Junior Program Associate – Urban Development in Chennai | WRI India | ₹7.5-9 LPA

WRI India

WRI India is an independent knowledge organisation registered as India Resources Trust. It provides objective information and practical proposals that help development happen in ways that are good for the environment and fair to people. Through research, analysis and clear recommendations, WRI India turns ideas into action to protect the earth, support livelihoods and improve human well-being. Its urban development work helps change the way cities are planned and designed, so that growth benefits people, nature and the climate, using evidence, applied research and a wide network of partners and experts. WRI India works with state governments, city administrations, academic institutions and local partners to help cities become resilient, low-carbon and liveable. This role sits within WRI India's Cities team, which supports sustainable urban development, regional planning and climate-resilient work in Tamil Nadu.

Role

As Junior Program Associate you will be based in Chennai and support WRI India's work on sustainable urban development, rural to urban transition, regional planning, multi-hazard geography and climate-resilient development across Tamil Nadu. You will help the team work with state government departments, local governments, academic institutions, subject experts and other partners, and you will contribute to stakeholder engagement, data collection and analysis, project reports, communication materials and technical assistance. You will work under the supervision of the Cities team and in close collaboration with government partners.

Responsibilities

• Support stakeholder consultations, workshops, meetings, training programmes and capacity-building activities.
• Represent WRI India alongside the team in meetings and stakeholder engagements as needed.
• Collect primary and secondary data through field visits, surveys and desk research.
• Document project findings and help manage project databases and datasets.
• Carry out basic spatial and GIS-based analysis that supports planning and decision-making.
• Assist in preparing project reports, policy briefs and concept notes.
• Prepare case studies, presentations, meeting records and communication materials for government and project partners.
• Develop knowledge products that make the team's work useful to partners.
• Support monitoring of project progress and help identify implementation challenges.
• Assist in developing corrective actions when a project runs into difficulty.
• Travel to pilot study areas as the work requires.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, Environmental Science, Geography, Regional Planning or a related discipline.
• 0 to 2 years of relevant professional experience in urban development, regional planning, environmental management, sustainable development or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience engaging and coordinating with government agencies, local governments, academic institutions and civil society organisations.
• Working knowledge of urban and regional planning processes, governance systems and development programmes in Tamil Nadu.
• Basic GIS and spatial analysis skills, including experience with software such as ArcGIS or QGIS.
• Experience collecting, compiling and analysing primary and secondary data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Tamil and English.
• Strong report-writing and documentation skills, covering study reports, technical notes, presentations and meeting records.
• Excellent facilitation, organisational, interpersonal and coordination skills.
• Willingness to travel to pilot study areas in Tamil Nadu.
• Based in Chennai, or willing to relocate there.
• The position runs for 1 year and can be extended based on performance and project requirements.
• A cover letter and a resume must be attached to the application.
• Final candidates take a writing test as part of the selection process.

Benefits

• Health insurance cover of up to INR 8 lakhs for you and your family.
• Term insurance with life cover of INR 50 lakhs per staff member.
• An employee assistance programme supporting mental well-being and work-life balance.
• Personalised diet guidance from a certified dietitian based on your health and lifestyle.
• Flexible work arrangements for staff whose roles allow them.
• Workshops and training that open up new learning opportunities.
• Rest and recharge weeks to take time off, upskill and pursue your own interests.
• 36 days of personal time off a year, along with public holidays and maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
• Work alongside researchers, planners and government partners shaping how cities in Tamil Nadu grow.
• A workplace committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and to equal opportunity regardless of caste, religion, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, parental status or disability.

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