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Junior Research & Engagement Manager

SFC India
Full-time
Fixed-term

Job description

✈️About Smart Freight Centre 

Are you passionate about reducing the climate impacts of transport, freight, and logistics?

 

Smart Freight Centre (SFC) is a globally active non-profit driving climate action in the freight and logistics sector. We work with multinational corporations, freight forwarders, carriers, NGOs, technology providers, governments and global partners to help organizations measure, report and reduce logistics greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Our ambition is to guide industry efforts to reduce freight emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030 and support the transition to zero-emission logistics by 2050 or earlier.


 
About SFC India 

SFC India is building a platform to decarbonize India's freight ecosystem across road, rail, maritime and aviation. We convene government ministries and regulators, industry leaders, research institutions and global climate actors to build India's most credible and scalable green freight platform.
 
Employment Type: Full-time 
Location: New Delhi India 
Employment Type: Fixed term contract 

 The Role 
We are looking for an analytical, detail-oriented professional with 3-5 years of experience to support SFC India's research, stakeholder engagement and program delivery work. This role is suited to someone who can combine quantitative analysis, technical writing and practical stakeholder coordination in freight decarbonization.
You will work under the guidance of the Research & Engagement Manager and Principal Technical, collaborating with SFC global teams, local partners and external stakeholders. The role focuses on zero-emission freight research, TCO and techno-economic analysis, financing models, charging infrastructure assessment, policy research and development of technical reports, briefs and program materials.


 Why This Role is Different 
India is one of the world's fastest-growing freight markets and one of the most consequential for global emissions. Decisions made this decade will shape how India's supply chains decarbonize, how charging infrastructure scales and how policy frameworks evolve. At SFC India, you will contribute directly to the models, reports and stakeholder platforms that inform policy, investment and deployment decisions.
 
✏️What You will Support

The role involves working on zero-emission freight research and program delivery, including technoeconomic modelling, TCO analysis, charging infrastructure assessment, policy research, stakeholder engagement, and development of technical reports, policy briefs, and funding support materials.

1.  Technical Research & Data Analysis

This is the primary focus of the role. You will: 
• Build and maintain quantitative models for zero-emission truck adoption, including total cost of ownership comparisons, financing structure scenarios, and sensitivity analyses on key variables (fuel prices, capex, utilization, subsidy levels)

• Support Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) modeling and compare financing models for zero-emission truck adoption in the Indian market
• Review and synthesize policies, scientific literature, and best practices related to zero-emission freight and emissions standards
• Support mathematical modelling across freight electrification use cases, including demand estimation, deployment scenarios, and infrastructure planning
• Support emissions accounting analysis aligned with global freight decarbonization methodologies and reporting frameworks
• Produce structured outputs including quarterly technical reports, briefing notes, dashboards and data summaries capturing program progress and ecosystem insights
• Support design and analysis of innovative financial instruments but not limited to credit guarantee structures, blended finance mechanisms, and fund economics for ZET adoption programs 


2. Stakeholder & Partner Support 


You will support (but not independently lead) engagement with external partners and stakeholders: 
• Coordinate with academic institutions, NGOs, industry partners, and government bodies

• Engage with regulatory and utility bodies (including state electricity DISCOMs, Ministry of Power, and BEE) in support of charging infrastructure and grid planning work
• Work with port operators, terminal operators, and logistics service providers in support of port electrification and drayage decarbonization programs
• Support corridor development and demand aggregation efforts through stakeholder coordination and technical engagement
• Support the growth of SFC India’s community platform by conducting market research, preparing value propositions, and developing sector-specific engagement materials
• Help prepare briefing materials, presentations, and consultation summaries for stakeholder meetings and workshops
• Track relevant market, policy, and industry developments and synthesize key takeaways for internal team 
• Assist in the delivery of workshops on freight electrification and emissions accounting, including supporting facilitation and preparing materials
• Attend relevant industry events and webinars; prepare internal summaries of key takeaways 


3.  Knowledge Development & Communication 


You will contribute to SFC India’s thought leadership outputs: 
•  Draft and contribute to technical reports, working papers, and policy briefs under the guidance of senior team members

• Help prepare presentations for workshops, conferences, and stakeholder briefings; may co-present with senior colleagues
• Support development of tools and communication materials to promote emissions accounting and freight electrification
• Contribute to internal knowledge sharing and alignment with SFC’s global methodologies and reporting standards 

