Programme Associate – District Clean Energy Accelerator Programme (Odisha)

iForest - International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology; Odisha; On-site; INR 750,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

iFOREST invites applications for the District Clean Energy Accelerator Programme (DCEAP) in Odisha. The Programme Associate will serve as the District Clean Energy Coordinator, working with DISCOMs, district administration, and other partners to accelerate renewable energy deployment in Odisha.

The role requires 3–5 years of relevant experience, a degree in engineering, energy, environment or related fields, and willingness to travel within districts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree required in engineering, energy, environment, public policy, planning, rural development, economics or related disciplines.
• 3–6 years of relevant experience in renewable energy, climate change, government programmes, infrastructure or implementation support.
• Experience with government departments, utilities, development organisations or consulting firms preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support implementation of State and Central Government renewable energy programmes.
• Coordinate with district administrations, DISCOMs, ULBs, Panchayati Raj Institutions and other agencies.
• Track progress, identify bottlenecks, and propose solutions for district-level renewable energy deployment.
• Support development of District Renewable Energy Strategies and related initiatives.
• Engage with stakeholders, organize meetings, and facilitate convergence across departments.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Policy understanding

Independent field work

Analytical & reporting

Data management & MIS

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Energy, Environment, Public Policy, Planning, Rural Development, Economics or related disciplines

Job description

Programme Associate - District Clean Energy Accelerator Programme (Odisha)

Reference code: CE/OD-10-08/26

iFOREST is inviting applications for the District Clean Energy Accelerator Programme (DCEAP) in Odisha—a first-of-its-kind initiative supporting the Department of Energy, Government of Odisha, to accelerate renewable energy deployment across the State. As a Programme Associate (District Clean Energy Coordinator), you will work closely with government agencies, DISCOMs, industry, and local stakeholders to support implementation of renewable energy programmes, facilitate district-level clean energy projects, and strengthen Odisha’s clean energy transition.

Reference Code:CE/OD-10-08/26

Required Experience:3-5 years

Number of positions:20

Reporting to:Regional Director

About iFOREST

iFOREST is an independent, not-for-profit research and innovation organization established in 2019. Our mission is to identify, promote, and scale up solutions for critical environment-development challenges in India and other developing regions across Asia and Africa.

We focus on regional priorities to accelerate environmental actions at the sub-national level while influencing national policies and plans to support these efforts. By leveraging our resources and expertise, we aim to address regional needs, enhance national action, and contribute to global solutions.

Our work involves independent, evidence-based research, developing innovative solutions, convening stakeholders to build consensus, and partnering with think tanks, civil society organizations, government agencies, philanthropies, and industry leaders.

The Clean Energy Programme

The iFOREST Clean Energy Programme focuses on accelerating equitable renewable energy growth in India by supporting clean energy deployment in underserved states, especially in eastern and northeaster regions.

The programme supports state governments through policy and regulatory reform, implementation strategies, techno-economic assessments, investment facilitation, and institutional capacity building, with a focus on states such as Odisha, Assam, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. The work prioritises land-neutral technologies including floating solar, agri-PV, rooftop solar, storage, and green hydrogen, while also promoting renewable energy adoption in industrial and MSME sectors through demand aggregation and decarbonisation initiatives. At the national level, the programme contributes to policy frameworks that can enable regionally balanced renewable energy growth and support India’s 500 GW non-fossil energy target by 2030 and net-zero goal by 2070.

In Odisha, we have lauched the District Clean Energy Accelerator Programme (DCEAP) as a first-of-its-kind state-wide implementation support initiative being established to accelerate renewable energy deployment across Odisha. Anchored within the Department of Energy, Government of Odisha, and implemented in close coordination with GRIDCO (RENA), the programme will establish dedicated district-level teams to support implementation of State and Central Government clean energy initiatives while unlocking district-specific renewable energy opportunities. This includes schemes and initiaties like PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PM-SGMBY), PM-KUSUM, agrivoltaics, biomass and bioenergy, distributed renewable energy, industrial renewable energy, land mobilisation for renewable energy projects, etc.

