Job Opportunity for Project Associate / Manager at A-PAG in Delhi

About A-PAG

Air Pollution Action Group (A-PAG) was set up in 2019 by Ashish Dhawan (Founder and Chairperson, Ashoka University and Central Square Foundation), Vijay Chadda (previously CEO of Bharti Foundation) and Mohit Beotra (previously Chief Brand Officer of Airtel).  Ashish is a member of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining regions.

A-PAG is focused on strategic implementation of solutions to combat air pollution and has created a niche for itself within the broader ecosystem in the last 2 years. A-PAG works with Government on a pro-bono basis; we have made significant progress with programs at the National as well as State level. Some of our projects are as follows:

A-PAG works closely with the Punjab Government to combat stubble burning. Our efforts are focused on convincing farmers to adopt alternative solutions. These efforts include mass media & social media campaigns, mobile first initiatives as well as tech enabled solutions to ease hiring of implements.
In Delhi, we have worked on multiple programs. Currently, we are engaged with the Municipal Corporation on a massive program aimed at dispersed sources. This covers all ~300 wards across the city.

As part of our program with Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BPSCB), we are active in Patna, Muzaffarpur & Gaya. Various initiatives are underway to address air pollution across the state of Bihar.
We work in Gurgaon in partnership with the Municipal Corporation. Starting with a pilot currently being run in a limited area, the program is scheduled to be rolled out across the entire city within the next 120 days.

In Uttar Pradesh (UP) we have a program running in coordination with the Smart City Integrated Control & Command Centre in Lucknow. We are now expanding our presence in cities across the state.

About the Role

Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) implement National Clean Air Program (NCAP) aimed at reducing air pollution. A-PAG is supporting these efforts through a Project Management Unit (PMU) focused on improving efficiency of the program.

As a part of this team, your role is to help develop & implement initiatives aimed at improving implementation of NCAP scheme. This is an opportunity for you to have a direct impact on solving the air pollution crisis in India, by impacting the Government’s flagship program.

Working with your Team Lead, you would focus on the following:

NCAP Implementation: You will be engaged with the implementation of NCAP scheme. You will have to coordinate with officials at MoEFCC and CPCB in developing monitoring and evaluation strategies for NCAP. You will also monitor progress of non-attainment cities in their air pollution mitigation activities listed under City Action Plans and State Action Plans.

Monitoring and Review: You will be required to put in place a robust monitoring and review process. This includes supporting MoEFCC and CPCB in organizing different Committee meetings of NCAP schemes to ensure timely achievement of NCAP milestones.

Supporting Government engagement: From Government officials in the Central Ministry to State level SPCB’s to non-attainment cities, this program requires convergence and coordination of multiple stakeholders. You would be expected to manage these relationships in streamlining smooth implementation of NCAP.

Supporting Non-Attainment Cities: ULB’s of non-attainment cities are at the forefront in implementing the NCAP scheme. You would be required to support ULB’s in planning their activities; while enabling clear communication and compliance with processes agreed with MoEFCC and CPCB.

Ensuring effective project management: All our programs need to be backed by strong project management to ensure timely & effective implementation. You need to demonstrate a discipline of good project management and play your part in ensuring the deliverables of the team are met successfully.

Eligibility

• Bachelor or Masters’ degree in relevant fields, including business or development sector management, environmental studies or public policy. BE/BTech would be an advantage.
• 3-5 years’ experience demonstrating excellent project delivery and relationship development with Government officials.
• Experience working in the space of environment/ air pollution would be preferred but is not essential – however, passion to solve the air pollution crisis in India is critical.

Skill Sets Required

• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and build and maintain positive relationships both internally and externally
• Project Management skills are needed to ensure programs are delivered against agreed timelines with requisite quality.
• Excellent problem-solving and strategic thinking skills, ability to analyzequalitative and quantitative data and give key insights.
• Ability to learn quickly – air pollution is a relatively nascent space and new knowledge is constantly emerging which we need to understand & utilize to our benefit.
• Writing skills in English is key – documentation of best practices is a key deliverable for the role