Job Opportunity for Program Associate – Urban Designer at World Resources Institute (WRI) India in New Delhi, India

**Job Title:** Program Associate – Urban Designer

**Organization:** World Resources Institute (WRI) India

**About WRI India:** WRI India is an independent charity dedicated to fostering environmentally sound and socially equitable development.  Through research, analysis, and recommendations, WRI India works to create transformative solutions for environmental protection, livelihood promotion, and enhanced human well-being.  WRI India is associated with the global research organization, WRI, and currently employs over 300 researchers across offices in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

**Job Location:** New Delhi, India

**Job Summary:**

The Program Associate will provide technical support to the Eco City-Regions (ECR) project team and city partners.  Leveraging expertise in water-sensitive planning, urban design, environmental management, and climate resilience, the successful candidate will contribute to research and implementation efforts.  The role reports to the Manager, Urban Development, WRI India.

**Responsibilities:**

* Provide design support for WRI India initiatives focusing on climate resilience, environmental governance, urban ecology, water-sensitive planning, and landscape design.

* Coordinate the execution of the ‘Thriving Eco City-regions’ initiative, collaborating with internal teams and external stakeholders.

* Organize and manage activities such as coalitions, platforms, workshops, and conferences.

* Support conceptual designs, reviews, and analyses of initiatives, contributing to deliverables (layout designs, reports, visual analytics, dashboards).

* Maintain close communication with WRI India team members, ensuring project progress reporting.

* Provide technical design support to project partners and stakeholders, including design layouts, research, on-site activities, and technical reviews.

* Support relationship management with donors and implementation partners.

* Contribute to organizing and administering technical training and capacity building for stakeholders on government missions (AMRUT 2.0, Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, Smart Cities Mission).

**Qualifications and Requirements:**

* PhD/Master’s/equivalent postgraduate degree in water-sensitive urban planning, landscape/urban design, water resources management, urban ecology, or a related field is preferred.

* Minimum 2 years of relevant work experience with city/state/regional planning initiatives and large-scale action research projects related to climate resilience, water-sensitive urban planning, urban ecology, and environmental management.

* Specialization or experience in climate resilience, ecologically driven urban planning, and regional/sub-regional water management is preferred.

* Strong understanding of Indian urban development, climate, and environmental paradigms, policies, trends, innovations, and practices related to water resilience and sponge cities.

* Experience with research and design tools (network analysis, integrated modelling, sustainable water systems strategies).  Advanced GIS skills are a plus.

* Demonstrated experience in designing climate-resilient solutions, managing implementation projects, and conducting quantitative and qualitative data analysis.

* Proven experience in team and stakeholder management.

* Experience working with government ministries/departments and non-government stakeholders (academic/research institutes, civil society organizations).

* Excellent facilitation, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

* Strong attention to detail, ability to manage multiple priorities, and commitment to ethical work practices.

* Ability to work effectively in diverse teams and communities.

* Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

**Compensation:** INR 10,50,000 to INR 12,50,000 CTC (commensurate with experience and skills).  WRI offers a comprehensive benefits package.

**Duration:** 2 years (extendable based on performance and project requirements)

**Start Date:** As soon as possible