Program Lead - Urban Transition

Program Lead - Urban Transition

About Arthan
Arthan is dedicated to helping individuals discover and connect with impactful jobs, people, and organizations in the social sector, addressing some of India’s largest and most complex social challenges. This opportunity is part of our efforts to recruit talented professionals on behalf of a partner organization. *Please note that this role is not within Arthan but with one of our esteemed partner organizations working in the impact sector.* 

Key Responsibilities

Research and Writing
  • Lead the research initiatives of the program.
  • Develop new methods/framework/planning tool etc.
  • Assign research tasks and monitor their execution, providing guidance and timely interventions.
  • Support the preparation of research/policy/project reports.
Engagement and Outreach
  • Lead the engagement part of the program including organising roundtables/
  • workshops/ conference, organise one-to-one meeting government and industry leaders, engage with media etc.
  • Develop strong relationships with stakeholders and lead program outreach.
  • Build and maintain networks with stakeholders across sectors, including government, industry, civil society organizations (CSOs), and media.
  • Represent organisation as a senior leader in high-level meetings and events, presenting institutional perspectives and insights.
  • Strengthen organisation's profile as a thought leader.
  • Design and manage a comprehensive outreach strategy to effectively communicate research findings.
  • Foster constructive policy-research partnerships with government, industry, and other stakeholders.
Leadership and Management
  • Ensure that all projects meet their objectives, timelines, and budgets while aligning with the organizations mission.
  • Monitor project performance and proactively address challenges.
  • Support in recruitment, mentoring, and managing a high-performing team.
  • Promote a collaborative and inclusive work environment that encourages innovation and sustainability.
Institutional Development
  • Work with program director to shape program strategies aligned with institutional priorities and sectoral needs.
  • Develop concept notes, proposals, and budgets for new projects.
  • Identify new initiatives and partnerships that advance programmatic goals in the region.
Additional Duties
  • Execute related assignments to enhance the Urban program.

Qualifications and Experience

  • Masters degree in Urban planning, Urban design or equivalent disciplines, with a B.Tech. or B.Arch.
  • Minimum 10 years of full-time experience in research, strategy consulting, or advisory roles focused on Green Cooling, Heat and Cooling Action Plan, Urban planning, Transportation planning, sustainable urban design, etc.
  • Experience of working in a think-tank space would be an added advantage.

The candidate must possess the following attributes:

  • Passion for working in civil society and driving positive societal change.
  • Excellent communication skills, including proficiency in writing, research, and presentations.
  • Excellent engagement skills including organising meetings/ workshops, engaging with media, use of social media to disseminate information etc.
  • Strong stakeholder engagement and information dissemination capabilities.
  • Proven ability to build relationships and engage with diverse groups on research and policy issues.
  • Experience of leading a high-performing team.
  • Demonstrated leadership and team-building capabilities.
  • Strategic thinking, intellectual curiosity, and critical analysis skills.
  • Ability to prioritize tasks and meet tight deadlines in policy-driven environments.
  • Organizational skills to manage multiple assignments effectively.
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