Senior Program Research Specialist Behavioural Science, Sustainable Landscapes and Restoration

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Senior Program Research Specialist - Behavioural Science, Sustainable Landscapes and Restoration

Senior Program Research Specialist - Behavioural Science, Sustainable Landscapes and Restoration

Data Analysis, Technical Research

New Delhi, India; Mumbai, India; Bengaluru, India

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Senior Program Research Analyst - Behavioral Science, Sustainable Landscapes and Restoration

Who we are and what we do

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. WRI India'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. 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.

Program Overview for Sustainable Landscape and Restoration

WRI India's Sustainable Landscapes and Restoration (SLR) program aims to inform India's just transition towards sustainable and resilient food and land use systems, focusing on developing interdisciplinary nature-based solutions like landscape restoration and sustainable agriculture to mitigate climate impacts, enhance jobs and livelihoods, and improve nutritional security. To catalyze systems change with a focus on circular food systems in India, we also focus on developing equitable strategies to reduce food loss and waste and mitigate climate impacts. With a broader systems change and food systems perspective, we work with diverse stakeholders like governments, businesses, civil society partners, and farmer producer organizations to inform and develop land use strategies based on robust evidence and analysis to build the resilience of local communities, mitigate climate impacts, bridge capacity gaps, monitor progress, and inform a pathway to building a restoration economy for people, nature, and climate.

About your role

The SLR Program at WRI India is seeking a Senior Program Research Specialist - Behavioral Science, Sustainable Landscapes and Restoration to support the ongoing work on food loss and waste. The larger focus of the work would be to catalyze systems change with a focus on circular food systems in India. With an aim to inspire, engage, and mobilize action on food loss and food waste in two large states in India as a critical lever to test and pilot strategies powered by robust evidence and consultations. Centering your focus on equity and inclusion, your role would be to build evidence-based strategies to reduce food loss and waste, stir action and behavioral change, and identify innovative solutions that can enhance livelihoods and improve access to nutritious food by addressing barriers to food loss and food waste.

How your day will unfold

The position is most suited to an individual who has a specialized degree in behavior science and has a passion for working in food sustainability and natural resource management in India. The position holder must be willing to travel to remote locations in the country as well as internationally as necessary.

• **Research (70%):** Developing behavioral science-informed research strategies for reducing food loss and food waste and ongoing food, land, and waste transition work at WRI India. This would include undertaking research, developing research frameworks, and behavior science-informed strategies to reduce food loss and waste for diverse stakeholders across the food supply chain. Developing high-quality knowledge products, reports, policy briefs, working papers that encapsulate research findings and communicate these to diverse audiences for influencing initiatives on reducing food loss and food waste in India. Stay updated on international and national issues on food loss and food waste and propose strategic opportunities for the program that align with strategy.
• **Partnerships, engagement, and communication (30%):** Work closely with the food, land, and water transition team in WRI India to incorporate behavioral issues in ongoing research. Support with the development of communication and outreach strategy and material like brochures, web content, op-eds, blogs considering behavioral norms and nudges for food and sustainability with the communications team. Support with program/project performance against contractual requirements for the project management team.

Qualifications and Requirements we seek

• Master's degree or PhD in behavioral science in food, agriculture, and natural resource management sector or any related disciplines.
• At least 7 years post-study research experience relating to behavioral science in food, agriculture, and natural resource management sector.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently as well as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated skills of engaging in participatory approaches and high levels of comfort in working with scientific data as well as local knowledge.
• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative data analysis is a requirement.
• Excellent strong research, interpersonal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to work calmly and enthusiastically under high pressure and ability to think creatively.
• Demonstrated skills preparing program documents, reports, policy briefs, etc., and team management.
• General awareness of the environment restoration, agriculture, and food domain key issues, events, and updates is essential.
• Strong ability to communicate clearly and effectively in conversation and writing, including professional quality writing for policy and communications products.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is essential. Additional proficiency in Hindi and Marathi will be advantageous.
• Ability to take the initiative, brainstorm, think creatively, juggle multiple priorities, and work under pressure with tight deadlines.
• The candidate must be willing to try new approaches and ideas and be innovative.
• Flexible and self-motivated with the capacity to multitask and prioritize, a self-starter having the ability to manage tasks with minimum guidance.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is a requirement.

Salary and Benefits

INR 11,00,000 to INR 13,00,000 CTC. Salary shall be commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.

Location

New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, India.

Duration

The position is a two-year position extendable based on performance and project requirements. The start date is as soon as possible.

List of Documents to be attached

• Cover letter
• Resume

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview purposes.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

WRI India.

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