Programme Lead – Climate Negotiations

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

Programme Lead – Climate Negotiations

Terms of Reference

At CEEW, we are deliberate about what we stand for (and what we don’t stand for!) as an employer. We are proud to build careers in public policy and social impact.

• 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: Programme Lead (Engagement Lead)

Focus Area: Climate Negotiations

Reporting to: Research Fellow

Location: New Delhi

Purpose:

CEEW seeks to hire a Programme Lead who would work with the Climate Negotiations team. CEEW offers an intellectually challenging and conducive work environment, with a focus on research rigour, innovative thinking, and strategic outreach. We are looking for an enthusiastic and detail-oriented individual who would be excited to work on a diverse range of subjects and contribute to the dynamic research environment at CEEW.

CEEW has an interdisciplinary research culture and its value comes from adopting different methods and connecting dots across seemingly siloed policy and industry verticals. Our team seeks to nudge the climate negotiations along with enhancing cooperation and accountability in the global landscape. We undertake research to inform and support complex negotiation issues and table implementable solutions during the debate. We brief policymakers, convene stakeholder engagements, inform the media, and support the Government of India with relevant inputs. We further support partnerships between India and other nations and examine issues surrounding accountability, capacity-building, transparency and global stocktake to design strategies for ambitious, equitable climate action.

Job Duties and Accountabilities

The selected candidate will lead in the following:

Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and lead The Council’s Climate negotiations programme engagement strategy based upon the existing in-house research, assessment of the peers in the sector, the evolving narrative with each year's COP, and alignment with government priorities.
  

• Lead the COP vertical of the programme. Curate the COP strategy for the upcoming year with focus on logistics, research outputs, CEEW’s priorities at COP, and outreach strategy. The Lead is expected to be the face of CEEW for COP. The lead is expected to create platforms for the team as well as the institution for public engagement and ensure implementation of developed strategic plans. Build strong relationships based on trust and credibility with key policymakers and stakeholders.
  

• Build and lead your team. Hone the team members to the best of their abilities. Stretch and strive and set leadership by example.
  

Research management

• Ideate new research concepts with team members (across different teams at CEEW), develop project proposals and budgets, build relationships with donors that align with the institution’s interests, secure resources for building and expanding the work programme, deliver high-quality, timely outputs, engage with the sectoral stakeholders, strive for impact, and develop CEEW’s thought leadership.
  

• Keep a tab on developments in the sector domestically and internationally. Establish new research areas under the Climate Negotiations team and research in the programme area as a principal investigator. Guide and provide relevant inputs to the existing research.
  

Engagement

• Working closely with the Outreach team to reach a wide audience with our research and principal points.
  

• Timely engagement and coordination for meetings/roundtables/events with the relevant members from the reigning presidency.
  

• Assist the Outreach team to organise the press-briefing and other COP related media engagements to inform and educate different groups and strategically communicate the team’s and CEEW’s research.
  

Selection Criteria

Education

• Master’s/PhD degree with specialisation in international law, economics, energy, climate change, sustainability or related fields
  

Business experience

• At least ten years of relevant experience in undertaking and leading research, policy engagement, project management, and has prior experience in offering support tailored to specific country circumstances and has effectively participated in the negotiations.
  

• Demonstrated history of publications in peer-reviewed journals
  

• Strong track record of team management and project management including timely delivery of outputs
  

• Experience in dealing with public and private institutions and building relationships with collaborators and government stakeholders
  

• Experience in designing and leading interdisciplinary and inter-programmatic work
  

• Demonstrated experience in raising research project grants
  

• Have demonstrated thought leadership in the areas relevant to the ToR
  

Main skills

• Leader. Comfortable with uncertainty. Strategic and deliberate.
  

• Superior analytical abilities, effective oral and written communication skills are necessary prerequisites
  

• Strong writing skills with the ability to write coherently and concisely emails, opinion pieces, policy briefs, and reports
  

• Ability to manage time effectively to handle multiple requests at the same time
  

• Ability and willingness to work in a dynamic and fluid environment
  

• Ability to communicate and coordinate effectively as a team member
  

• Willingness to show initiative in order to handle unforeseen challenges
  

• Ability to work in multicultural teams
  

• Flexibility towards long work hours when the situation demands
  

• Willingness to solve problems
  

• Detail-oriented, while always keeping the larger picture in mind
  

• Strong oral communication skills as well as an interest in public speaking
  

• Strong interpersonal skills, and confidence to engage with political and business leaders.
  

• Strong interest and ability to lead teams, to empathise with younger researcher, and to guide them
  

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, caste, ethnicity, religion, or sexuality. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates are requested to send their applications to jobs@ceew.in with ‘Application – Programme Lead– Climate Negotiations’ as the subject line by 10th March 2023. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We appreciate your interest.