Research Analyst - Urban Planning & Clean Transportation Initiatives

Purpose

The Sustainable Mobility team at CEEW is looking for a Research Analyst to join our dynamic team, dedicated to transforming road transport with a focus on emerging Tier-II cities. Our focus spans various vehicles – from 2 and 3-wheelers to cars, buses, and medium and heavy-duty trucks. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing strategic roadmaps and scenario-based approaches tailored to advance sustainable mobility.

The project aims to support the Municipal Corporations and other stakeholders in advancing sustainable, inclusive urban planning and mobility. This involves data-driven diagnostics, participatory planning, and the development of actionable interventions that align with local development and climate priorities. To enable effective engagement and seamless implementation, a dedicated local resource is required to act as the liaison between the project team, the Municipal Corporation, and other stakeholders on the ground.

Job duties and accountabilities

Stakeholder, Research and Project Management Unit Support

To provide project management support, facilitate stakeholder consultations, and act as the on-ground representative of the project team at the Municipal Corporation office, ensuring smooth coordination, documentation, and communication throughout the project lifecycle.

• Serve as the primary point of contact between the project team and the Municipal Corporation.
• Support the scheduling, preparation, and facilitation of stakeholder meetings, workshops, focus group discussions, and public consultations.
• Assist in identifying and engaging relevant stakeholders, including municipal officials, state departments, civil society groups, and citizens.
• Provide logistical and administrative support for all project-related events and convenings.
• Supervising and supporting on-ground primary survey data collection, including conducting QA/QC checks and spot verification to ensure data integrity and adherence to protocols
• Maintain regular documentation of meetings, minutes, decisions, and follow-up actions.
• Monitor local developments relevant to the project and update the team accordingly.
• Facilitate access to municipal data, reports, and permissions required for surveys and studies.
• Support the project team in disseminating findings and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Maintain a regular presence at the Municipal Corporation office, ensuring responsiveness to queries and proactive support to officials and the project team.
• Support specific projects and overall activity planning related to electric vehicle transition and sustainable mobility research. Facilitate collaboration and integration of efforts across various research teams.
• Collaborate with urban planners, policymakers, and transportation departments to integrate air quality considerations into mobility solutions.
• Prepare comprehensive reports and policy briefs. Ensure documentation is clear, accurate, and persuasive, effectively communicating complex information to a variety of audiences, including policymakers, technical staff, and the general public.
• Actively engage with key stakeholders, including government agencies, industry partners, environmental groups, and the community, to gather insights and build relationships.

Selection Criteria:

Work experience

• 1+ years.

Qualification

Bachelors or Preferably Masters in Science/Engineering/Technology/Policy—Urban Planning, Developmental Studies, Environmental, Transport, Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, Energy or related quantitative disciplines

Key skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in

  Tamil, Hindi and English

  with the ability to convey technical findings to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and engage with multiple stakeholders, including government officials, community groups, and technical teams, in an urban governance context.
• Well versed in the mechanics and modalities of city level master and comprehensive mobility plans.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail, ability to manage timelines, and deliver quality outputs under limited supervision.
• Proficiency in using MS Office is a must
• Must have strong research and project management skills – capability to carry out literature review is a key requisite.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to work on multi-disciplinary projects.
• Ability to think on your feet for solving complex and evolving problems in mobility.
• The primary location for this role will be in Tamil Nadu, The scope of work may expand to include activities in other cities, such as Surat and Bhubaneswar metropolitan areas, as the project evolves.
• Willingness to travel frequently within Tamil Nadu and to other project cities, as required, is essential for effective supervision of field activities, stakeholder engagement, logistical support and data collection oversight.

Additional Considerations

Background and experience in one or more of the following sub-themes would be a plus

• Multi-lingual proficiency is highly desirable.
• Strong quantitative and analytical abilities, with experience in applied data analysis and econometrics using tools such as R, SPSS, or STATA
• Techno-economic assessments of alternative powertrains (hybrid, electric, fuel-cell), vehicle stock and flow dynamics, traffic flow and travel demand modelling
• Fundamentals of EV technology, market diffusion trends, charging infrastructure, city/local to national policies and their benefits
• Proficiency in geospatial analysis and mapping using QGIS or ArcGIS, with the ability to visualize complex datasets