Head, Centre of Excellence (NbS, Environmental Engineering and Climate Innovation)

Position Summary 

The Head Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Nature-Based Solutions / Environmental Engineering / Climate Innovation will lead the conceptualization, development, and implementation of innovative products and services that strengthen community resilience to climate change and disasters. This role will focus on creating scalable and sustainable solutions that communities can own and use to reduce their vulnerability and enhance their capacity to adapt. 

The Head will work at the intersection of technology, nature-based solutions, and environmental sustainability to develop and promote community-centric interventions that move beyond short-term projects to long-term systemic change. This includes facilitation and support for field project implementation, prototyping, solution orientation, testing, and embedding solutions within projects.



Key Responsibilities 

• Innovation and Product Development
  • Design and Develop Community-Owned Solutions: Lead the development of nature-based products, environmental engineering solutions, and climate resilience services that are affordable, adaptable, and accessible to vulnerable communities.
  • Research and Prototype Innovative Models: Identify and test cutting-edge NbS techniques, digital tools, and environmental engineering solutions that can be scaled across diverse geographies.
  • Leverage Emerging Technologies: Explore and integrate AI, IoT, and data-driven models for environmental risk assessment and early warning systems that communities can operate independently. 
• Scaling and Replication
  • Develop Scalable Frameworks: Create open-source models, toolkits, and training resources that facilitate the replication of successful NbS interventions across regions.
  • Foster Strategic Partnerships: Work with governments, civil society, academic institutions, and private sector players to embed scalable resilience-building solutions in mainstream policies and market mechanisms.
  • Incubate Community-Led Enterprises: Support the development of local businesses and social enterprises that commercialize and sustain climate-resilient solutions at the grassroots level. 
• Sustainability and Long-Term Impact
  • Ensure Long-Term Adoption and Ownership: Co-design solutions with communities to ensure cultural relevance, ease of maintenance, and financial viability.
  • Develop Sustainable Financing Models: Explore mechanisms such as carbon credits, impact investment, and microfinance to sustain NbS interventions beyond donor-driven funding cycles.
  • Measure and Enhance Impact: Design and implement impact measurement frameworks to track environmental, economic, and social outcomes of community-driven resilience efforts. 
• Capacity Building and Knowledge Dissemination
  • Facilitate and Support Field Implementation: Work closely with project teams to integrate NbS into field interventions and enhance on-ground impact.
  • Build Local Capacities: Conduct training programs and workshops to empower communities, local organizations, and practitioners to design, implement, and maintain NbS solutions.
  • Foster a Culture of Innovation: Establish platforms for peer learning, innovation challenges, and knowledge-sharing within and beyond partner network.
  • Support Policy Integration: Engage with policymakers and advocacy groups to promote the integration of NbS and community-owned resilience models into local and national strategies.
    

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Educational Background: Masters or higher degree in Environmental Engineering, Climate Science, Sustainability, Disaster Risk Reduction, or a related field.
• Professional Experience: Minimum of 10 years of experience in designing and implementing nature-based solutions, environmental engineering, climate resilience, or community-driven sustainability programs.
• Technical Expertise:
  • Deep understanding of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR), sustainable land and water management, and NbS approaches.
  • Experience in scaling community-driven innovations, particularly in climate resilience and disaster adaptation.
  • Knowledge of circular economy principles, sustainable financing models, and climate-smart enterprise development.
  • Proficiency in impact measurement frameworks for NbS and community-based resilience.
• Skills:
  • Ability to develop and execute scalable, high-impact interventions with a strong sustainability focus.
  • Proven capacity to build partnerships across government, private sector, donors, and grassroots organizations.
  • Strong analytical, research, and technical writing skills.
  • Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with experience in capacity-building programs.
  • Language Proficiency: Fluent in English (written and spoken); proficiency in Hindi or other regional languages is an advantage.