Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), New Delhi
Life Cycle Assessment Consultant

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
Consultant

Team/ Focus area
Sustainable Food Systems

Reporting to
Programme Associate / Programme Lead

Location
New Delhi

Purpose

India faces a multi-faceted challenge as it aims to become a developed country by 2047 while ensuring food and nutritional security and meeting its net-zero emissions goals. Central to these ambitions are the Agriculture and allied, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sectors. These sectors are crucial because they are not only highly vulnerable to climate change but also significant contributors to it. To reach India's extensive developmental and environmental goals, a fundamental reassessment and evolution of the AFOLU sector is necessary, involving a comprehensive approach to food systems transformation.

Considering this complex challenge, CEEW seeks to assess the role and socio-economic and environmental impacts of alternate protein production and consumption in India. In this context, CEEW seeks an LCA Consultant to expand its capacity for conducting cutting-edge research on sustainable food systems.

The successful applicant will assist the team members in undertaking robust quantitative analysis. In addition to the duties and responsibilities outlined below, the Consultant should be prepared, as and when necessary, to take on additional responsibilities and respond to events and developments that cannot be anticipated easily.

Job Duties and Accountabilities

• Independently manage allocated work-streams on quantitative and quantitative applied research on varied food system issues. Such workstreams include but are not limited to (i) identification of optimal research question(s), (ii) designing the research approach/framework (iii) if required, development and execution of primary data collection (iv) if required, systematic literature reviews (v) if required, conducting stakeholder consultations, (vi) conducting the relevant analyses using appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative tools (e.g. MS Excel, Open LCA/SimaPro,etc.), and (vii) presenting the analyses in a coherent narrative in different formats.
• Travel to field sites, whenever necessary, to conduct fieldwork including focus group discussions, interviews, meetings, training or gather primary information.
• Proactively supporting team in effectively operationalizing the CEEW’s Arc of Learning.
• Regularly track policy measures taken by the government and its implementation status related to sustainable agriculture and sustainable food systems in India and the Global South.
• Write high-quality research reports, publish in leading peer-reviewed journals and generate other knowledge products for the different audience such as blogs, policy briefs in regular intervals.
• Establishing and managing relationships with project counterparts from CEEW’s partners.

Project/programme Assistance

• Support the senior researchers in conceptualising new projects, development of high-impact research proposals, and applications for research and general donor funding.
• Support effective outreach of research outputs through coordination with the outreach team, engagement with a broader network of stakeholders, and concerned policymakers.
• Participate in relevant conferences, workshops, training programmes for a comprehensive understanding of developments relevant to sustainable agriculture and allied sector and alternate proteins.
• Support senior team members for important meetings and sessions, prepare notes and conduct follow-ups, as required.
• Participate in weekly team meetings and assist with preparing minutes and chairing the weekly meeting.

Selection Criteria and Key skills

• Master's degree in environmental science/ environmental management/ food systems/ sustainable engineering/ agricultural or ecological economics or any other relevant field relevant to food system transformation.
• A minimum of two years of relevant research experience in environmental Life Cycle Assessment with food systems relevance is expected. Exposure to jobs and market potential estimation and corporate engagement is desirable. Candidates who have developed relevant specialist skills will be given a strong preference.
• Analytical skills and knowledge of mixed methods – qualitative and quantitative research methods - relevant for food systems analysis, strategic planning, GHG accounting from AFOLU sector, political economy analysis, stakeholder engagement, impact evaluation, etc.
• Project management skills to independently manage research workstreams.
• Familiarity with IPCC Guidelines on GHG inventory calculations, food and agriculture issues, policy areas and consumer trends.
• Strong communication skills for effective, efficient, and adaptive verbal and written communication, and active listening along with experience in managing stakeholders, conducting workshops, convenings, etc. (preferred).
• Ability to use MS Office application suite.
• Desirable: Relevant publications in peer-reviewed journals/book chapters.
• Desirable skills: SimaPro/ OpenLCA/ other LCA software (any one mandatory), R/Stata/Python (any one preferred) other statistical software; Vensim, STELLA, AnyLogic QGIS, ArcGIS (preferred) and environmental and land-use modelling.

“If you are passionate about bringing sustainability from margins to mainstream by catalysing a system-wide transition at speed and scale, we would like to speak to you.”

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 organisations 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.