Senior Engagement Associate/ Engagement Associate - Distributed Renewable Energy

Senior Engagement Associate/ Engagement Associate - Distributed Renewable Energy

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

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 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

Senior Engagement Associate/ Engagement Associate

Team/ Focus area

Energy Transitions

Reporting to

Programme lead

Location

Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Duration

Full Time

Purpose

At CEEW, we envision a decarbonised electricity sector in India that provides reliable and affordable electricity services to all. To pursue this vision, we undertake interventions that can lead to accelerated and diversified deployment of renewable energy, socially and environmentally responsible deployment of RE. We generate evidence for change, engage with policymakers to devise and implement policies and programmes, and evaluate the impact of initiatives on the ground.

We are looking for a Senior Engagement Associate/ Engagement Associate to support the team’s research efforts on increasing the share of distributed renewables (DRE) in the grid. To accelerate the deployment, the candidate needs to build expertise on three fronts – nudging the consumer to adopt new technologies, identifying solutions with equitable incentives for stakeholders and facilitating the process with conducive policies and regulations. We are looking for a candidate with a comprehensive understanding of tariff mechanisms, state-level policies and regulations pertaining to distributed renewables, hands-on experience in stakeholder engagement (including discoms, electricity regulators, state governments and developers), profound understanding of consumer behaviour, and the power market.

Job duties and Accountabilities

Desirable Outcomes (first year)

● Expand the distributed RE programme in at least one state and support in other states.

● Build your profile and network in the state as a sector expert

● Conceptualise and execute at least one innovative idea to scale up the adoption of distributed renewable energy (DRE) in the priority state

Research Support

● Monitor and analyse policy and regulatory developments in renewable energy markets at the state, national, and international level, and support timely responses to updates in priority states.

● Identify deployment issues and opportunities from the state's perspective to co-conceptualise policy, regulatory, and market interventions with the team.

● Develop go-to-market strategies for innovative business models and establish private sector partnerships to implement ideas on the ground.

● Develop trust-based relationships with key stakeholders — discoms, regulators, state nodal agencies, and developers — to understand challenges and opportunities in the sector.

● Share knowledge and findings across internal and external platforms through presentations, memos, briefs, and opinion pieces, with support from CEEW's Outreach team

Programme Assistance

● Assist in project implementation by contributing towards preparing detailed activity plans and timelines, resource planning, stakeholder management, and donor engagement

● Contribute to the team's outreach efforts, including organising webinars and physical events and representing CEEW in industry events.

● Write memos, briefs and issue notes which could be circulated among senior government officials and other internal and external stakeholders

● Building stronger ties with government, industry and institutional partners.

Selection Criteria

Qualification

● Strong academic credentials, preferably a Master’s degree with a specialisation in renewable energy technologies, economics, public policy or related field

Work experience

● At least 5 years of experience in the field of power sector, policy/industry engagement and project management, preferably in the area of electricity policy, renewable energy, energy systems;

● Sound understanding of India’s energy markets (specifically grid-connected DRE markets) and policy and regulatory environment.

● Familiarity with distribution sector operations, emerging RE technologies, battery storage, and grid integration challenges

● Experience in executing on-ground implementation projects would be preferred.

Key skills

● Strong analytical skills and familiarity with research methods.

● Proficiency in MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint

● Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to present insights clearly and concisely.

● Proficiency in Odia and the English language is a must.

● Active user of AI tools for research synthesis, drafting, and engagement preparation

Personality

● Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment.

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

● Striving for rigour in research and quality in work output.

● Willingness to learn, grow, and develop - both in personal and professional life - at a rapid pace with a steep learning curve.

Compensation

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

Application Process

CEEW operates in a dynamic environment and the candidate will be required to show flexibility in undertaking a variety of tasks. CEEW is an equal opportunity employer. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.