Programme Associate- Programme Office

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

Programme Associate - Programmes Office

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
Programme Associate

Team/ Focus area

Programmes Office

Reporting to

Senior Engagement Associate

Location

New Delhi, India

Full-time

Purpose

Within CEEW, the Programmes Office serves as the nerve centre — ensuring high-quality institutional output, seamless cross-functional execution, and rapid response to emerging national and global sustainability priorities.

To maintain our edge as a world-class institution, we must consistently translate complex data into sharp, actionable insights for decision-makers while managing high-stakes, time-sensitive institutional priorities. This requires a dedicated core team that understands the intersection of public policy, strategic philanthropy, and rigorous research implementation — and that can demonstrate, credibly and systematically, the impact of the Council's work.

CEEW’s Programmes Office seeks an experienced, highly organised, and intellectually curious professional for the Engagement Associate position. This role is designed for a critical thinker with a strong interest in contributing to India’s sustainability transition. Someone, who can operate with autonomy at the intersection of research, programmatic execution, stakeholder engagement, and impact measurement.

The successful candidate will own sensitive institutional deliverables end-to-end — tracking commitments, conducting rapid-turnaround research, drafting high-quality briefing notes, managing relationships with key partners, systematically documenting institutional impact, and ensuring seamless coordination across diverse programmatic pillars. We are looking for an agile professional who can maintain high standards of rigour under tight deadlines and leverage modern AI tools to optimise workflow efficiency.

This role would give you the opportunity to have a bird’s-eye view of the cutting-edge research and programme portfolio at one the world’s leading think tanks. A first-hand opportunity to learn how policy research happens and the role of think tanks in shaping policy discourse and key sustainability outcomes. An opportunity to play a key role in translating research outputs into outcomes and impact, and work with like-minded, curious and committed people to impact sustainable development at scale.

Job Duties and Accountabilities

●        Programmatic Coordination and Impact Tracking

●        Maintain and periodically update internal frameworks and dashboards to track programme strategies, projects and delivery outputs and impact

●        Coordinate seamlessly with all research teams across CEEW to gather timely inputs, resolve queries, and ensure timely turnaround of multi-stakeholder deliverables. Systematically monitor and document instances of research-to-policy translation — citations, consultations, scheme-design inputs, and high-level engagements — building a defensible, well-evidenced record of institutional impact.

●        Develop data visualisation tools and ensure periodic reporting for internal and external audiences.

2. Research, Data Synthesis, and Briefing

●        Conduct hands-on literature reviews, policy analysis, and data analysis to support the Director of Programmes on strategic research across a broad range of sustainability topics. 

●        Draft sharp, concise, and structured briefing notes, executive summaries, and background papers on short notice for senior leadership and external stakeholders.

●        Monitor and prepare weekly briefing reports on key regulatory, policy, and macroeconomic developments within the Indian sustainability and philanthropy ecosystems.

3. Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships

●        Serve as a reliable point of contact for select institutional partnerships, ensuring timely, high-quality engagement across the partnership lifecycle.

●        Track ongoing development in the sustainability ecosystem in India and across the world.

●        Build relationships of trust with key stakeholders within and outside CEEW

●        Be a CEEW ambassador on internal and external platforms, sharing its impactful work within public policy.

Selection Criteria

Education and Experience

●        Degrees: Master's or advanced degree in Public Policy, Development Studies, Sustainability Studies (or a closely related field), or an MBA.

●        Experience: 4-5 years of relevant professional experience, preferably within a think tank, philanthropic foundation, policy consulting firm, or research-heavy environment.

Key Competencies

●        A well-rounded understanding of the Indian sustainability landscape, climate policy, and the country's development priorities.

●        Proven ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with funders, partners, and senior stakeholders, with sound judgement and professional discretion.

●        Familiarity with monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) approaches.

●        Exceptional organisational skills with a proven ability to manage multiple deliverables simultaneously and deliver high-quality outputs under tight timelines.

●        Strong analytical and critical thinking skills; the ability to digest ambiguous or complex information and present it logically.

●        Excellent command of written English, with the ability to translate data and evidence into clear, structured communication.

●        High proficiency in the MS Office suite (especially Excel and Word), project management tools, and a high degree of comfort integrating AI productivity tools into daily workflows.

Personality Trait Fit

●        Agility and Adaptability: A flexible mindset that thrives in a fast-paced environment and pivots smoothly as priorities change.

●        Attention to Detail: An eye for precision, ensuring that trackers, briefs, and data points are flawless before submission.

●        Team Player: Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively across hierarchical boundaries and diverse research teams.

●        Steep Learning Curve: A proactive learner eager to rapidly expand their knowledge base across various facets of the sustainability and policy landscape.

Compensation

Competitive compensation – commensurate with the experience and matching the best 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.

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