Program Manager – Restoration Economy

About WRI India

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 (FLW) 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. For more details, refer to the webpage - Food, Land & Water | WRI India

Job Highlight

WRI India is seeking a Program Manager – Restoration Economy to manage a portfolio of restoration projects and contribute across the Protect & Restore pillar’s priorities to strengthen the land-based restoration economy in India. Land-based restoration economy refers to the economic activity that contributes to restoring and sustainably managing natural ecosystems, as well as the economic value generated by healthier, restored landscapes.

You will help identify structural barriers and practical interventions across policy, finance, value chains and markets, combining research and analysis with project delivery and stakeholder management, while managing multiple workstreams with a high degree of ownership. You will use evidence and stakeholder insights to inform strategy, policy, partnerships and implementation, while helping connect government, finance actors, businesses, community institutions, civil society and research partners to strengthen the wider ecosystem for restoration.

What will you do:

1. Research, Analysis & Knowledge Generation (50%)

Generate and synthesize evidence to inform strategy, policy, financing and implementation across the pillar’s priorities.

• Lead or contribute to applied research and analysis on the different aspects of a restoration economy, including public and private finance, green economy approaches, place-based restoration and restoration-focused value chains.
• Assess policy, institutional and financing contexts—including public schemes, incentives and finance mechanisms, and private capital flows and investment mechanisms—to identify structural barriers, gaps and opportunities to strengthen public funding and mobilize private capital for restoration.
• Undertake or oversee landscape, stakeholder, market and value chain assessments.
• Translate research findings and stakeholder insights into practical recommendations for policy, financing and implementation.

• Apply monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) approaches and support the development of results frameworks and monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems for projects.
• Use monitoring evidence, research and stakeholder insights to support learning, adaptive management and wider uptake of successful approaches.
• Develop and contribute to knowledge products and strategic communications that strengthen the case for a restoration economy that delivers ecological, climate and livelihood benefits.

2. Project Management, Stakeholder Engagement & Team Development (50%)

Manage projects and partnerships that advance restoration priorities, strengthen collaboration across the restoration ecosystem and contribute to team building.

• Plan, co-develop and manage projects from design through delivery and close-out, tracking milestones, deliverables, risks and follow-up to support high-quality, timely results.
• Support ecosystem orchestration by connecting policymakers, public actors, private capital providers, technical partners, value chain players, local businesses, institutions and communities to advance restoration economy outcomes.
• Contribute to fundraising and pipeline development by identifying opportunities, providing inputs to concept notes and proposals, and supporting donor engagement and reporting.
• Convene stakeholders and represent WRI India in consultations, workshops and other forums.
• Manage and mentor junior team members, supporting their performance, development and well-being.

• Collaborate across FLW program, WRI India and the global network on institutional initiatives, including projects, events, communications and other strategic priorities.

What will you need:

Education and experience

• Master’s degree or equivalent in one or more of the following: economics, business, development finance, public policy, agriculture, landscape restoration, environmental studies, development studies, forestry, ecology or related field.
• 5-8 years of progressively responsible experience in one or more areas such as landscape restoration or nature-based solutions, green economy, green finance, public policy, sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, natural resource management, rural livelihoods, enterprise development, value chains, climate adaptation and resilience.
• Demonstrated experience conducting research and analysis and managing projects, partnerships or multi-stakeholder workstreams, with significant responsibility for project planning, delivery, stakeholder engagement and risk management.
• Commitment to advancing landscape restoration as a solution for climate resilience and sustainable development, aligned with WRI India’s mission and values.
• Strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize evidence and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Strategic and systems thinking, with the ability to connect policy, finance, markets, institutions and community outcomes, and to adapt emerging global restoration approaches to the Indian context.
• Strong project management skills, including planning, coordination, risk tracking, monitoring, reporting and accountability for results.
• Strong stakeholder management and collaboration skills, with the ability to build relationships and align diverse interests across government, finance, businesses, communities and civil society.
• Experience in areas such as green economy and finance, sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, resource-efficient agriculture, and restoration-focused value chains.
• Sound judgement, ownership and a solutions-oriented mindset, with the ability to work independently, navigate ambiguity, learn quickly and deliver high-quality outputs.

• A team player with the ability to lead with empathy and contribute to an inclusive and respectful team environment.

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

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

Location: Delhi

Duration: 1 Year term Hire (Extendable based on performance and project requirements)

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 wri-india.org career section. 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.

About Us

WRI India, an independent knowledge organization 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