Senior Program Research Specialist – Finance Full Time NEW

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 For Food, Land And Water

WRI India’s Food, Land and Water program supports India’s shift toward more sustainable and climate-resilient food and land systems. The program focuses on practical, nature-based approaches such as restoring landscapes and promoting sustainable farming practices that can reduce climate risks, create jobs and livelihoods, and improve nutrition security. To support long-term change, the program also works on reducing food loss and food waste through fair and inclusive strategies that strengthen circular food systems and lower environmental impacts.

Taking a systems-wide approach, we work with governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and farmer producer organizations to develop land-use strategies grounded in evidence and data. Our work helps strengthen the resilience of local communities, address capacity gaps, track progress, and support a restoration economy that benefits people, nature, and the climate.

For more details, refer to the webpage – Food, Land & Water | WRI India

Job Highlight

Finance is critical to accelerating progress on global goals for people, nature, and climate by mobilizing diverse funding sources, aligning efforts, and enabling systems to work more effectively together. Achieving impact in areas such as landscape restoration, sustainable agriculture, and food loss and waste reduction requires innovative and inclusive financing approaches that support local communities, smallholder farmers, and small businesses while strengthening value chains and accelerating systems change.

There is an urgent need to unlock greater public, private, philanthropic, and commercial capital to innovate and scale technologies, local infrastructure, community-based enterprises, business models, and programs that drive food system transformation. At the same time, financing instruments must be fit for purpose, grounded in practical realities, and designed to strengthen investment readiness so the sector can effectively absorb and deploy capital. For example, current public, private, and philanthropic investment in reducing food loss and waste does not match the scale of the challenge or the ambition of SDG 12.3. Strengthening risk-mitigation mechanisms, including blended finance and insurance solutions, will be essential to mobilize greater private investment.

You will work closely with teams across WRI India’s Food, Land and Water (FLW) program, international offices, and external partners to advance work at the intersection of finance, policy, and markets. You will contribute to developing innovative financing solutions for reducing food loss and waste, building India’s restoration economy, advancing blended finance and insurance mechanisms for risk mitigation, and enabling financing pathways for sustainable food systems. You will also support research and knowledge generation, strategic partnerships, technical advisory engagements, and program development across FLW priorities.

What Will You Do

You will play a key role in leading research, coordinating and driving action on FLFW through research, knowledge sharing, and implementation support.

• Develop and advance the program’s finance strategy for sustainable agriculture, food loss and waste reduction, and landscape restoration, including building relationships with banks, NBFCs, DFIs, MDBs, and other financial institutions.
• Develop financial models, financing frameworks, and clear reports or presentations that explain their approach, outcomes, and implications.
• Support partner organizations in designing finance strategies and building sustainable, scalable business models.
• Conduct research on financing trends and opportunities in sustainable agriculture, food loss and waste reduction, and landscape restoration.
• Produce reports, case studies, and policy briefs that highlight the importance of effective financing in addressing key food and land system challenges.
• Serve as the focal point for finance-related coordination across FLW teams, including facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration.
• Co-develop and support discussions on finance through roundtables, webinars, and other stakeholder convenings focused on food systems transformation.
• Develop and implement work plans and processes to support effective project delivery.
• Support internal capacity building through workshops, trainings, and knowledge-sharing activities on finance for sustainable agriculture, restoration, and food loss and waste reduction.
• Assist with donor reporting, partner communications, and fundraising support by preparing narrative reports and related materials.
• Contribute to external communications through blogs, newsletters, social media, and other outreach materials.

What Will You Need

• Master’s degree in business, finance, economics, commerce, or a related field.
• 7 to 10 years of relevant experience in strategic planning and project leadership within finance and the agriculture, food systems, or restoration sectors.
• Strong understanding of sustainable and green finance, climate finance, ESG, food loss and waste, restoration, sustainable agriculture, and related business models in the Indian context. Knowledge of BRSR and ESG frameworks is an added advantage.
• Experience working with the private sector, particularly on corporate finance, investment, or climate finance initiatives.
• Proficiency in developing financial models for investment analysis and valuation.
• Knowledge of green and sustainable finance frameworks relevant to food systems, agriculture, and restoration.
• Experience conducting high-quality research and translating complex ideas into clear insights for different audiences.
• Experience working in interdisciplinary teams across themes such as food loss and waste, food supply chains, restoration, and sustainable agriculture.
• Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to convert ideas into practical plans and actions.
• Proven project management skills, including familiarity with project management tools and methods.
• Strong leadership, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse partners.
• Data-driven approach to decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; proficiency in an additional Indian language (such as Hindi) is an advantage.

Potential Salary and Benefits: INR 18,00,000 to 24,00,000 Per Annum

Salary shall be commensurate with experience and skills. WRI India offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.

Location: Delhi, India

Duration: 1 year – extendable based on performance and project requirements

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.

Click here to know more about our benefits Careers | WRI INDIA (wri-india.org)

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.