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Council on Energy, Environment and Water Integrated | International | Independent

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

Programme Lead - Clean Air

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 through 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 Lead – Clean Air (Solid waste management)

Focus area

Clean Air

Reporting to

Senior Programme Lead

Location

New Delhi, India

Purpose

The multi-disciplinary Clean Air team at CEEW generates data and evidence to drive scalable action and strengthen the capacity of governments and industries through institutional collaborations to improve India’s air quality. The team’s work spans diverse verticals, including crop residue management, clean cooking, solid waste management, industrial pollution management, clean construction, air quality governance, and air quality data analytics & forecasting. Its research is guided by five levers of change: capacity building for government agencies, generating transparent and credible data, developing innovative solutions, demonstrating industrial leadership, and raising public demand for clean air.

CEEW’s Clean Air team seeks to hire a driven and passionate Programme Lead to spearhead our work on open burning and solid waste management at the national, state, and city levels. The candidate will be pivotal in identifying gaps in existing governance mechanisms, designing evidence-based solutions, and driving impactful collaborations with key stakeholders. Expertise or experience in behavioural economics is highly desirable.

This role demands a blend of managerial, technical, and strategic communication skills. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of India's solid waste management domain, be familiar with key legislations, policies, and flagship programmes, and have a strong network with key stakeholders.

Understanding emissions from solid waste, air quality management governance, regulatory frameworks, and institutional arrangements is also desired. Strong experience in stakeholder engagement, drafting policy recommendations, and managing research projects is essential. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are critical for preparing concise briefing notes, policy reports, and presentations for diverse audiences under tight deadlines.

Job duties and accountabilities

Strategy

  • Support the Senior Programme Lead in developing a strategy for the Clean Air programme that aligns with institutional goals and national priorities in solid waste management.
  • Engage with current and potential funders and stakeholders, including central, state, and city-level government entities, as well as policy and research institutions, to establish partnerships and secure resources.
  • Build and maintain strategic networks across key government ministries and regulatory bodies to advance solid waste management.

Research

  • Take end-to-end ownership of flagship projects within the air quality solid waste management vertical and lead proposals under competitive grant opportunities.
  • Develop independent and original research ideas that are both policy-relevant and aligned with the team’s goals, particularly in solid waste management and air quality management.
  • Oversee the quality and coherence of draft reports, data analyses, and research outputs produced by the team, ensuring alignment with high-impact deliverables.
  • Travel to project sites, as necessary, to conduct interviews, collect data, or engage with local stakeholders to strengthen evidence-based research.

Project and People Management

  • Manage a multi-disciplinary team of Programme Associates and Research Analysts, ensuring high performance and alignment with project goals.
  • Drive team expansion efforts by assisting in recruitment at the Research Analyst and Programme Associate levels to support the solid waste management vertical within the clean air team.
  • Ensure timely submission of project deliverables while maintaining high-quality standards.
  • Represent the Clean Air team’s work at national and international platforms, including conferences, workshops, and stakeholder meetings.
  • Support financial reporting, budgeting, and resource allocation for projects.
  • Perform additional duties as required to fulfil the Clean Air team’s objectives.

Selection criteria

Education:

  • Master’s or PhD in environmental studies, public policy, environmental engineering, urban governance, environmental law, or other relevant fields.
  • Comprehensive understanding of India’s air quality and solid waste management policy frameworks, governance structures, and regulatory environment.
  • Strong academic and research background, with expertise in research methods and quantitative analysis. Specialisation in public policy or environmental law is highly desirable.

Work experience:

  • 8–15 years of experience in the air quality and solid waste management domain, with a strong focus on governance, policy frameworks, and institutional capacity building.
  • Demonstrated expertise in leading projects on solid waste management and air quality management.
  • Proven record of producing high-quality publications in peer-reviewed journals, policy briefs, and actionable reports.
  • Experience in engaging with policymakers, government stakeholders, and funders to drive evidence-based solutions.

Key skills

  • Excellent project management skills.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Demonstrated abilities to manage multiple priorities, projects and internal/external resources in a fast-paced environment while meeting deadlines and quality standards.
  • Striving for rigour in research and quality in work output.
  • Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment and being able to independently drive research with minimum assistance.
  • The candidate should be willing to travel frequently.

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

Personality

  • Willingness to learn new (research and project management) skills.
  • Ability to adapt to the 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 research with minimum assistance, when time demands.
  • Ability to dig deeper into details, while also keeping a sense of the broader objectives and big picture.
  • Willingness to learn, grow and develop on personal and professional front, at a rapid pace with a steep learning curve.
  • Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment.

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.

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

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified by us. We appreciate your interest.


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