Occasional support (not core to the role):


• Assist in organizing webinars, meetings, and outreach events as needed

• Support inputs to funding proposals and research applications  


Experience & Background 
  • 3–5 years of relevant experience, ideally including 1–2 years in freight, energy, transport, sustainability, or financial analysis 
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, environmental science, economics, or a related field; master’s degree in supply chain, sustainability, public policy, or finance is preferred 
  • Familiarity with freight decarbonization topics such as electric trucks, charging infrastructure and overall freight supply chain 
  • Prior experience working on implementation-oriented projects involving multiple stakeholders is an advantage

Technical Skills 
  • Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with the ability to work with data and translate it into structured insights
  • Advanced Excel skills, including experience building multi-scenario financial models from scratch; able to construct and stress-test models, not just populate existing ones
  • Experience with financial or economic modeling and forecasting (such as TCO analysis or technoeconomic assessments) is a plus
  • Exposure to development of innovative financing solutions including blended finance, development finance, or financial instrument design (credit guarantees, concessional lending structures) is a plus
  • Familiarity with freight corridor or infrastructure analysis; experience with geospatial tools (QGIS or similar) is a plus
  • Familiarity with any of the following is a bonus: data analysis or visualization tools; emissions calculation tools or LCA frameworks is added advantage 

Communication Skills 
  • Strong written communication in English, with the ability to produce clear, well-structured reports and briefing documents
  • Comfortable preparing and supporting presentations for diverse audiences, from industry to policymakers
  • Strong stakeholder coordination skills with the ability to follow through on discussions, maintain momentum, and track action items effectively
  • Proficient in PowerPoint 
Why This Role is Different
This role sits at the intersection of freight, energy, and infrastructure, and focuses on solving real system-level challenges such as demand aggregation, grid readiness, and deployment planning for electric freight corridors.

Who You Are

A results-oriented professional who: 
  • Understands how freight supply chains and decarbonization pathways operate in practice
  • Translates technical knowledge into actionable insights and program outputs
  • Engages confidently with senior stakeholders across government, industry, and research
  • Thrives in global, multi-stakeholder environments
  • Comfortable in a small, fast-moving team operating across multiple work streams
  • Genuinely motivated to accelerate sustainable freight and climate action in India
What You'll Gain 

  • Direct exposure to government ministries, industry leaders, and global policymakers
  • Experience in national and international climate and freight initiatives
  • Opportunity to shape emissions transparency and freight electrification frameworks
  • Collaboration across global logistics and sustainability experts
  • A platform to influence India's freight decarbonization transition 

Career Development 

This role offers strong exposure to: 
  • National freight and climate policy landscapes
  • Design and scaling of national and international initiatives
  • Engagement with multilateral institutions and global bodies 
  • Industry platform development 
  • Senior stakeholder engagement 
Mindset 

  • Comfortable working on-ground with stakeholders, including site visits, consultations, workshops, and ecosystem engagement where required 
  • Highly organised, with strong discipline in maintaining records, tracking activities, documenting discussions, and following through on action items
  • Able to manage multiple parallel work streams, balance competing priorities, and exercise sound judgement on task prioritization
  • Genuinely cross-domain: comfortable moving between a port logistics assessment, a financial instrument scenario, and a grid infrastructure gap analysis in the same week, and approaching each with rigor
  • Detail-oriented with a structured, analytical approach to problem-solving
  • Proactive and able to manage multiple work streams with guidance from senior colleagues
  • Comfortable in a small, fast-moving team where roles involve some ambiguity • Genuinely motivated to contribute to climate action and sustainable freight in India


     
    ❤️Join a culture of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability. What you will get:
    At Smart Freight Centre, we believe in collaboration, creativity, and sustainability. We value everyone’s ideas and create a welcoming space where you can grow and make an impact. 
  • Take time for yourself:
    Enjoy 27 days of holiday and 10 public holidays to relax, recharge, and do what matters most to you. 
  • Grow with us:
    We provide learning opportunities; you can keep building your skills and knowledge. 
  • Care for your mind:
    Full access to OpenUp means you can connect with psychologists, join mindfulness classes, and explore courses to support your mental health. 
  • Good times guaranteed:
    Whether it’s a creative workshop, a fun challenge, or some drinks and bites, join our team-building activities and enjoy time with your colleagues.