Job Opportunity for Research Analyst – Solar Agriculture at CEEW in New Delhi

Designation offered: Research Analyst

Number of Job openings: 2 (one is based in Delhi, and the other is based in Jaipur)

Reporting to: Programme Associate

Team/Focus area: Energy Transitions

Location: Delhi/Jaipur

Purpose:

CEEW is looking for qualified individuals passionate about bringing solar revolution to agricultural consumers by facilitating adoption under the ongoing PM KUSUM scheme. This role will require the candidates to actively engage with central ministries and concerned state departments to provide necessary implementation and research support to develop fit-for-purpose solutions towards accelerating the PM KUSUM roll-out by overcoming market barriers. Having prior knowledge of various policies, programmes and regulations associated with the PM KUSUM scheme and the Indian agricultural system would be an added advantage. CEEW’s Energy Transitions team serves as a knowledge partner to various state nodal agencies and assists in implementing schemes outlined in their renewable energy policies. The aim of the project is to identify barriers and suggest institutional, financial, technological, regulatory, and behavioural solutions to enhance the adoption of solar agriculture in India. The candidate should have prior experience in conducting both qualitative and quantitative research and must be able to collaborate effectively with industry, government, and civil society stakeholders at the state and sub-state levels.

CEEW provides an intellectually stimulating and supportive work environment that emphasises research rigour, innovative thinking, and strategic outreach. We are seeking a meticulous and motivated individual who is passionate about translating research into action. In addition to solar agriculture research, the candidate will be responsible for providing data collection, and analytical assistance to the broader team focused on increasing the share of renewables in the grid. We recommend that applicants visit the Energy Transitions team page on the CEEW website for more details about our projects.

Job Duties and Accountabilities

Primary Responsibilities

●        Regularly track important research findings, policy and regulatory developments in the sector and conduct rigorous literature review.

●        Conducting research: The research analyst will be responsible for conducting thorough research into solar agriculture. This will involve reviewing existing literature, conducting field studies, and gathering data to gain a deeper understanding of the field.

●        Analysing data: The research analyst will be responsible for analysing data related to solar agriculture. This will involve using statistical and technical softwares (like python, SAM, excel etc.) and other tools to identify trends, patterns, and correlations in the data. It will also involve travel to project sites to collect data or conduct interviews for research.

●        Actioning the research finding: The research analysts must communicate their findings to various audiences, including researchers, policymakers, and the public. This will involve writing articles for academic journals, presenting at conferences, or creating educational materials for the public, with the help of CEEW’s outreach team.

●        Collaborating with others: The research analyst will need to work closely with other researchers, farmers, solar developers, state officials and other stakeholders in the renewables and agriculture industry. Collaboration will be essential to ensure that the research is relevant and valuable to those who will be implementing solar agriculture practices.

●        Identifying new research opportunities: The research analyst will be responsible for identifying new research opportunities in the field of solar agriculture. This will involve keeping up-to-date with the latest developments in solar technology and agriculture, and identifying areas where further research is needed to advance the field.

Selection Criteria

Education and Experience

●        Master’s degree in public policy, energy engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, energy economics or related field.

●        At least 1-3 years of relevant work experience. However, candidates with extremely strong quantitative skills with lesser experience may also be considered.

●        The candidate must possess a robust research background, demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications.

●        The candidate should possess in-depth knowledge of the electricity distribution and solar sector.

Key skills

●        Strong ability to organise, process, and analyse large data sets that are used and derived through power/energy models.

●        Excellent written and oral communication skills.

●        Ability to summarise and communicate the insights/findings as reports and presentations.

●        Strong technical expertise and interpersonal skills.

●        Proficiency in MS Excel and understanding of programming languages like Python, R, and other software for performing quantitative analysis/simulations.

●        Proficiency in Hindi and English is a must; proficiency in multiple languages is preferred.

●        Experience in engaging with different stakeholders, including central and state government officials, DISCOM officials, and researchers.

Personality

●        Willingness to work on multi-disciplinary projects.

●        Willingness to learn new research and project management skills.

●        Ability to identify creative solutions to vexing challenges in taking policy to action.

●        Ability to adapt and deliver under tight deadlines in a professional environment.

●        Ability to effectively work in a team while being able to independently drive the work with minimum assistance.

●        Ability and willingness to dig deeper into details, while also keeping a sense of the broader objectives and big picture.

●        Willingness to learn, grow and develop at a personal and professional front, at a rapid pace with a steep learning curve.

●        Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment.

CEEW operates in a dynamic environment, and the candidate will be required to show flexibility in undertaking a variety of tasks.

Compensation

Competitive compensation – commensurate to the qualification/experience and matching the best of standards adopted by industry or other similar organisations for the proposed role.

Application Process

CEEW is an equal opportunity employer, and the selection process does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, or sexuality. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested applicants are advised to apply at the earliest possible.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We appreciate your interest.