Senior Specialist – Food Systems

The India Climate Collaborative is seeking a Senior Specialist – Food Systems to manage grants and programs focused on sustainable food systems and agroecological practices. The role involves strategic planning, donor engagement, fundraising, and knowledge generation in agricultural resilience. Ideal candidates should have experience in rural development and climate adaptation. The position is remote, allowing candidates to work from anywhere.
About us: The India Climate Collaborative (ICC) was established in 2020 to coordinate and support Indian philanthropists scaling corporate and family philanthropy in India for climate impact. We unlock philanthropic capital, identify catalytic climate priorities, and create connective infrastructure to support that mission We were founded by some of India's pre-eminent corporate and philanthropic leaders, including Rohini Nilekani, Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra, Nadir Godrej, and others.

Our team is small yet mighty, tight‐knit, and driven by a shared passion for achieving our audacious goals. We value self-starters; someone who is willing to roll up their sleeves and get things done, while doing it well. Our ideal candidate is mission-driven, has strong attention to detail, and a team-first mindset.

About This Role: The Senior Specialist for Food Systems will be responsible for all aspects of grant and program management, focusing on agroecological approaches, sustainable food systems, and enhancing resilience in agricultural landscapes. Candidates with experience in rural development, agriculture, forest ecosystems, climate adaptation, NBS and resilience building will be prioritized.

The Senior Specialist will report to ICC’s Sector Catalyst Strategy Lead.

Responsibilities:
Grants/Programme Management:
• Lead the day-to-day execution and management of the Agroecological Transformations and Food Systems Programmes and Funds
• Implement a people-first approach, focusing on vulnerable ecosystems including agriculture, forests, and wetlands
• Provide leadership to ICC-supported initiatives through strategic planning, networking, and knowledge sharing
• Oversee grant management and liaise with partner organizations, ensuring regular monitoring and relationship management from inception to grant closure
• Coordinate and communicate with internal and external stakeholders, supporting program partners and ensuring effective knowledge integration

Donor and Consortium Management:
• Develop and support donor engagement strategies, including presentations, reports, trackers, and other deliverables
• Assist in creating donor collateral such as newsletters and fundraising materials
• Manage relationships with donors and consortia, ensuring alignment with program goals and objectives
• Provide sector knowledge and insights for communications and collaterals

Fundraising:
• Lead fundraising efforts for the Agroecological Transformations (CAT) programme, identifying and securing new funding opportunities
• Develop compelling proposals and pitches to attract funding from private and corporate philanthropies
• Maintain and expand a network of potential donors and funding partners

Insights and Knowledge Generation:
• Stay updated on the latest developments in food systems, agriculture, climate resilience, NBS, Land Use, biodiversity, and land use
• Develop and support the creation of sectoral knowledge products and ecosystem roadmaps, sharing insights and learnings with the sector and for internal guidance

Develop ICC’s Offering on Food Systems:
• Enhance ICC’s portfolio and strategic approach to food systems, integrating agroecological principles and practices
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to design and implement innovative food systems projects and initiatives
• Promote ICC’s work on food systems transformation through conferences, publications, and other public forums

Requirements:
• A master’s degree in agriculture sciences, sustainable agriculture management, forest studies, rural development, environmental and sustainability management, or a related field
• At least 12 to 14 years of relevant work experience
• Strong interest and understanding of Indian food systems, agricultural landscapes, climate issues, and the non-profit sector
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with experience in creating high-quality reports, presentations, and documentation
• Strong interpersonal skills with experience managing diverse external stakeholders
• Ability to process and compile information from multiple sources into presentable formats
• Attention to detail and excellent review skills
• Strategic and creative thinking abilities, with strong project management skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines efficiently
• Solutions-oriented, resourceful, and adaptive in thinking

What we offer:
• Working with the leading minds on climate change across philanthropy, research institutions, government and implementing organizations, as part of India’s climate movement
• Growth and exposure in a quickly growing start-up organization, with a young team committed to professional development
• Opportunity to institute best practices, and develop ICC traditions, and be part of building the experience of working at the organization
• A competitive salary based on industry standards

Terms of employment:

Location: Delhi/Remote

Employment Type: Consultant

Timeline: Prospective candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and will be interviewed on a rolling basis. Due to the small capacity of our team, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The India Climate Collaborative, registered as the Council of Philanthropies for Climate Action, is an equal opportunity employer.