apply at the earliest possible.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We appreciate your interest.