India Country Director

Sustainability, Climate and Transition research organisation

Full-time (1 year with potential for renewal). Based in India, preferably Delhi or Mumbai

Asia Research and Engagement (ARE) brings the voice of investors to Asia’s sustainable development challenges. We run collaborative engagement programs across Asia, assembling coalitions of investors to address strategic sustainability issues and using dialogue and shareholder escalation tools to shift the mindsets of senior decision-makers across finance and industry.

ARE has a team of highly motivated professionals with a range of backgrounds and disciplines who help to drive change. Our activities include running investor-backed engagement programmes and producing high-grade research on sustainability themes and management by Asian listed companies. Our head office is in Singapore and has a total of 20 employees and consultants in 3 locations in Asia.

Our main areas of expertise are energy transition, financed emissions and sustainable food and agriculture systems including protein transition. We target a range of sector related Asian companies and banks.

ARE is looking for a Country Director to lead our strategy in India, managing relationships with key corporates, partners, investors, and other stakeholders. You will be responsible for executing the organisation’s strategic initiatives in the country, fostering partnerships to drive sustainable impact, and representing the organisation’s values and mission in all engagements. This is a leadership role requiring a dynamic individual with a proven track record in stakeholder management and corporate engagement.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Execution
- Develop ARE’s strategy in India by ensuring alignment with global goals and local relevance
- Develop and implement strategies to expand the organisation’s presence and influence with Indian corporates and banks
- Build a team to implement ARE’s mission in India

Stakeholder Engagement and Management
- Cultivate and manage high-level relationships with corporates, investors, and other key stakeholders including government agencies and civil society organisations
- Drive investor-backed engagement initiatives in energy transition and finance emissions
- Serve as the primary point of contact for investors, corporates and partners, ensuring clear communication and successful collaboration.

Local Representation
- Represent the organisation in high-level meetings, conferences, and events, effectively communicating our impact and goals
- Act as the organisation’s spokesperson in India, ensuring our mission and achievements are clearly articulated and understood by stakeholders
- Together with HR, assist to develop a culture of collaboration within the India office and ensuring efficient and effective operations
- Assist to generate leads for the India Protein Transition Director to engage and build relationships

Energy Transition Programme
- Lead our energy transition programme in India by collaborating with investors and funders to drive change through research and engagement with corporates and banks
- Oversee energy transition programme implementation in India by monitoring and ensuring timely delivery, achievement of impact goals as well as prepare reports for internal and external stakeholders
- Work with Finance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, including financial and reporting requirements

Fundraising & Resource Mobilisation
- Identify and pursue opportunities for funding and resource mobilisation, working closely with the ARE’s fundraising team
- Prepare proposals and presentations to secure additional funding for projects in India

Requirements and competencies:

- Over twenty (20) years of proven work experience including over ten (10) years in a leadership role, ideally within the non-profit, impact, or sustainability sectors
- Strong background in corporate engagement, with the ability to manage complex relationships with corporates, investors, and other stakeholders
- Demonstrated success in leading programmes that drive environmental and/or social impact
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence high-level stakeholders
- Experience in managing teams and working across diverse functional areas
- Knowledge of the Indian corporate and social impact landscape is highly desirable
- Strong financial acumen and experience with budget management
- Master’s degree in business administration, public policy, social sciences, or a related field is preferred