Research Head - India Energy Program

About us :

WRI India, an independent charity legally registered as the India Resources Trust, provides objective information and practical proposals to foster environmentally sound and socially equitable development. Through research, analysis, and recommendations, WRI India puts ideas into action to build transformative solutions to protect the earth, promote livelihoods, and enhance human well-being.

We are inspired by and associated with World Resources Institute (WRI), a global research organization. Currently over 250 researchers are working with WRI India in our offices at Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Our mission and values :

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together : Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence and Respect.

Our culture :

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status

Program Overview for Energy

Our Energy Program seeks to inform and catalyse India’s equitable transition to low-carbon energy pathways by driving the shift to renewable sources, improving the efficiency of energy solutions, ensuring reliable and affordable energy access, and reducing the negative externalities of energy transition pathways on energy minerals. We also bring a keen impetus to the central role of finance, equity, governance, and circularity in ensuring an inclusive, fair, and equitable energy transition in India. We undertake research, ground-level implementation, stakeholder engagement partnerships, and effective communication across four key pillars of work : Clean Energy Demand, Clean Energy Supply, Energy Minerals and Circularity, and Energy for Equitable Development.

Our mission is to foster environmentally sound and socially equitable development, supporting India’s climate and developmental goals. We collaborate closely with governments, utilities, industry, financiers, civil society and communities to advance an inclusive and scalable energy transition across India.

Job Highlight

WRI India is seeking a Research Head (Grade 7) to lead strategic research for the Energy Program. This role bridges oversight and intellectual contribution. The Research Head will shape the program’s research agenda, drive methodological excellence, and undertake flagship studies to deepen India-specific insight into the energy transition. They will guide the program’s research agenda, strengthen methodological and analytical capacities, and personally contribute to select flagship studies that address India’s most pressing energy-transition challenges.

What you will do :

1. Research Strategy and Oversight (50%)

• Develop and operationalise a coherent research strategy aligned with WRI India’s Energy Program and with global frameworks.
• Embed robust, context-specific evidence across program design, proposals and publications.
• Oversee peer-review and quality assurance processes for all knowledge products in the programme.
• Establish and nurture research partnerships with Indian and international universities, think-tanks and technical institutions.
• Serve as a senior advisor across all pillars, cross-cutting themes and priority states of the India Energy Program – Clean Energy Supply, Decarbonised Energy Consumption, Energy for Equitable Development, Energy Minerals and Circularity, Finance, Policy, Equity, Governance.

2. Research Quality, Mentorship and Contribution (30%)

3. Dissemination and External Engagement (20%)

What you will need :

Salary and Benefits : INR 35,00,000 to 46,50,000 CTC

Salary shall be commensurate with experience and skills. WRI India offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.

Duration : 2 years (extendable based on performance and project requirements)

Location : New Delhi / Bangalore / Mumbai

Start Date : At the earliest

List of Documents to be attached :

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) @WRI India

WRI India values and promotes diversity, equity and inclusion across all areas of our work and workforce. Integrating these values into our actions fosters a progressive and collaborative culture and can also enhance our impact. It is our responsibility to create a welcoming working environment for people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and experience to learn together. We are responsible for fostering a safe and inclusive workplace where questions, concerns and information about diversity, equity and inclusion are part of our ongoing dialogue and development.

Learn more about WRI India’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Click Here

People-centric to the core :

We keep our people at the center of everything we do - from a welcoming work environment to benefits and a culture that encourages staff to stay healthy, happy, engaged, and growing.

Some of the non-monetary benefits that our staff get :

Health benefits : We cover health insurance for you and your loved ones for up to INR 8 lakhs

Term Insurance : Our term insurance policy covers life coverage of 50 lakhs per staff member

Employee Assistance program : Promoting mental well-being and supporting staff in achieving a satisfying work-life balance

Health & Nutrition : Personalized diet recommendation from a certified dietitian based on the physical health condition and lifestyle

Flexible work schedule : Alternative work arrangements for all who are eligible by nature of their job

Learning culture : Workshops and trainings to empower staff, encourage new learning opportunities

Rest and Recharge weeks : We encourage staff to take time off to rest, rejuvenate, upskill, and pursue their interests.

Our leave policy : Avail personal time off at 36 per year, along with public holidays, maternity, paternity, and adoption leaves.

Click here to know more about our benefits Careers | WRI INDIA (wri-india.org)

Equal employment @WRI India

We believe in equal employment, it is our policy to recruit and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to caste, religion, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, parental status, or disability.