Senior Programme Associate, ESG

iForest is seeking a Senior Programme Associate for its ESG initiatives in Noida, India. The role involves supporting research and policy engagement in ESG, requiring strong analytical and communication skills. Candidates should have 6-8 years of experience and knowledge of ESG frameworks, sustainability reporting, and stakeholder engagement. The position is a long-term commitment (3 years+) and focuses on developing and executing impactful research in sustainable business practices.
Reference Code: ID/NCR-04-12/24

The International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST), is looking for an experienced and dynamic professional to support the organisation’s research initiatives and policy engagement in ESG.

A successful applicant must have a proven aptitude for analytical research and multi-stakeholder engagement, and excellent communication skills with government, and industry and related agencies. The candidate must have comprehensive knowledge of ESG framework and standards, ESG ratings and indexes, Sustainability reporting frameworks and guidelines, business strategy & finance, ESG risks and opportunities, materiality assessment and benchmarking etc. including a sound background and practical experience of working with industries, regulators, policymakers and other related stakeholders on environmental, social and governance factors.

Location: Noida, India

Required Experience: 6- 8 years

Education: Master’s Degree (Desired)

Length of commitment: 3 years+

Reporting to: Director – ESG & Industry

Position is based in Noida/ Delhi NCR

About iFOREST

iFOREST is an independent not-for-profit research and innovation organisation that was established in 2019 to identify, promote and scale up solutions for pressing environment-development challenges in India and other developing countries in Asia and Africa.

Our work is rooted in regional priorities to accelerate environmental actions at the sub-national level and to improve national policies and plans to support it. Our mission is to address the unique needs of regions by leveraging our resources and expertise to scale up national action and make a global impact. We use our regional knowledge to inform national policy and plans and strengthen international collaboration.

To achieve our goals, we conduct independent evidence-based research, develop new knowledge and innovative solutions, convene stakeholders to increase awareness and build consensus, and partner with think tanks, civil society, government agencies, philanthropies and industry to scale up solutions.

The ESG Programme

The ESG Programme is iFOREST’s new initiative to promote sustainable business practices in the global South. It will undertake research on ESG, evaluate ESG practices of companies, develop best practices and engage with banks and financial institutions to promote ESG. The programme also seeks to support investor community in decision-making for sustainable investment.

The programme is strongly focused on technical, financial, regulatory, legal, governance and socio-economic research, high-volume data handling, critical analysis, and regular engagement with stakeholders (e.g. corporates, investors, government departments and regulators).

The Role

The Senior Programme Associate will be responsible for the execution of research outputs pertaining to the ESG Programme. This would entail conducting impactful research and development of innovative ESG products.

Specific tasks to be undertaken are:

Support and execute the research initiatives of the ESG Programme
• Contribute to designing research assignments, including developing research strategy and methodology as well as identifying specific activities and tasks.
• Conduct in-depth primary and secondary research including meticulous quantitative and qualitative assessments.
• Write high quality research documents, including analytical reports and policy papers based on evidence.
• Mentor young researchers in the team in executing research assignments.

ESG Rating Research
• Evaluate national and global ESG ratings, methodologies, frameworks and their applicability to various sectors.
• Develop ESG rating frameworks, trial and test on sample companies, and ensure periodic updates to enhance relevance and accuracy
• Assess ESG performance of companies, identify gaps and provide advisory for strategic interventions towards targeted improvements.
• Monitor latest developments and trends in ESG and sustainability domain to update ESG program and activities.

Additional duties
• Contribute to shaping the overall strategy for the programme, aligned with institutional priorities.
• Identify new pathways, initiatives and partnerships, that contribute to programmatic goals.
• Support development of new ideas, concepts and proposals that further institutional objectives.
• Contribute to the institution’s brand building by representing iFOREST on various public platforms.
• Execute any related assignments that may arise in relation to the tasks or for the further enhancement of the programme.

Qualification & Work Experience
• Bachelors in engineering, environment science, economics, finance, business administration.
• Masters in economics, finance, accounting or MBA with focus on sustainability.
• Experience of working with a Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs), ESG Rating Providers (ERPs) and financial institutions will be preferred.
• CESGA, or similar certifications related to ESG or sustainability will be added advantage.
• Minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience in ESG reporting and rating, ESG related investment/financial analysis, ESG research, consulting and advisory is mandatory.

Skills

Technical Skills:
• Proficiency in ESG data tools, financial modeling, and reporting platforms (e.g., Bloomberg ESG, MSCI, Refinitiv).
• Expertise in frameworks like GRI, SASB, TCFD, and SDGs.
• Understanding of ESG ratings and performance metrics.

Analytical Skills:
• Evaluating ESG risks and opportunities across sectors.
• Conducting materiality assessments.
• Integrating ESG considerations into investment decisions.
• Excellent analytical and research skills, with the ability to analyze complex data sets and high-quality report preparation.

Why Choose iFOREST
• Purpose-driven work: Contributing from sub-national to national and global goals.
• Professional development: In areas and sectors that are contemporary and pressing.
• Compensation: We offer a salary that is not only competitive but recognizes and rewards your commitment and talent.
• Inclusive Culture: Benefit from a supportive and diverse work environment.

Remuneration

Competitive salary as per candidate’s experience and proficiency. Final designation of successful candidate will be based on qualification and experience.

Application deadline & instructions

Immediate opening. Position open until filled.

We prefer the candidate to submit an online application at https://iforest.global/careers/. In case of any difficulty, you may also send your application to contact@iforest.global mentioning the position and Reference code in the subject line. Applications must be accompanied by a CV and a Cover Letter. Please ensure that the Cover Letter is no more than 500 words and clearly describes your suitability for the position described and your motivation to join iFOREST.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.