Programme Associate – Sustainable Mobility

The Council on Energy, Environment and Water is hiring a Programme Associate for Sustainable Mobility in Chandigarh, India. The role involves providing technical assistance to government agencies on urban mobility planning, conducting research on bus improvement schemes, and developing performance indicators. Candidates should have a strong interest in urban mobility and be prepared to work closely with government bodies, emphasizing research and collaboration.
Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)

Programme Associate – Sustainable Mobility

Terms of Reference

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 ambitious 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 Associate

Reporting to – Programme Lead

Location – Chandigarh

Purpose

CEEW seeks to hire a suitable candidate for the position of Consultant to expand its work in sustainable mobility. Our research spans across key focus areas of fleet electrification and bus transport improvement in Indian cities. The candidate should have a strong interest in the latest urban mobility planning paradigms and must lead the team’s state and city level initiatives. The candidate must be willing to work with government agencies through direct technical assistance in the matters of urban mobility.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Research
• Provide technical handholding to government agencies on planning for/implementing national/state level bus improvement schemes such as PM E-bus Sewa, PM E-drive or state bus programmes.
• Provide technical handholding to government agencies on city bus procurement/operations planning, seamless integration of PT and IPT networks, bus system infrastructure planning (depots, bus stops, charging infrastructure etc.).
• To support research on development of KPIs for bus service performance – bus ridership, cost efficiency, bus fleet and asset management, e-bus charging etc. Contextualise the KPIs as per state and city level requirements. Also, support KPI development on societal/environmental indicators such as air pollution, GHG emissions, safety/accessibility of commuters etc.
• Support government agencies in establishing MRV processes for monitoring bus services and tracking their performance from central hubs.
• To co-ordinate and monitor data collection process, including evaluating data quality, developing questionnaires, etc.
• To develop analysis to support the team's existing research programmes and develop strategies for low-carbon mobility modes and urban and mobility planning integration.
• To present research to urban local bodies, state governments, research institutes, etc.
• To conduct qualitative and quantitative surveys and analyse using various data analysis software and tools.
• To undertake capacity-building initiatives in the various urban and mobility planning fields by identifying key gaps in the current institutional structures.

Programme Assistance
• Conceptualise and implement new research projects and tools using mobility datasets to solve various mobility issues in coordination with academia and relevant government agencies.
• Assist or preferably independently write high-quality research reports with actionable insights, informing government stakeholders.
• Assist with specific projects and overall plan of activities under mobility research, by being an integral part of the team.
• Assist in preparing presentations, fact sheets, research reports/papers and other research communication material.
• Assist in effective outreach of research outputs, through close coordination with communications team, engagement with wider network of stakeholders, and concerned policymakers.
• Assist and accompany senior team members for essential meetings and sessions, prepare notes, and conduct follow-ups as required.
• To keep a tab on the policy developments in India and across crucial countries of the world on energy sector, transport sector, and urban planning.
• Travel to project sites, when required, to monitor field surveys, conduct interviews or collect data for different research projects
• To generate knowledge content – blogs, policy briefs in regular intervals.

Selection Criteria

Education
• Master’s degree with specialisation in transport planning/transportation engineering/urban planning or related field
• Should have a strong research background, including an understanding of experimental and analytical research
• Should have strong understanding of public bus system planning and operations

Experience
• 5-8 years of relevant work experience
• Experience in working on bus system planning and operations
• Experience in dealing with public and private institutions
• Strong track record of project assistance and timely delivery of outputs

Main skills
• Strong stakeholder liaison skills
• Familiarity with public policy research techniques and tools is desirable
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative research techniques including experience in developing spread sheet models
• Understanding of techno-economic analysis, cost & benefit analysis, sound knowledge of sustainable mobility concepts
• Good written and oral communication skills; Good report writing skills
• Ability to use MS Office application suit including MS Excel
• Ability to undertake mapping analysis using GIS and other major tools
• Desirable: Relevant publications and prior experience in bus transportation planning

Personality
• Ability to adapt to new environment and deliver under tight deadlines in a professional environment
• Striving for rigour in research and quality in work output
• Ability to dig deeper into details, while also keeping a sense of the broader objectives and big picture
• Willingness to learn, grow and develop at personal and professional front, at a rapid pace with a steep learning curve
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment
• Willing to travel, coordinate with site team for data collection, and engage with key stakeholders, drivers, etc.

Compensation

CEEW offers a 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, 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.