Position Summary

We are seeking highly motivated professionals to serve as Programme Associates (District Clean Energy Coordinators) across Odisha. Based in the assigned district, the Programme Associate will act as the primary field-level representative of the programme, working closely with DISCOM offices, district administration, local government institutions, financial institutions, industry, developers and communities to facilitate renewable energy deployment and strengthen programme implementation.

The role combines project implementation, stakeholder engagement, programme coordination, field assessments, data management, policy feedback and opportunity development across multiple clean energy sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Support implementation of State and Central Government renewable energy programmes, including PM Surya Ghar, PM-KUSUM and other priority initiatives.
• Facilitate project implementation through continuous coordination with district administrations, DISCOMs, ULBs, Panchayati Raj Institutions and other implementing agencies.
• Track implementation progress and proactively identify and resolve bottlenecks.
• Identify district-specific renewable energy opportunities based on local resource potential and government priorities.
• Support development of District Renewable Energy Strategies.
• Facilitate initiatives related to rooftop solar and institutional solar, community and distributed renewable energy, Agrivoltaics, Solar irrigation, Biomass and bioenergy, Industrial renewable energy, Renewable energy land mobilisation, Emerging clean energy technologies etc.
• Stakeholder Coordination
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with district officials, DISCOMs, developers, financial institutions, farmer organisations, industries, civil society organisations and community groups.
  • Convene district-level coordination meetings and facilitate convergence across departments.
  • Support engagement with private sector and implementation partners.
• Capacity Building and Outreach
  • Organise workshops, awareness campaigns, training programmes and stakeholder consultations.
  • Support consumer mobilisation and demand aggregation for renewable energy adoption.
  • Prepare IEC material and support communication activities.
• Monitoring, Reporting and Knowledge Management
  • Maintain district MIS, dashboards and implementation databases.
  • Prepare periodic progress reports, case studies and documentation.
  • Support collection of field data and evidence for programme monitoring and policy inputs.
  • Document implementation challenges, lessons and best practices.
• Policy and Technical Support
  • Identify regulatory, policy and operational bottlenecks affecting implementation.
  • Provide field inputs to the State PMU for policy improvements.
  • Support pilots and new initiatives emerging under the programme.
• Any other areas of interventions identified.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Energy, Environment, Public Policy, Planning, Rural Development, Economics or related disciplines from reputed schools.
• 3-6 years of relevant experience in renewable energy, climate change, government programmes, infrastructure, rural development or implementation support.
• Experience working with Government departments, utilities, development organisations or consulting firms will be preferred.

Required Skills

• Excellent stakeholder management and coordination skills.
• Good understanding of renewable energy and clean energy policies.
• Ability to work independently in field locations.
• Strong analytical, communication and report writing skills.
• Experience in data management, MIS and dashboard preparation.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the assigned district.

What We Offer

Opportunity to work on one of India’s largest state-wide clean energy implementation programmes.

Direct engagement with the Government of Odisha and key energy sector institutions.

Exposure to cutting-edge work across renewable energy, agrivoltaics, bioenergy, industrial decarbonisation and emerging clean energy technologies.

A collaborative, mission-driven work environment with opportunities for professional growth.

Remuneration

We offer Competitive salary based on experience and proficiency. The final designation will depend on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.

Why Choose iFOREST

• Purpose-driven work: Contribute from regional to national and global goals in
  sustainability.
• Professional development: Work in areas that address contemporary and critical issues.
• Competitive compensation: We recognize and reward commitment and talent.
• Inclusive culture: Experience a supportive, diverse, and empowering work environment.

At iFOREST, we are committed to carrying out independent research to provide innovative, practical and evidence-based solutions to today’s most pressing environmental problems. As a publicly funded organisation, your support goes a long way.

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