About us
WRI India, an independent knowledge organisation registered as India Resources Trust, provides objective information and practical proposals to foster environmentally sound and socially equitable development. Through research, analysis, and recommendations, WRI India puts ideas into action to build transformative solutions to protect the earth, promote livelihoods, and enhance human well-being. Know more: wri-india.org

Program overview

WRI India’s Food, Land and Water program aims to inform India’s transition towards sustainable and resilient food and land use systems focusing on developing interdisciplinary nature-based solutions like sustainable agriculture and landscape restoration to mitigate climate impacts, enhance jobs and livelihoods and improve nutritional security. To catalyse systems change with a focus on circular food systems in India, we also focus on developing equitable strategies to reduce food loss and food waste and mitigate climate impacts.

With broader systems change and food systems perspective, we work with diverse stakeholders like governments, businesses, civil society partners and farmer producer organizations to inform and develop land use strategies based on robust evidence and analysis to build the resilience of local communities to mitigate climate impacts, bridge capacity gaps, monitor progress, and inform a pathway to building a restoration economy for people, nature, and climate.

Job Highlight

WRI India is seeking a Senior Program Associate – Responsible Restoration Value Chains to support the development of bamboo-based restoration value chains in central India, particularly in Maharashtra and surrounding regions.

This role focuses on implementation, coordination, and applied research. The selected candidate will help develop practical solutions that link landscape

restoration with livelihoods and market opportunities, while also supporting systems to monitor and track restoration outcomes (MRV).

The role will involve working with government agencies, community institutions, businesses, and civil society organizations to strengthen the ecosystem needed to scale restoration activities.

What will you do:

• Development of bamboo-based livelihood and restoration value chains
• Monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems for restoration
• Research and analysis to inform policy, financing, and implementation
• Partnerships that enable scaling of restoration programs What you will do:

Restoration Value Chain Development (55%) - Support the development and strengthening of bamboo-based value chains linked to landscape restoration.

Responsibilities include:

• Mapping key actors across the bamboo value chain, including producers, processors, traders, and buyers
• Identifying gaps in production, processing, market access, logistics, and finance
• Supporting the design and implementation of pilot initiatives that improve bamboo-based livelihoods
• Working with farmer producer organizations (FPOs), community groups, and local enterprises
• Engaging with private sector partners to strengthen market linkages
• Identifying opportunities to increase value addition and income for local communities
• Supporting development of scalable models for restoration-linked value chains

Project Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement (25%) - Support coordination and implementation of program activities.

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinating research and project deliverables
• Supporting engagement with government agencies, private sector partners, NGOs, and community organizations
• Organizing or contributing to workshops, consultations, and meetings
• Representing WRI India in selected events and discussions
• Supporting internal reporting and documentation

Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) (20%) - Support systems to track and measure restoration progress and outcomes.

Responsibilities include:

• Supporting data collection and management related to restoration activities
• Helping develop indicators and monitoring frameworks
• Supporting analysis of restoration outcomes such as:
• area restored
• ecological outcomes
• livelihood impacts
• Contributing to data systems, dashboards, and monitoring tools
• Ensuring data quality and supporting reporting requirements

What you will need:

• Master’s degree or a higher degree in Public Policy, Economics, Environmental Studies, Development Studies, Environmental Governance, Natural Resource Management or related fields:

• 4–7 years of relevant professional experience in areas such as landscape restoration, environmental policy or land use policy, rural livelihoods and value chains, climate or natural resource programs, environmental or restoration finance, applied research and program implementation, Restoration-linked business models

• Experience working with community institutions, producer organizations, or value chains is desirable.

• Experience with policy and program analysis

• Ability to conduct qualitative and quantitative research

• Familiarity with monitoring, evaluation, or impact measurement

• Reliable analytical and writing skills

• Ability to translate complex information into clear and practical insights

• Strong coordination and stakeholder engagement skills

• Experience of engaging with cross-sector stakeholders (government, finance, enterprises, community institutions, research organizations)

• Ability to work independently (as this is a location-based role instead of an office based role) and manage multiple tasks

• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint

• Some experience using research databases and analytical tools

• Fluency in English. Marathi is a must. Hindi is an added advantage.

• Creating reports, supplementing reports etc.

Location: Nagpur, Maharashtra

Potential Salary and Benefits: INR 14,00,000 to INR 17,50,000 Per Annum

“Salary shall be commensurate with experience, skills, and internal parity. WRI India offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.”

Duration: 1 years Term hire (extension based on performance and project requirements)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) @WRI India

WRI India values and promotes diversity, equity and inclusion across all areas of our

work and workforce. Integrating these values into our actions fosters a progressive and collaborative culture and can

Start date: As soon as possible

List of Documents to be attached:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview purpose.

How to Apply

Qualified applicants should apply online at www.wri.org/careers. All applications must be submitted online through this career portal in order to be formally considered. Only select applicants will be contacted for interview. There will be a writing test conducted with final candidates. Please do not contact program staff directly for this position.

Kindly note that WRI India’s recruitment process does not involve any payment at any stage. Applicants will never be asked to share bank account or financial information as part of the application. All official communication and offer letters are issued only through authorised WRI India email IDs.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) @WRI India

WRI India values and promotes diversity, equity and inclusion across all areas of our work and workforce. Integrating these values into our actions fosters a progressive and collaborative culture and can also enhance our impact. It is our responsibility to create a welcoming working environment for people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and experience to learn together. We are responsible for fostering a safe and inclusive workplace where questions, concerns and information about diversity, equity and inclusion are part of our ongoing dialogue and development.

Learn more about WRI India’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Click Here

People-centric to the core:

We keep our people at the center of everything we do - from a welcoming work environment to benefits and a culture that encourages staff to stay healthy, happy, engaged, and growing.

Some of the non-monetary benefits that our staff get:

Health benefits: We cover health insurance for you and your loved ones for up to INR 8 lakhs

Term Insurance: Our term insurance policy covers life coverage of 50 lakhs per staff member

Employee Assistance program: Promoting mental well-being and supporting staff in achieving a satisfying work-life balance

Health & Nutrition: Personalized diet recommendation from a certified dietitian based on the physical health condition and lifestyle

Flexible work schedule: Alternative work arrangements for all who are eligible by nature of their job

Learning culture: Workshops and trainings to empower staff, encourage new learning opportunities

Rest and Recharge weeks: We encourage staff to take time off to rest, rejuvenate, upskill, and pursue their interests.

Our leave policy: Avail personal time off at 36 per year, along with public holidays, maternity, paternity, and adoption leaves.

Equal employment @WRI India

We believe in equal employment, it is our policy to recruit and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to caste, religion, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, parental status, or disability.