Programme Lead, Clean Energy

The International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST) is seeking an experienced, dynamic, and entrepreneurial professional to anchor the delivery of its Clean Energy Programme.

This is a senior programme leadership position, working closely with the Programme Director to lead research, engagement, and implementation initiatives across the programme. The role will be responsible for supporting the delivery of committed outputs and outcomes, managing teams and workstreams, coordinating stakeholder engagements, and ensuring high-quality and timely execution of programme activities. The position will also support programme development, government partnerships, institutional outreach, and strategic engagements in the clean energy sector.

The ideal candidate should demonstrate strong analytical and research capabilities, along with proven experience in programme execution and multi-stakeholder engagement. A deep understanding of India’s renewable energy sector is essential. The role requires substantial experience in delivering deadline-driven research, advisory, and implementation assignments, along with excellent communication, coordination, and stakeholder management skills.

Required Experience: 10+ years

Location: Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Reporting to: Director, Clean Energy

About iFOREST

iFOREST is an independent, not-for-profit research and innovation organization established in 2019. Our mission is to identify, promote, and scale up solutions for critical environment-development challenges in India and other developing regions across Asia and Africa.

We focus on regional priorities to accelerate environmental actions at the sub-national level while influencing national policies and plans to support these efforts. By leveraging our resources and expertise, we aim to address regional needs, enhance national action, and contribute to global solutions.

Our work involves independent, evidence-based research, developing innovative solutions, convening stakeholders to build consensus, and partnering with think tanks, civil society organizations, government agencies, philanthropies, and industry leaders.

The Clean Energy Programme

The iFOREST Clean Energy Programme focuses on accelerating equitable renewable energy growth in India by supporting clean energy deployment in underserved states, especially in eastern and northeaster regions.

The programme supports state governments through policy and regulatory reform, implementation strategies, techno-economic assessments, investment facilitation, and institutional capacity building, with a focus on states such as Odisha, Assam, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. The work prioritises land-neutral technologies including floating solar, agri-PV, rooftop solar, storage, and green hydrogen, while also promoting renewable energy adoption in industrial and MSME sectors through demand aggregation and decarbonisation initiatives.

At the national level, the programme contributes to policy frameworks that can enable regionally balanced renewable energy growth and support India’s 500 GW non-fossil energy target by 2030 and net-zero goal by 2070.

The Role

The Programme Lead – Clean Energy will anchor the delivery and management of iFOREST’s ongoing Clean Energy Programme, working closely with the Programme Director across research, engagement, technical support, and implementation initiatives.

The role will be responsible for ensuring high-quality and timely execution of programme activities and deliverables, supporting achievement of committed outputs and outcomes, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and managing stakeholder engagements across projects.

The position will also support programme development, institutional outreach, and partnerships with government, industry, and development stakeholders.

Specific tasks to be undertaken by the Programme Lead are:

Anchor delivery of the ongoing Programme, including committed outputs

• Drive execution and management of ongoing and planned projects, ensuring timely delivery of committed activities, outputs, milestones, and reporting requirements.
• Lead day-to-day coordination of research, engagement, technical support, and implementation assignments across programme workstreams.
• Design and manage execution plans, research methodologies, analytical frameworks, workplans, and implementation strategies for programme assignments.
• Assign, coordinate, and monitor research and implementation tasks across teams, ensuring quality, consistency, and timely delivery.
• Manage and undertake primary and secondary research, quantitative and qualitative assessments, policy analysis, technical support and implementation activities.
• Lead preparation and finalisation of research reports, policy papers, presentations, technical outputs, and project deliverables, ensuring analytical rigour and quality control across outputs.
• Leand stakeholder engagements, consultations, workshops, convenings, and implementation activities with governments, industries, and other partners.

Undertake Programme outreach and stakeholder engagement

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with government agencies, industry stakeholders, research institutions, CSOs, media, and development partners.
• Anchor programme outreach and communication activities, including dissemination of research findings, policy recommendations, and implementation learnings.
• Lead preparation of presentations, briefing notes, articles, and other communication materials for policy, public, and donor audiences.
• Represent iFOREST in external meetings, consultations, conferences, and sectoral discussions, as required.

Support Programme development, aligned with the institution’s strategic plan

• Support identification and development of new research, policy, and implementation opportunities aligned with programme priorities and sectoral needs.
• Work closely with Programme Directors to support development of state-level and thematic strategies aligned with institutional priorities.
• Contribute to development of concept notes, technical proposals, budgets, presentations, and pitch materials for prospective partners and funders.
• Support stakeholder mapping, partnership development, and coordination with government agencies, industries, and development organizations.
• Identify emerging sectoral opportunities, partnerships, and initiatives that can strengthen programme growth and impact.

Anchor team management and coordination

• Manage and coordinate with programme teams across projects and geographies to ensure effective delivery of outputs and outcomes.
• Mentor and guide young researchers in undertaking high-quality research, analysis, stakeholder engagement, and outreach activities.
• Support work allocation, progress tracking, performance reviews, and coordination across programme assignments.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and team expansion processes, as required.

Contribute to institutional growth and collaboration

• Contribute to strengthening iFOREST’s institutional profile through external engagement, public communication, and sectoral participation.
• Support institutional initiatives, cross-programme collaborations, and organizational priorities, as required.
• Adopt a proactive and solutions-oriented approach to support programme and institutional growth.

Additional responsibilities

• Undertake any additional responsibilities and assignments related to the advancement of the Clean Energy Programme and institutional priorities.

Qualification & Work Experience

Master’s degree (minimum) from a recognised institution in a relevant field, including management, economics, public policy, energy policy, renewable energy technology etc.

About 10 years of extensive and rich experience in research, strategy consulting or advisory-related fields, focusing specifically on the renewable energy sector.

Demonstrated track record of producing high-quality, well-written research outputs (reports, briefs, analyses, assessments) in renewable energy sector.

Required Competencies

In line with the listed responsibilities, the Programme Lead is expected to have the following competencies:

• Strong understanding of India’s renewable energy sector, including policies, regulations, programmes, technologies, and key sectoral challenges.
• Proven experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative research, policy analysis, and preparation of high-quality research and advisory outputs related to the clean energy sector.
• Strong programme execution and project management capabilities, with experience in planning, coordination, progress monitoring, and timely delivery of outputs and milestones.
• Ability to effectively engage with government agencies, industries, research institutions, CSOs, and development partners across diverse platforms.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, writing, presentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to coordinate stakeholder consultations, workshops, convenings, and outreach initiatives, and effectively communicate institutional perspectives and research findings.
• Collaborative, proactive, and solutions-oriented approach, with the ability to work effectively in dynamic and fast-paced policy and institutional environments.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple assignments and work within tight timelines and policy windows.
• Experience in proposal development, programme reporting, and donor coordination is desirable.
• Willingness to travel as required.

What We Offer

At iFOREST, we provide an inclusive and supportive work environment. We are committed to professional development through education, training, and capacity-building initiatives.

• Opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge work on just transition, economic diversification, fiscal analysis, and regional economic modelling.
• Exposure to policy processes, government engagement, and technical advisory work.
• A dynamic and supportive work culture that values methodological rigour and innovation.
• Competitive compensation in line with experience and organisational norms.

Remuneration

We offer Competitive salary based on experience and proficiency. The final designation will depend on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.

Application Instructions & Deadline

We prefer that candidates apply from LinkedIn or submit online applications at https://iforest.global/careers/.