Policy Analyst, India Country Program

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an independent think tank that delivers the knowledge to act. Our mission is to promote human development and environmental sustainability. Our big-picture view allows us to address the root causes of our planet’s most significant challenges today—ecological destruction, social exclusion, unfair laws and economic rules, and a changing climate. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in nearly 100 countries.

The position is based within the IISD Energy Program (www.iisd.org/energy), a diverse and rapidly growing team of over 40 experts based in the IISD Geneva and Ottawa offices and remotely in India, Indonesia, South Africa, and other countries. The Policy Analyst will work remotely within IISD Energy’s India country program.

At an international level, our work program delivers cutting-edge research and practical policy support for energy policy reforms in developed and developing countries, including the reform of fossil fuel subsidies (worth at least USD 500 billion per year globally), energy taxation, and implementing commitments to go beyond fossil fuels. This includes aligning financial flows with safe climate targets and facilitating just transitions to renewable energy, looking at both production and consumption. We work closely with international institutions such as the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance (BOGA), Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Energy Agency (IEA), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Bank and the World Trade Organization (WTO), among others. Our approach is hands-on through country-level research and outreach in Canada, India, Indonesia, and South Africa, as well as via international forums such as the G7, G20, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In India, IISD has largely focused on the creation of knowledge and dialogue on government support for energy transition, including data on subsidies for fossil fuels, renewables, and electric vehicles; how to sustainably reform consumer subsidies for liquefied petroleum gas, kerosene, and electricity; how to effectively subsidize clean energy, including solar irrigation, solar photovoltaic manufacturing, and electric vehicles; planning for a just transition; and how state-owned enterprises and public finance can better align with energy transition. We engage with government agencies at a central and state level (including the Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Finance and NITI Aayog) and typically partner with national think tanks and consultancies, including the Council on Energy, Energy and Water (CEEW), Climate Parliament, Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS), Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), Insight Development Consulting Group (IDCG), International Finance Corporation (IFC) India, KPMG, Morsel, Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe), and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

About the Position

IISD Energy is looking to recruit a policy analyst for its in-country India program. The Policy Analyst will be a quick learner, keen on sustainable development, and eager to work on research tasks that require both quantitative and qualitative skills. The Policy Analyst will support quantitative analysis by creating and updating policy-relevant datasets including, but not limited to, estimating government support measures nationally and sub-nationally, developing levelized cost of energy estimates and supporting system dynamics energy models and cost-benefit analysis. The Policy Analyst is also expected to support qualitative research by setting up and conducting consultations with external stakeholders and assisting in stakeholder management, as well as supporting events run by IISD and its partners. The overall goal of this work is to shift government support from fossil fuels to renewable energy while leaving no one behind.

The successful applicant will work on data collection and analysis related to fossil fuels, clean energy (including renewable power and electric vehicles), energy businesses and other energy policies; and consolidate insights from both quantitative and qualitative analysis to write high-quality short contributions to detailed policy research reports. The Policy Analyst will also be actively involved in other country and international projects and will be expected to collaborate and network with other researchers and civil society organizations in India and internationally.

Key areas of responsibility will include but not be limited to:

• In collaboration with other IISD Energy experts, reviewing large government datasets to identify, quantify and contribute to IISD’s databases on India’s energy subsidies for fossil fuels and clean energy (e.g., identifying different forms of government support to energy, such as direct budgetary transfers, tax expenditures, price regulations, public finance, state-owned enterprise investments, and other forms of support).

• Liaising and building engagement with other national and state organizations in Chhattisgarh that are IISD’s strategic partners or collaborators in India on several projects to facilitate IISD’s requests on organizing interviews, access to data, and dissemination.

• Tracking developments in India’s energy policies in Chhattisgarh by collecting, reviewing, and logging information.

• In collaboration with and under the supervision of other IISD Energy experts, support energy modelling exercises through the Green Economy Model (GEM).

• Contribute to literature reviews and high-quality written reports to support any research gaps emerging in ongoing projects like those on public finance and electric vehicles.

• Providing administrative support to IISD Energy experts in organizing and conducting consultations, organizing events, and drafting communication products related to projects on energy policy in India.

About the Successful Applicant

The successful applicant will be a fast learner with experience and a keen interest in analyzing policies and data on energy, sustainable development, and national and state-level energy policies.

They will be confident working with numbers, have strong organizational skills, and demonstrate evidence of critical thinking and attention to detail. They should also display an interest in developing networking and interpersonal skills in order to actively liaise with project stakeholders.

The successful applicant will also have:

• A minimum of a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field (e.g., economics, finance, statistics, data analysis, sustainable energy, international and development studies, political science, engineering, sociology, or interdisciplinary studies). Candidates without a master’s degree may apply but should be able to demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge through direct professional experience.

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience in one or several areas: energy policy research, climate and energy finance, and statistics. Recent graduates are welcome to apply if they can demonstrate the required technical and professional skills through work experiences, such as internships and university projects.

• Knowledge or experience in quantitative research methods for policy analysis with sharp attention to detail. Advanced user of Excel and Google Sheets (e.g., pivot tables, conditional formatting, macros). Experience with data analysis tools is required. Familiarity with energy modelling will be considered an advantage.

• Demonstrated analytical skills and ability to think critically and learn fast. Strong attention to detail, including the ability to conduct quality control checks of own work.

• Understanding of relevant ministries and departments related to energy, such as power, petroleum, coal, and renewable energy, both nationally and at the state level. Experience with these institutions in Chhattisgarh will be an asset.

• Excellent oral and writing skills in English. Ability to work professionally in other languages will be considered an asset.

• “Can-do” work attitude and ability to work both independently and within teams, managing workload and producing deliverables to time and to budget. Ability to work under pressure and meet deliverables under competing timelines.

• Resourceful and pragmatic approach to solving issues.

• Proactive, results-focused, ability to prioritize and to work quickly and accurately, with the flexibility to take on tasks ranging from highly complex to basic in nature.

• A strong team worker with the ability to work comfortably across different cultures and be inclusive and positive with different colleagues.

• Comfortable working productively and independently with a remote team and actively participating in regular teleconference calls with teams based in different time zones.

• Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office/Teams applications and experience in handling web-based communications and management systems.

• Willingness and availability to travel frequently to represent IISD domestically.

Location: Home-based, anywhere in India.

Starting Salary: Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Type of E****mployment: 100% full-time-equivalent staff position, including under an Employment of Record model. One-year contract with a high possibility of extension.

Application Deadline: April 18, 2023

Start Date: Immediate opportunity

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English. Accommodations for job applicants with disabilities are available on request.

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for India.

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR at the following link: ­­­­https://iisd.bamboohr.com/careers/548

Please include the following:

• A CV (no longer than two pages)
• A cover letter (one page)
• IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire (optional)

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for 1 year.

IISD has implemented a COVID-19 vaccination policy that requires employees who are required or choose to be at an office or participate in in-person team events or in-person meetings/events to be fully vaccinated. Anyone unable to be fully vaccinated, either because of a sincerely held religious belief or a medical condition or a disability that prevents them from being fully vaccinated, can request a reasonable accommodation.

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply for this position. Preference will be given to the equity-deserving groups during the hiring process. We offer reasonable accommodations in our recruitment process and seek applicants’ advice on how best to accommodate their needs. Please self-identify and answer our employment equity questionnaire on our applicant tracking system when you apply.

IISD does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, colour, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

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