Research Analyst- Power Markets

Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), New Delhi
Research Analyst

We are particular about what we stand for (and what we do not stand for!) as an employer. So, if the below description strikes a chord, we would love to hear from you!

At CEEW, we build careers in public policy.

●        We offer strong visionary leadership – with emphasis on research and impact at scale

●        We actively promote leadership by initiative

●        We celebrate talent and ambition

●        You will be surrounded by smart people who will challenge you and help you grow

●        You will learn faster than your peers in other organisations

●        Curiosity and irreverence, as well as responsibility, come together at CEEW

●        You will get above-market remuneration

●        We provide a safe space for all

●        At CEEW, your life is your example for others

Job designation: Research Analyst                                

Job location: New Delhi

Reporting to: Senior Programme Lead

CEEW seeks to hire a candidate for its programme on consumer-centric smart meter rollout and electricity tariff design. The candidate is expected to carry out high-quality primary research using cross-sectoral data sets. The role will also involve extensive engagement with government, industry and civil society stakeholders to drive evidence-informed policies and regulations.

CEEW offers an intellectually challenging and conducive work environment focusing on research rigour, innovative thinking, and strategic outreach. We have an interdisciplinary research culture, and its value comes from adopting different methods and connecting the dots across policy and industry verticals to take research to action. We seek a proactive, detail-oriented individual who can interpret complex data and is enthusiastic about translating them into actionable policy recommendations.

Job duties and accountabilities

• Conduct systematic and rapid literature reviews on the impact of technologies, such as smart meters and rooftop solar, and electricity price on consumers’ electricity use patterns and the role of electricity pricing and information in managing it, in India and globally.
  
• Design suitable instruments to collect primary data on consumers’ electricity use habits and preferences through structured and semi-structured key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and online, telephonic or in-person surveys.
  

·       Design experiments to empirically assess the impact of technological, information and pricing interventions on consumers’ energy use patterns.

·       Travel to project sites to conduct interviews or collect data for research.

• Develop and implement protocols for checking survey data quality, data cleaning, and data analysis.
  
• Conduct statistical and econometric analyses on primary data to gather insights on the factors determining consumers’ perceptions and habits, and visualise the results for their effective communication.
  
• Assist the team in designing and implementing experiments to study changes in consumers’ energy use due to interventions.
  
• Write high-quality research reports and papers, and generate other knowledge products such as presentations, memos, blogs, and policy briefs for different audiences.
  
• Build trusted relationships with key stakeholders, including discoms, industry players, and research institutions, for knowledge exchange and dissemination of research findings.
  

Programme assistance

·       Frame research questions and concept notes for original research.

·       Participate in weekly team meetings and prepare / assist with preparing meeting minutes.

·       Accompany other team members for meetings with government and industry stakeholders; prepare meeting minutes and assist with relevant follow up when needed.

Technical Understanding and Policy Translation

·       Work closely with researchers to understand technical concepts (e.g., clean technologies, power grids, smart meters, industry processes, etc.) and translate them into clear, accessible insights.

·       Track regulatory developments across states and sectors relevant to smart meters.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

·       Prepare presentations and visual material for internal discussions and external engagements.

·       Support organisation of stakeholder meetings, including background research and documentation.

·       Maintain communication records and follow-up notes from consultations.

Education

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in economics with demonstrated interest in statistical modelling and econometrics.

Work experience 

• 1-2 years of relevant research experience, specifically in designing surveys and randomised controlled trials, managing and analysing timeseries datasets, and carrying out econometric analysis. 
  
• Experience in data cleaning and analysis of large secondary or primary datasets.
  
• Knowledge of emerging Machine Learning and AI techniques will be a bonus.
  

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical and research skills, particularly quantitative research skills. Proficiency in Excel and any statistical software (R/Python/STATA) is a must. Experience with visualisation tools like Flourish, Datawrapper and Tableau would be a bonus.
  

·       Strong writing skills with the ability to write coherent and concise emails, opinion pieces, policy briefs, and reports.

Personality

• Curiosity and an ability to think creatively.
  
• Willingness to learn new research and project management skills.
  
• Willingness to travel for field visits and stakeholder interviews (if needed).
  
• Ability to effectively work in a team while driving research with minimum assistance, when time demands independently.
  
• Ability to adapt to a new environment and deliver under tight deadlines in a professional environment.
  
• Striving for rigour in research and quality in work output.
  
• Ability to dig deeper into details, while also keeping a sense of the broader objectives and big picture.
  

CEEW operates in a dynamic environment, and the candidate will be required to show flexibility in undertaking a variety of tasks.

Compensation

Competitive compensation – commensurate to the experience and matching the best of standards adopted by industry or other similar organisations for similar roles.