Project Officer

The Project Officer will lead and provide strategic, technical, and operational support for the design and implementation of programme interventions under the Circular Economy portfolio in India. The role involves programme planning, implementation, performance management, stakeholder coordination, and integration of circular economy approaches with climate co-benefits and gender equality.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and end-to-end implementation of assigned project components in alignment with project documents, donor requirements, and UNDP policies.
• Ensure delivery of outputs and outcomes against approved workplans, timelines, and results frameworks.
• Analyse programme performance, risks, and challenges, and lead adaptive management to strengthen effectiveness and impact.
• Provide technical leadership to integrate circular economy approaches, climate co-benefits, social inclusion and SDG alignment into programme design and delivery.
• Develop analytical inputs, technical frameworks, and implementation tools to strengthen programme quality.
• Support innovation and application of best practices to enhance programme impact, scalability and sustainability.
• Lead development and monitoring of Annual Work Plans (AWPs), ensuring alignment with budgets, procurement, and recruitment plans.
• Oversee end-to-end procurement processes, including development of Terms of Reference (ToRs), technical specifications, and participation in technical evaluations.
• Ensure effective contract management and vendor performance.
• Lead financial planning, budget utilization, and expenditure tracking to ensure efficient and compliant use of resources.
• Provide guidance and oversight to project staff and consultants to ensure effective delivery.
• Establish and manage strategic partnerships with government, ULBs, private sector, civil society, and development partners.
• Identify and leverage opportunities for convergence, co-financing, and programme scale-up.
• Lead and contribute to resource mobilization through development of proposals, concept notes, and partnership frameworks.
• Participate in relevant technical forums, consultations, and stakeholder platforms.
• Lead policy engagement, research, and advocacy in Circular Economy and related thematic areas.
• Provide strategic inputs to policy dialogue and support development of evidence-based policy and programme frameworks.
• Design and oversee capacity-building initiatives to strengthen institutional systems and stakeholder capabilities.
• Position programme insights to influence policy and sectoral discourse.
• Oversee development and dissemination of knowledge products, including case studies, tools, and best practices.
• Strengthen data systems and digital tools for monitoring and learning.
• Ensure systematic integration of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) across programme interventions and outcomes.
• Lead preparation of high-quality reports, donor communications, and visibility outputs demonstrating programme results and impact.
• Ensure compliance with UNDP rules, audit requirements, and risk management frameworks.
• Identify and mitigate operational, fiduciary, and programme risks.
• Strengthen quality assurance mechanisms to ensure high standards in programme delivery and reporting.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Social Science, Environmental Science or International Development is required; or a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in the areas of circular economy, plastic waste management, environmental management or sustainable development programmes.
• Proven experience to lead end-to-end implementation of complex, multi-stakeholder programmes, including planning, execution, monitoring, and delivery of results.
• Demonstrated experience in engaging and coordinating with government, private sector, CSOs, and development partners to drive programme outcomes.
• Experience of working in the domain of plastic waste management, EPR, resource efficiency, or recycling systems.
• Experience in developing ToRs, conducting technical evaluations, and managing vendors/consultants.
• Experience contributing to policy dialogue, regulatory frameworks, or sectoral reforms.
• Experience in developing concept notes, proposals, and support donor engagement.
• Experience with indicators, impact measurement, and use of data systems/dashboards for decision-making.
• Fluency in English and Hindi is required.

Skills

• Circular Economy Principles
• Plastic Waste Management
• Environmental Management
• Sustainable Development Programs
• Programme Planning
• Programme Implementation
• Programme Monitoring
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Government Engagement
• Private Sector Engagement
• Civil Society Coordination
• Development Partner Coordination
• Extended Producer Responsibility
• Resource Efficiency
• Recycling Systems
• Terms of Reference
• Technical Evaluation
• Vendor Management
• Consultancy Management
• Policy Dialogue
• Regulatory Frameworks
• Sectoral Reforms
• Concept Note Formulation
• Proposal Writing
• Donor Engagement Strategies
• Impact Measurement
• Data Systems
• Dashboard Use

Languages

English, Hindi